Below is a School District-level map of CDC Transmission Category based on the COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 people for cases reported in School District residents over the past 7 days (updated using data from October 9, 2021 to October 15, 2021). To create this map, Zip Code-level data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) were aggregated to the School District level

Category Color Case Rate Count Percent
Low Transmission XXX 0 - 9 0 0.0
Moderate Transmission XXX 10 - 49 0 0.0
Substantial Transmission XXX 50 - 99 3 2.5
High Transmission XXX > 100 115 97.5
Note: Case Rates are per 100,000 people based on cases in the last 7 days

The categories and colors of the classification scheme are based on recent guidelines from the CDC. While the CDC recommendations are nuanced (regarding the implementation of mitigation strategies),1 a general interpretation is that fully in-person instruction should only be offered communities with Low or Moderate Transmission (communities with Substantial or High Transmission should be in hybrid or virtual instruction mode).

Currently, the 7-day case rate for North Carolina is 208 cases per 100,000 people, meaning the state as a whole falls in the High Transmission category. The number and percent of the 118 North Carolina school districts in each Transmission category are presented in the table on the right.


CDC Transmission Category based on lab confirmed COVID-19 case rate over prior 7 days and per 100,000 residents, October 9, 2021 - October 15, 2021.
Click on a School District to view its case rate. To search for an address, city, or zip code, click on the magnifying glass on the top left. Click on the stack symbol (top right) to turn on/off a Roads layer.


  1. Specifically, the text states: At any level of community transmission, all schools have options to provide in-person instruction (either full or hybrid), through strict adherence to mitigation strategies. Recommended learning modes vary to minimize risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in school by emphasizing layered mitigation, including school policies requiring universal and correct mask use. The recommended learning modes (in-person, hybrid, virtual) depend on the level of community transmission and strict adherence to mitigation.↩ī¸Ž