Hugh M. Cummings High School, opened in 1970, provides the service of education to 843 students in grades 9 through 12. The School is one of five public high schools within Burlington and operates within the Alamance-Burlington School District. It is located in the east side of Burlington There are a total of eight schools within the entirety of the district, with a total of 6,792 students. 

Cummings offers 12 varsity sports including baseball, basketball, football, softball, volleyball, golf, cheerleading, soccer, cross country, track & field, wrestling and tennis.  In 2007, Cummings won four state championships in football, basketball, indoor women’s track and outdoor women’s track. Their mascot is the Cavalier. 

Cummings offers a variety of other extra curricular clubs, activities and honor societies to students.  Cummings also requires students to complete an extensive graduation project in order to graduate.

At Cummings, minority enrollment make up 91% of the student body, predominantly being black followed by Hispanic. The male/female ratio is an even 50/50. Cummings graduation rate is 92%, lower than the NC state graduation rate of 94%. The School has a total of 56 classroom teachers, and a 14:1 student/teacher ratio.

The nearest high schools are Career Technical Education Center, as well as Graham High School. Cummings High School differs from its competitors for it offers education to mostly underprivileged families, bringing education to those who otherwise would not have it.