Iredell-Statesville Schools
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State Law

North Carolina is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Statesville, NC 28677 Iredell County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 10.7% (data source)
Non-White Students 42.0% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 18, 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 (38)
School Grades Period
Agriculture And Science Early College
Career Academy And Technical School
Celeste Henkel Elementary
Central Elementary
Cloverleaf Elementary
Coddle Creek Elementary
Collaborative College For Technology
Cool Spring Elementary
Crossroads Arts Sciences Early College
Discovery Program at The Springs
East Iredell Elementary
East Iredell Middle
Harmony Elementary
ISS Virtual Academy
Lake Norman Elementary
Lake Norman High
Lakeshore Elementary
Lakeshore Middle
N B Mills Elementary
North Iredell High
North Iredell Middle
Northview School
Pressly School
Scotts Elementary
Sharon Elementary
Shepherd Elementary
South Iredell High
Statesville High
The Brawley School
Third Creek Elementary
Third Creek Middle
Troutman Elementary
Troutman Middle
Union Grove Elementary
West Iredell High
West Iredell Middle
Woodland Heights Elementary
Woodland Heights Middle
28 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
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