Kids in 6 local districts head back to class

HARRISBURG, N.C. — Students in six local school districts are returning to the classroom Wednesday morning to start the new academic year. The back-to-school kickoff spans Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell and Stanly counties, along with Kannapolis City Schools.

In Cabarrus County, more than 35,000 students are returning districtwide as the school system opens three new campuses. The district has nearly doubled in size over the last two decades, prompting school leaders to expand classroom capacity to keep pace with rapid population growth.

The district opened three new facilities on Wednesday: Coltrane Webb STEM Elementary School, the Mary Frances Wall Center at Beverly Hills and the Cabarrus County Schools Opportunity School. Webb STEM Elementary sits on a campus with nearly 140 years of history and will serve up to 756 students in kindergarten through fifth grade with spaces designed for collaboration and hands-on STEM learning.

Cabarrus County Schools Superintendent John Kopicki highlighted how the new facilities are designed to support student growth.

“This new facility provides learning spaces designed to encourage curiosity, exploration and hands-on learning, giving students opportunities to ask questions, solve problems and think beyond the classroom walls,” Kopicki said.

The new Mary Frances Wall Center brings classrooms, health screenings and support services for children ages 3 to 5 under one roof, expanding the district’s capacity to serve pre-K students.

Tracy Thiery, director of Pre-K for the district, said staff members and builders worked together to design the building specifically for early childhood education.

“Everything in this building was thought of with love for our children. Every decision was made—down to the furniture, down to the playground—about what was best for young learners,” Thiery said.

In Iredell-Statesville Schools, returning students met active construction projects aimed at facility upgrades and growth management. South Iredell High School is receiving a new track, synthetic turf, upgraded lighting and visitor bleachers. On the other side of Interstate 77, construction continues on Weathers Creek High School to relieve crowding at both South Iredell and Lake Norman high schools.

South Iredell High School students will be able to use the new football stadium in another week. Weathers Creek High School is expected to open in time for the 2027-28 school year.