K-12 Schools

Iredell County has a total of 52 public schools, two public school districts—Iredell-Statesville Schools and Mooresville Graded School District, serving 30,737 students.  In addition, there are  12 private schools, serving 1,402 private students.  In 2024, 96 percent of all K-12 students in Iredell County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92 percent). Both public school systems have received state and national recognition for quality education.  To read the NC School report cards click here.

Iredell Educational Performance Indicators

Iredell County dashboard for myFuture NC shows the County’s progress toward the state’s overall 2030 goal for postsecondary educational attainment, as well as 18 educational performance indicators.

Career & Pathway Development, K-12

Iredell County is preparing our future generations for success by committing to and investing in our education system.  Career awareness and pathway development is a priority for our community.

Apprenticeship 2000, Iredell-Statesville Schools & Mooresville Graded Schools

Apprenticeship 2000 is an apprenticeship partnership located in the region.  Apprenticeship 2000 offers technical career opportunities to high school students and full-time employment after graduation. For more information or to join the company partnership:  http://apprenticeship2000.com/zwp/

Apprenticeships & Internships available at Mooresville Graded School District & Iredell-Statesville Schools

Mooresville Graded School District and Iredell Statesville Schools work closely with businesses and students to encourage participation in internships and apprenticeships to advanced technical competencies and career development. An Internships provides the student to observe and participate and observe in daily operations, develop direct contact with job personnel, ask questions about careers, and performs certain job tasks.  Apprenticeships provide a student and employer with the opportunity to train while on the job for a long term career with the company.

To see a list of companies that participate in apprenticeships, internships, and externships, click here.

Crosby Scholars

Iredell Crosby Scholars Community Partnership is a nonprofit college access organization.  Purpose is to prepare students academically, financially, and personally for successful college admission and other post-secondary opportunities best suited to a student’s needs, aptitudes and dreams.  Benefits for the students: advisory services, career and college exploration activities, college admission and financial aid workshops, students completing the program in grades 10-12 are eligible to apply for “Last Dollar Grants” for college.  More information https://www.crosbyscholarsiredell.org/

Edge Factor, Iredell-Statesville Schools & Mooresville Grade Schools

Edge Factor is an on-line digital platform available at 23 schools in Iredell County.  This platform equips educators with story-driven media, interactive activities, and gamified tools designed to inspire students to purse career pathways, connect with parents, and raise awareness of local career opportunities.  The turnkey, multimedia resources included in the platform are STEAM relevant, align to statewide standards, highlight career profiles, instill soft skills, introduce technology, include hands-on activities, recruitment tools, parent resources, cinematic stories, and much more.  Businesses can add job profile videos and promote opportunities such as internships and apprenticeships on the platform to promote career awareness of the types of jobs available in Iredell County.

Youth Leadership Iredell, Iredell Statesville Schools

The Youth Leadership Iredell program is coordinated by the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce and Iredell-Statesville Schools.  Through this program, student from diverse backgrounds, who have commitment to quality leadership, will experience opportunities for personal growth and increased awareness of the community and county.  This program is held in partnership with North Iredell High School, South Iredell High School, Statesville High School, and West Iredell High School.

More information: https://www.issnc.org/test/youth-leadership-iredell

Career & Technical Education (CTE)

Career & Technical Education, Mooresville Graded School District

Career Technical Education (CTE) provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners. In total, about 12.5 million high school and college students are enrolled in CTE across the nation.

For more information regarding Career & Technical Education and course offerings at MGSD: https://sites.google.com/mgsd.k12.nc.us/cte/cte-main?authuser=0

CTE Advisory Board, Career Bridge Advisory Council, Mooresville Graded School District

The Vision of the Career Bridge Advisory Council is to create a vibrant school/community partnership guiding students toward career preparation by connecting business and industry with education.

The role of the Career Bridge Advisory Council is purely advisory in nature and does not include administrative or policy-making duties. The council’s function is to advise and assist in Career and Technical Education (CTE) program planning, not to establish or direct policy. There are numerous ways that advisory council members can be helpful to the school, and advisory council members should be involved in activities that would make a positive contribution to the school. The council’s role is to deal with educational concerns only and not to get involved in such things as partisan political issues or school personnel matters.

For more information: https://www.mgsd.k12.nc.us/community/career-bridge-advisory-council

National Academy Foundation (NAF), Academy of Engineering at Mooresville High School

Mooresville High School introduced the National Academy Foundation, Academy of Engineering at Mooresville High School in the 2019-2020 school year.  The national network of education, business and community leaders work together to ensure high school students are college, career and future ready.  The network of career-themed academies is designed to offer small learning communities within the schools.  The program emphasizes getting students paid internship in their junior or senior year to give them hands on experience and a resume builder.

Mooresville High School Academy of Engineering Program of Study includes.  To see a list of Program of Study visit:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10LvhWZ8tDZHXClCQKxc5pMga5C4TzEf52kqcXujoG0I/edit

Career & Technical Education, Iredell-Statesville Schools

Career and Technical Education prepares learners for their futures while closing the skills gap for employers across the country.  CTE programs prepare student for college and careers.  The top 3 skills and experiences that student report gaining in their CTE classes are: Skills to help them get jobs in the future, real-world examples and the chance to work as part of a team.

Career & Technical Education Advisory Board, Iredell Business & Education Alliance Team (IBEAT)

In order to strengthen connections between Iredell-Statesville Schools and Technical Education and Iredell County businesses an advisory council was established.  The Council serves as a local board to identify economic and workforce development trends related to training and educational needs of the local community and advocating for strong, local career and technical education programs, including career pathway development that provides work-based learning opportunities for students and prepares students for post-secondary educational certifications and credentialing for high-demand careers.

Career Academy & Technical School (CATS)
350 Old Murdock Road, Troutman, NC 28166

Iredell-Statesville School’s Career Academy and Technical School centrally located in Troutman began in 2009 when the county’s Automotive Technology program relocated from South Iredell High School.  Soon to follow were the Nursing Fundamentals and Culinary Arts programs and course offerings continue to expand.

The emphasis of the Career Academy & Technical School is on providing students with hands-on experience resulting in certifications or credentials that will propel them directly into the workforce, as well as prepare them for high education.

WorkKeys, ACT

Iredell County is a certified Work Ready Community. A total of 156 employers in Iredell County recognize or recommend the ACT WorkKeys NCRC. WorkKeys is an ACT assessment which is administered to all North Carolina 12th grade CTE completers.  A CTE completer is a student who has taken at least four courses in a Career Cluster. WorkKeys test measure “real world” skills that are critical to job success. These skills are essential to any occupation, skilled or professional, at any level of education and in any industry. CTE Completers take the following three WorkKeys test:

  • Workplace Documents
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Graphic Literacy

By taking the WorkKeys tests, students can earn a State Career Readiness Certificate (CRC), as well as a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). CRC’s and NCRC’s are awarded at four different levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. For questions on whether your child is eligible to take the WorkKeys test.  Businesses can participate in the WorkKeys program.  Activate Your WorkKeys Account or contact NCWorks to learn more about the benefits of being a registered WorkKeys company. NCWorks Statesville 704-878-4241 or NCWorks Mooresville 704-360-8067

NEXTGEN

NEXTGEN services cultivate relationship between youth and young adults, ages (16 – 24), by building sustainable relations, assist with finding jobs, and cultivating a career pathway for long term success and employment.  NEXTGEN utilizes cross-country resource to serve their youth and young adult clients.  NEXTGEN links and builds relationships between secondary education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and community colleges.

NEXTGEN has been established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).  All of the NEXTGEN Services are offered at the NCWORKS Career Centers in the seven counties- 8 locations (Anson, Cabarrus, Iredell-Stateville, Iredell-Mooresville, Lincoln, Rowan, Stanly, and Union Counties).

Secondary Education

Iredell County has multiple opportunities for education beyond high school. NASCAR Technical Institute and PIT Welding equip students to work in automobile manufacturing and maintenance. Part of the North Carolina Community College system, Mitchell Community College offers degree-programs as well as career specialized tracks.

Iredell County is served by several nearby four-year colleges, including Catawba College, Davidson College, Lenoir-Rhyne University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Wake Forest University, Gardner-Webb University and Appalachian State UniversityClick here for a full list community colleges and universities within 50 miles of Iredell.

School Choice

In addition to home schools, Iredell Statesville Schools offer families a menu of school choice options, each with a signature theme or program that provide unique educational opportunities. Choice programs include International Baccalaureate (IB) school, Advanced Placement academies, Career and College Promise, Early Colleges, Dual Language Immersion schools, A+ Arts Integration schools, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs, a Fine Arts Magnet. Career Academies, and virtual learning options.

For more information on school choice programs here.

Mitchell Community College, Early College

Mitchell Community College operates three early college high schools in partnership with local school systems. The early college program provides motivated Iredell County students the opportunity to graduate from a five-year program with a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit with no cost to the student for tuition or books. Students typically enroll in the early college in the ninth grade through an admission process. Interested students should apply during the fall of their eighth grade year using the application located on Iredell-Statesville Schools’ website.

Career and College Promise – Mitchell Community College

Mitchell Community College, Career and College Promise

Career & College Promise (CCP) allows high school students to get a jump-start on earning college credits while still enrolled in high school.  The tuition is free.  Eligible students may earn college transfer credits, workforce credentials, or both.  College Transfer Pathways designed for students to start working toward a four-year degree.  These structured pathways offer courses that, if successfully completed with a “C” or better, will seamlessly transfer to any public university and many private colleges and universities in the state.

Career and Technical Education Pathways are aligned with the high school career clusters and allow students the opportunity to earn a workforce credential before ever graduating from high school.  Students acquire skills in high-demand areas to fill a need in our community.  These credentials will help a student go directly into the workforce.