Cannon School
Encyclopedia
Cannon School an independent, nonsectarian, college preparatory institution serving approximately 825 students in Junior Kindergarten
through Grade 12
. It is the fourth-largest independent school in the greater Charlotte
, North Carolina
area. Cannon School is located in Concord
on a 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) campus on Poplar Tent Road near the Cabarrus
/Mecklenburg
county line. The school is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
and the Southern Association of Independent Schools
.
The current head of school is Betty Robinson, who took the position in 2011. She studied at the University of Puerto Rico, majoring in education with a minor in marine studies.
Cannon School is made up of three separate "schools":
Recent additions include an enlarged Upper School building with 18 new classrooms, state-of-the-art science labs, an arts wing featuring spacious and light-filled art studios, and enhanced sports facilities, including a new track and athletic field with stadium lights.
A sister school exchange program with Tianli International School of Luzhou, Sichuan, China, enriches student and parent educational and cultural experiences; each year, Cannon families host Chinese students and teachers in their homes during week-long visits to Cannon School and the Carolinas.
More than 50 percent of Cannon students live in the Lake Norman area while one in five come to Cannon from Charlotte
, Kannapolis
, and Salisbury
; one-quarter live in Concord
. Cannon’s 19 buses cover four counties with pick-up points in the Concord, Davidson
, Huntersville
, Mooresville
, University City, and Salisbury areas. Buses stop in The Point, The Peninsula, Greenfarm, River Run, Skybrook, Highland Creek, North Stone, and numerous other neighborhoods.
Core values: Courage, Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Passion, Kindness
. In 1994 the school relocated to its current 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) campus in the northwestern corner of Cabarrus county, and in 1998 the Cabarrus Academy was renamed Cannon School.
Originally a school for junior kindergarten through eighth grade, Cannon expanded throughout the 1990s and graduated its first senior class in 2002. (Note: First "new" senior class. As Cabarrus Academy, the school did graduate seniors in its earlier years.)
Cannon School instituted an enrollment model in November 2006 that capped overall student enrollment at less than 1,000, but expanded the middle school and upper school.
In 2009, 386 Advanced Placement (AP) exams were administered. The average combined SAT
score of Cannon students between 2002 and 2008 is 1340, more than 200 points higher than Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Cabarrus public schools, as well as above the state and national average scores. Cannon students averaged above the 90th percentile in every category on the national Education Records Bureau standardized test for students in grades one through eight.
Cannon School offers Mandarin Chinese classes in the Middle School and Upper School.
The school provides before- and after-school enrichment programs.
Cannon's wireless laptop environment enables Upper School students to learn and communicate 24/7 on laptops provided by the School. In addition to computer labs, every Lower School and Middle School classroom has Internet access.
The Upper School Library provides access to powerful electronic research databases.
Cannon students have received regional and state awards for visual arts and excellent ratings in band, choral, and orchestral competitions. Cannon was one of 40 U.S. high school drama programs to perform at the renowned Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Cannon School began fielding Middle School and junior varsity football teams beginning in the 2008-09 school year and a varsity team in 2009-10.
The Cannon School Cougars compete in the 3A division of the N.C. Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA), and is currently a member of the Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA), along with Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte Latin School, and Providence Day School. Though their opponents are predominantly other independent schools, Cannon occasionally schedules games with nearby public high schools.
State champions 2001-2009; four-time Wachovia Cup winner; individual recognition of students and coaches including Wendy’s High School Heisman nominations and All-Area recognition by the Charlotte Observer. Athletes have been awarded locally and nationally for exceptional academic performance.
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through Grade 12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
. It is the fourth-largest independent school in the greater Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
area. Cannon School is located in Concord
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
on a 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) campus on Poplar Tent Road near the Cabarrus
Cabarrus County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 131,063 people, 49,519 households, and 36,545 families residing in the county. The population density was 360 people per square mile . There were 52,848 housing units at an average density of 145 per square mile...
/Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
county line. The school is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
and the Southern Association of Independent Schools
Southern Association of Independent Schools
The Southern Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based voluntary organization of more than 340 independent elementary and secondary schools through the South, representing more than 180,000 students...
.
The current head of school is Betty Robinson, who took the position in 2011. She studied at the University of Puerto Rico, majoring in education with a minor in marine studies.
Cannon School is made up of three separate "schools":
- Lower School: Junior Kindergarten-Grade 4,
- Middle School: Grade 5-Grade 8,
- Upper School: Grade 9-Grade 12.
About Cannon School
Campus facilities feature approximately 60 classrooms, two media centers, a multi-purpose auditorium, a lecture hall, four computer labs and a technology center, four music suites, three art studios with a dark room and pottery area, six science labs, a full-service dining center, a dance studio, and two gymnasiums.Recent additions include an enlarged Upper School building with 18 new classrooms, state-of-the-art science labs, an arts wing featuring spacious and light-filled art studios, and enhanced sports facilities, including a new track and athletic field with stadium lights.
A sister school exchange program with Tianli International School of Luzhou, Sichuan, China, enriches student and parent educational and cultural experiences; each year, Cannon families host Chinese students and teachers in their homes during week-long visits to Cannon School and the Carolinas.
More than 50 percent of Cannon students live in the Lake Norman area while one in five come to Cannon from Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, Kannapolis
Kannapolis, North Carolina
Kannapolis is a city in Cabarrus and Rowan counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, northwest of Concord and northeast of Charlotte. The population was 42,625 at the 2010 census, which makes Kannapolis the 20th largest city in North Carolina...
, and Salisbury
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
; one-quarter live in Concord
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
. Cannon’s 19 buses cover four counties with pick-up points in the Concord, Davidson
Davidson, North Carolina
Davidson is a town in Mecklenburg County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 7,139 at the 2000 census. It is home to Davidson College...
, Huntersville
Huntersville, North Carolina
Huntersville is a large town in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties, North Carolina, United States. The population was 46,773 at the 2010 census, which makes Huntersville the 19th largest city in North Carolina. It is located about 12 miles north of uptown Charlotte. It is thought that the town...
, Mooresville
Mooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville is a large suburban town in southern Iredell County, North Carolina, USA. It is in the Metrolina metro area. The population was 32,133 at the 2010 United States Census...
, University City, and Salisbury areas. Buses stop in The Point, The Peninsula, Greenfarm, River Run, Skybrook, Highland Creek, North Stone, and numerous other neighborhoods.
Educational Philosophy
The Cannon School community instills academic excellence and personal responsibility, inspires athletic and artistic accomplishment, and promotes a respect for diversity within a challenging and safe educational environment.Core values: Courage, Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Passion, Kindness
History
Cannon School was founded in 1969 as Cabarrus Academy. The school was located in the historic downtown Concord residence of local textile entrepreneur J.W. CannonJames William Cannon
James William Cannon was an industrialist, and founder of the Cannon Mills Corporation and the City of Kannapolis, North Carolina. He was the maker of the first towel ever made in the South. His son was Charles Albert Cannon and his great-grandson is Robin Hayes, a Republican congressman from...
. In 1994 the school relocated to its current 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) campus in the northwestern corner of Cabarrus county, and in 1998 the Cabarrus Academy was renamed Cannon School.
Originally a school for junior kindergarten through eighth grade, Cannon expanded throughout the 1990s and graduated its first senior class in 2002. (Note: First "new" senior class. As Cabarrus Academy, the school did graduate seniors in its earlier years.)
Cannon School instituted an enrollment model in November 2006 that capped overall student enrollment at less than 1,000, but expanded the middle school and upper school.
Academics
Cannon School offers small class sizes with a 9:1 student/teacher ratio. More than half of Cannon School's 95 full-time faculty members hold master's or doctoral degrees.In 2009, 386 Advanced Placement (AP) exams were administered. The average combined SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
score of Cannon students between 2002 and 2008 is 1340, more than 200 points higher than Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Cabarrus public schools, as well as above the state and national average scores. Cannon students averaged above the 90th percentile in every category on the national Education Records Bureau standardized test for students in grades one through eight.
Cannon School offers Mandarin Chinese classes in the Middle School and Upper School.
The school provides before- and after-school enrichment programs.
Technology
Teachers at every grade level engage in interactive instruction through use of iPad and iPad 2s, video, audio, multi-media, graphics, SMART Boards, or computer lab equipment.Cannon's wireless laptop environment enables Upper School students to learn and communicate 24/7 on laptops provided by the School. In addition to computer labs, every Lower School and Middle School classroom has Internet access.
The Upper School Library provides access to powerful electronic research databases.
Arts
Junior Kindergarten-Grade 4 students receive extensive art and music instruction by full-time instructors in large, light-filled studios. Students in Grade 5-Grade 12 can choose from 11 choral and instrumental groups, and numerous visual arts, drama, and dance class offerings.Cannon students have received regional and state awards for visual arts and excellent ratings in band, choral, and orchestral competitions. Cannon was one of 40 U.S. high school drama programs to perform at the renowned Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Athletics
The Cannon School athletic program fields more than 30 sports teams in the Middle and Upper Schools, including 18 varsity teams. Teams compete in football, soccer, tennis, basketball, swimming, track and field, cross country, lacrosse, golf, baseball, softball, cheerleading, and volleyball. Cannon's sports teams are known as the Cougars - their colors are maroon and gold. (In early years, when the school was still Cabarrus Academy, the mascot was the road runner.)Cannon School began fielding Middle School and junior varsity football teams beginning in the 2008-09 school year and a varsity team in 2009-10.
The Cannon School Cougars compete in the 3A division of the N.C. Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA), and is currently a member of the Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA), along with Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte Latin School, and Providence Day School. Though their opponents are predominantly other independent schools, Cannon occasionally schedules games with nearby public high schools.
State champions 2001-2009; four-time Wachovia Cup winner; individual recognition of students and coaches including Wendy’s High School Heisman nominations and All-Area recognition by the Charlotte Observer. Athletes have been awarded locally and nationally for exceptional academic performance.