CONCORD, N.C., June 11, 2026 — Cabarrus Health Sciences Institute (CHSI) is the Cabarrus County Schools highest-performing high school based on preliminary academic results showing strong achievement across key end-of-course subjects. With final state rankings still pending, school leaders said they expect CHSI to rank among the top-performing schools in North Carolina once results are finalized.
Students posted proficiency rates of 92.5% in biology, 96.6% in Math III and 100% in English II, results that reflect the school’s rigorous academic culture and the commitment of its students and educators.
The results come as CHSI marked another milestone - the first students in the early college program graduated in May after helping shape it from the ground up. As a specialized early college high school focused on health sciences, CHSI prepares students for both college and careers through high expectations, innovative instruction and meaningful support.
About half of CHSI’s first cohort of 44 students graduated in May with a Cabarrus College diploma, an associate degree or college credit. The remaining students will continue in the early college program for up to two more years as they work toward an associate or bachelor’s degree.
Launched in August 2022 through a partnership among Cabarrus College, Atrium Health and Cabarrus County Schools, CHSI was created to provide opportunities for high school students to enter meaningful health professions such as nursing. The school, located adjacent to Cabarrus College, is one of three state-funded Cooperative Innovative High Schools in Cabarrus County and the only one focused on preparing students for careers in healthcare.
Depending on their pathway, students can graduate in four years with industry-recognized credentials, an associate degree or college coursework that advances them toward a bachelor’s degree.
“There was no road map to building an early college from the ground up,” said Ashley Short, CHSI principal. “We have built the plane as we have flown it, but it has led to a very strong team. With supportive leadership from both the college and the school district, we have found a groove.”
Building the program meant CHSI leaders and faculty had to adjust to teaching college-level classes in ways that worked for early college students. To help, the college created training on how these students learn, how to give helpful feedback and how to break hard work into steps. This helped students do well in challenging classes while building confidence and independence.
“As the first group of students to navigate this early college model, they have shown us what is possible when young people are given high expectations and the support to rise to them,” said Mikahla Louallen, Cabarrus College’s early college liaison. “Their resilience, honesty and willingness to grow have shaped the way we think about early college students and the support they need to thrive.”
One of the clearest lessons to emerge from CHSI’s development has been the power of relationships. Faculty and staff found that student success depends not only on academic readiness, but also on strengthening executive functioning skills and helping students see themselves as capable of doing college-level work. Those insights helped shape the wraparound support systems that have become a defining feature of the early college.
Recent CHSI graduate Faith Sharpe said Louallen encouraged her to pursue CHSI’s surgical technology track, which allows her to earn an Associate of Science in Surgical Technology after her thirteenth year.
“I never told Mrs. Louallen I was thinking about leaving, but when my grades slipped, she reached out to support me and help me figure out solutions,” Sharpe said. “I would think about my future and how I was accepted to the school for a reason. It made me realize I could do it and I should not give up.”
The school’s strong academic results and the success of its first cohort reflect the momentum CHSI built in just a few years. School leaders said the achievements are a point of pride for the CHSI community and a testament to the collaborative efforts of students, teachers, staff and families. Final statewide standings will be confirmed after the state completes its review and reporting process.
About Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution dedicated to educating and developing the next generation of healthcare professionals through student-centered, career-focused programs. The College is an academic partner of Atrium Health, which is part of Advocate Health, providing students with strong clinical integration, real world learning, and direct pathways into the health care workforce. Through this close connection to a leading national health system, Cabarrus College prepares compassionate, practice ready graduates who serve their communities with excellence.