Cabarrus County Schools
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State Law

North Carolina is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Concord, NC 28025 Cabarrus County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 9.9% (data source)
Non-White Students 60.6% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 19, 2026
North Carolina State Law

There is no state statute regulating released time for religious instruction, federal rulings still apply. "No-Statute" states function in theory the same way as "May-Law" states. School districts may create a policy allowing students to be released for religious study, or they may choose not to coordinate with released-time programs and require the students' legal guardians facilitate the process.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

States with no statute for released time religious instruction are treated like "may" states. Released time programs would need to request approval from the local school board. School districts should not allow a released time program to operate in the district without a specific released time policy.

The federal case laws that mandate how released time functions should be followed. Zorach vs Clauson states:

School districts in states without a statute mandating a released time policy can choose not to allow released time or to coordinate with religious organizations seeking to remove students from school during the school day.

School districts should always have a policy indicating whether they coordinate with released-time religious instruction programs. Not having a policy at all and leaving it up to the released time program should never be the operating standard. This will open the district up to misinterpretation of its intent.

It is suggested that parents approach the school board and request that a released time religious instruction policy be implemented, even before a religious program approaches the district.

This does not encompass all legal requirements, and other legal opinions may exist. Please use this as a guide only.

What Can My School District Do?

All school districts, regardless of whether they are required by law to allow released time, should implement good policy and be prepared for when a released time program may approach the district. The time to set the policy is before an active program is pressuring the district. Research polices the district can implement to protect teachers' and students' instruction time. Set polices that limit disruptions to students and the ability for proselytization to occur, impacting other students of faith or no faith. A more detailed write-up on school board policies can be read here.

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Schools in the District (37)
School Grades Period
A T Allen Elementary
Bethel Elementary
C C Griffin Middle
Cabarrus Co Opportunity School
Cabarrus County Schools Virtual Academy
Cabarrus Early College Of Technology
Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early Coll
Carl A Furr Elementary
Coltrane-Webb Elementary
Cox Mill Elementary
Cox Mill High School
Harold E. Winkler Middle
Harris Road Middle
Harrisburg Elementary
Hickory Ridge Elementary
Hickory Ridge High
Hickory Ridge Middle
J N Fries Magnet School
Jay M Robinson High
Mount Pleasant Elementary
Mount Pleasant High
Mount Pleasant Middle
Northwest Cabarrus High
Northwest Cabarrus Middle
Patriots Elementary
Performance Learning Center
Pitts School Road Elementary
Roberta Road Middle
Rocky River Elementary
Royal Oaks Elementary
W M Irvin Elementary
W R Odell Elementary
W R Odell Primary
Weddington Hills Elementary
West Cabarrus High
Winecoff Elementary
Wolf Meadow Elementary
27 schools not shown
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