Central Academy of Technology and Arts
Central Academy of Technology and Arts is a public high school located in Monroe, North Carolina, and also Union County's first magnet-based high school. Unlike regular public high schools, students at Central Academy have the opportunity to have a major course of study in an academy of their choice that will give them a head start towards their future careers in life. The academies include Information Systems, Medical Sciences, Performing Arts, Pre-Engineering, and Transportation Systems. Teacher Preparation was eliminated before the 2015-2016 school year.
CATA is a part of Union County Public Schools, on Brewer Drive. The school was originally a career center, but now is a part of the public school system. The school was founded as a high school for grades 9-12 in 2006, with the first graduating class in 2009.
To attend this school students must apply and score above a level III on their 8th grade North Carolina End of Grade Tests for English and mathematics. Depending on the number of people that apply for specific academies, students may have to be selected in a lottery for official entrance into the school.
For students wishing to enter the Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, or Music Academies, an audition is required. The other four academies—Auto Tech, Medical, Engineering, and IT—select students through a lottery system.
