Cabarrus County Schools

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Choose the right way to report

The best reporting method depends on the urgency and type of concern. Providing specific information quickly can help school officials and law enforcement respond appropriately.

Immediate emergency

If someone is in immediate danger, a crime is in progress or urgent police, fire or medical assistance is needed, call 911 immediately.

Online reporting systems should never replace calling 911 during an active emergency.

Anonymous safety concern

Use the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System to report threats, weapons, planned violence, self-harm, bullying, harassment or other concerning behavior.

Say Something is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year. Please call your school if a report is unavailable for your specific school.

Open Say Something

Bullying or harassment

Use the CCS Student Bullying and Harassment Form to report repeated bullying or harassing behavior involving a student.

This CCS form is monitored during school hours while school is in session. Use Say Something for 24/7 reporting.

Report bullying or harassment

Still unsure where to begin?

Danger is happening now

Call 911 immediately.

A threat or concerning behavior

Use Say Something or tell a trusted adult. Please call your school if a report is unavailable for your specific school.

A school-based concern

Contact the school principal or another administrator.

Bullying or harassment

Use the CCS form or Say Something.

Act promptly

What to do when you see or hear a threat

CCS takes every reported threat seriously. A prompt, direct report allows school administrators and law enforcement to begin assessing the information as quickly as possible.

Protect immediate safety

Call 911 when anyone may be in immediate danger or an urgent emergency response is needed.
Tell a responsible adult

Notify a parent, teacher, school administrator, school resource officer or law enforcement officer.
Report the original information

Share the account name, exact words, date, time, location, screenshots and other relevant details.
Preserve—do not spread

Save useful evidence for investigators, but do not repost, forward or publicly circulate the content.

Prevention and preparedness

A layered approach to school safety

No single program or device creates a safe school. CCS uses multiple layers of prevention, preparation, reporting, communication and response.

School resource officers

CCS partners with local law enforcement agencies to provide school resource officers who build relationships, support prevention and assist with safety concerns.

Controlled building access

Secure entrances, visitor registration procedures and student check-in and check-out processes help schools manage access.

Safety plans and audits

Schools maintain safety plans that are reviewed regularly, and safety audits help identify opportunities for improvement.

Drills and training

Students and employees participate in required drills and training so they are familiar with emergency procedures.

Camera systems

Security cameras on campuses and school buses support safety, incident review and collaboration with law enforcement.

Coordinated response

District safety personnel, school leaders and public-safety partners coordinate emergency response.

Anonymous reporting

Say Something gives students and community members a way to share safety concerns anonymously at any time. Please call your school if a report is unavailable for your specific school.

Student support teams

Counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses and other professionals help address student needs.

Safety checks

Additional screening and safety-check procedures may be used as one part of the district's broader prevention strategy.

Why some details are not published: CCS provides families with useful safety information while protecting confidential procedures, student privacy, building security and law-enforcement operations.

Emergency communication

What families can expect during an emergency

CCS will communicate verified information as quickly as conditions allow. During the earliest stages of an emergency, school and district personnel may be focused on protecting students, accounting for everyone and coordinating with first responders.

What families should do

Follow instructions sent by CCS or your child's school.
Keep phone numbers and email addresses current.
Check ParentSquare for official updates.
Avoid calling the school during an active emergency.
Do not come to campus unless directed to do so.
Do not share unverified social media posts or rumors.
Bring identification if reunification is announced.

Protect and assess

School personnel follow emergency procedures, account for students and staff, and coordinate with public-safety agencies.
Confirm information

CCS works to verify essential facts before distributing an official message.
Notify families

Updates may be sent through ParentSquare by app notification, text message, email or telephone.
Provide instructions

Families will receive directions about schedule changes, dismissal, transportation or reunification when applicable.
Share follow-up information

Additional information may be provided after the immediate situation is resolved and facts are available for release.

Before an emergency

Prepare your family now

A few simple steps can make emergency communication and reunification safer and more efficient.

Confirm that your child's school has your current telephone number, email address and home address.
Review the people authorized to pick up your child.
Download the ParentSquare app and enable notifications.
Discuss who your child can identify as a trusted adult.
Teach your child to report concerning behavior rather than sharing it with friends or online.
Review family plans for weather, transportation delays and unexpected schedule changes.
Follow your school and CCS communication channels.
Save the CCS main telephone number in your contacts: 704-260-5600.

Online awareness

Help students navigate digital spaces safely

Online behavior can affect student well-being, school climate and physical safety. Regular, calm conversations are more effective than waiting for a problem to occur.

Build healthy habits

Set age-appropriate expectations for apps and devices.
Establish device-free times, including overnight.
Review privacy, location and direct-message settings.
Remind students that posts can be permanent.
Encourage students to pause before posting or forwarding.

Know what your child is seeing

Ask which apps, games and platforms your child uses.
Discuss online contacts and misrepresented identities.
Watch for secrecy, distress or changes in device use.
Take online threats and harassment seriously.
Save evidence and report concerning content.

Respond to harmful content

Do not publicly argue with or confront another user.
Use platform tools to block and report abusive accounts.
Preserve usernames, messages, links and screenshots.
Contact the school when behavior affects the school.
Call 911 when online activity indicates immediate danger.

Talk about threats and rumors

Report the original content to a trusted adult.
Do not repost a threat as a warning to others.
Do not speculate about who is involved.
Do not assume a threat is only a joke.
Use verified CCS messages as the source of information.

Emotional well-being

Supporting children after a difficult event

Children may respond to emergencies, severe weather, rumors or upsetting news in different ways. Some reactions appear immediately, while others may develop later.

Changes you may notice

Difficulty sleeping, eating or concentrating
Increased fear, worry, irritability or anger
Physical complaints such as headaches or stomachaches
Withdrawal from family, friends or usual activities
Clinginess or difficulty separating from caregivers
Repeated questions or focus on the event
Changes in school behavior or academic performance

Ways adults can help

Remain calm and provide reassurance.
Give simple, accurate, age-appropriate information.
Allow children to talk without forcing a conversation.
Maintain familiar routines when possible.
Limit repeated exposure to upsetting news.
Model healthy ways to manage stress.
Contact a counselor, social worker or health professional when concerns continue.

Concerned about a student's immediate safety? In an emergency, call 911. Concerns involving self-harm, violence or another safety risk may also be reported through the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System after emergency responders have been contacted when appropriate. Please call your school if a report is unavailable for your specific school.

Common questions

School safety frequently asked questions

Why might CCS not communicate immediately?

During the earliest stages of an emergency, school staff may be protecting students, accounting for everyone, assisting people who need additional support and coordinating with first responders. CCS also works to verify facts before communicating.

Should I go to my child's school during an emergency?

No, unless CCS or the school directs you to a specific location. Arriving at campus can interfere with emergency vehicles, law-enforcement operations, evacuation or student accountability.

What is reunification?

Reunification is a controlled process for returning students to authorized caregivers when normal dismissal is not possible. Families should wait for official instructions, report only to the announced location and bring identification.

Are anonymous reports really anonymous?

Say Something provides an anonymous reporting option. Reporters should still include as many specific details as possible so the concern can be evaluated and addressed. Please call your school if a report is unavailable for your specific school.

What information should be included in a report?

Include what happened, who was involved, when and where it occurred, whether anyone may be in immediate danger, exact words used, account names, links, screenshots and potential witnesses.

What happens after a threat is reported?

The response depends on the circumstances. School administrators, district personnel, student-support professionals and law enforcement may review the information, assess urgency, conduct interviews, preserve evidence and take appropriate action.

Why does CCS not publish each school's full safety plan?

Detailed safety plans contain sensitive information about facilities, response procedures and security operations. Keeping those operational details confidential helps protect students and employees.

How are families notified of weather-related changes?

CCS communicates schedule changes through official district channels, including ParentSquare. Families should maintain current contact information.

Read CCS inclement weather procedures

Helpful links

Safety and student-support resources

Use these links to report concerns, learn more about prevention and connect with school or district services.

Say Something Submit a 24/7 anonymous safety report. Please call your school if a report is unavailable for your specific school. Opens in a new tab. CCS bullying and harassment form Report student bullying or harassment. Opens in a new tab. StopBullying.gov Federal information about bullying prevention and response. Opens in a new tab. Inclement weather procedures Learn how weather decisions and schedule changes are communicated. CCS School Health Find school health information and nursing resources. CCS School Social Work Learn about student and family support services. Sandy Hook Promise programs Learn about warning signs, prevention and anonymous reporting. Opens in a new tab. School safety and crisis resources Family guidance from the National Association of School Psychologists. Opens in a new tab. Find your child's school Locate school contact information and school webpages.