The minutes have been counted, and the Final Four schools have been selected!

Four UCPS elementary schools are advancing to the Final Four round of this year’s Books and Brackets reading challenge. The challenge is modeled after the March Madness basketball competition, and all 30 of the school district’s elementary schools compete in the five-week reading challenge.

In the Poplin school library, students gathered with books in hand, ready for adventure. Some sat together on colorful benches, flipping through pages, while others stood proudly, lost in their stories. The shelves behind them filled with books waiting to be discovered. With each page they turn, a world of wonder and possibility opens. In this competition, every story brings them one step closer to victory.

Their dedication paid off last year when they took the championship title—but can they do it again? Competition is fierce, and three other schools are just as determined to claim the top spot.

This year’s finalists are Poplin, Indian Trail, Weddington and Sandy Ridge. With the title on the line, the question remains: Who will emerge as the ultimate champion? Find out at the March 28 event at Wingate University when we go Live!

03/07/2025