About Porter Ridge Middle
About Our School
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Porter Ridge Middle serves sixth through eighth-grade students and is located in Indian Trail. Our school has extraordinary students and staff who work hard, support one another and form relationships, resulting in positive school culture.
- Address: Porter Ridge Middle School, 2827 Ridge Road, Indian Trail, NC 28079
- Phone: 704-225-7555
- Fax: 704-226-9844
- Staff Directory
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Porter Ridge Cluster Attendance Maps
Fast Facts
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- Traditional Calendar
- Start Bell: 9:05 a.m.
- End Bell: 4:05 p.m.
- Mascot: Pirates
- Colors: Purple and black
School History
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Porter Ridge Middle School opened in the Fall of 2005. The school is a state-of-the-art complex situated on a 183-acre campus that also contains Porter Ridge High and Elementary schools. School bonds made possible by the Union County citizens have afforded the $60 million complex at Porter Ridge.
The school campus is on the South Fork of Crooked Creek and is situated across from an environmentally protected area that is home to a rare mollusk. Porter Ridge Middle School is the second middle school to be built in Union County since 1998. The prototype for the school design is in the Guilford County School System.
The middle school derives the first part of its name from Porter Byrum, a Union County attorney and landowner who graciously donated over 44 acres to the Union County Public School system on the current site where the middle school now stands. The latter part of the name comes from Ridge Road which runs in the front of all three campuses on the site.
Meet Our School Leaders
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Debbie Mayer (Principal)
About Ms. Mayer
Debbie Mayer is starting her first year as principal of Porter Ridge Middle School. Ms. Mayer was an administrator at Sun Valley High School since January of 2021. She has been an educator for 19 years serving in many different roles, including teacher, instructional coach, and interim assistant principal. Mrs. Mayer has served Marvin Ridge Middle, Porter Ridge Middle, Sun Valley Middle, and Sun Valley High School in her 15 years with Union County Public Schools. She has taught in three states and has called Waxhaw, N.C. her home for the last 19 years. Mrs. Mayer received her bachelor's degree in elementary education with a middle school emphasis from Missouri State University. She earned her master's degree in educational leadership at Wingate University in 2022.
Mrs. Mayer has been married for 27 years and has three children, all of which have attended and graduated from Union County Public Schools. Her two youngest children are college athletes in their senior and junior years. Her favorite hobbies are reading, traveling, watching her children’s sporting events, and spending time with family and friends.
Contact Mrs. Mayer
- Email: debbie.mayer@ucps.k12.nc.us
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Corrine Hart (6th Grade Assistant Principal)
About Ms. Hart
Ms. Hart is excited to be returning to the Porter Ridge family as the Assistant Principal for 6th grade! From 2013 to 2020, Ms. Hart worked as a 7th grade English/Language Arts teacher at Porter Ridge Middle. For the past three years, she has served as a Culture Coach for Parkwood Middle and High. She earned her undergraduate degree from The College of New Jersey and is currently pursuing a Master’s in School Administration from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. She’s a passionate advocate for students and teachers, and believes that every child can reach academic and social success when provided with the proper support!
Contact Ms. Hart
- Phone: 704-225-7555
- Email: corrine.hart@ucps.k12.nc.us
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Christina McDowell (8th Grade Assistant Principal)
About Mrs. McDowell
Christina McDowell is happy to be the 8th grade assistant principal. She served in the military from 2001–2013, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. She went on to get a Master’s in Education and, as a military wife, has taught all over the country, teaching subjects such as; Health Science, Chemistry, and Math. She taught 8th grade math at East Union Middle School for four years, which led her to pursue a master’s degree in leadership at High Point University.
Mrs. McDowell currently lives in Union County with her husband, Thomas, who currently serves Forest Hills students, and her two sons, Thomas and Tamaury.
In her spare time, she loves to craft and watch Union County sports. She is excited and proud to be an Porter Ridge Pirate.
Contact Mrs. McDowell
- Phone: 704-225-7555
- Email: christina.mcdowell@ucps.k12.nc.us
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School Performance Director
- Dr. Bashawn Harris
- 704-296-0824, ext. 4031
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Professional Advisory Council Representatives
- Principal: Mrs. Debbie Mayer
- Representative: Lisa Poulos