The Wayland H. Cato, Jr. School of Education at Queens became a separate unit of the University in May 2008.  The mission of the School is to prepare culturally-responsive educators who are leaders, experts in their fields and facilitators of learning for all students in a "community of respect." This is consistent with long-held values of the University as a whole.

The Cato School offers an array of undergraduate and graduate programs including: Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Teaching (K-6), Master of Education in Literacy (K-12), Master of School Administration and licensure at both the elementary and secondary levels. It is also one of 18 North Carolina Teaching Fellows campuses.  In addition, the Public Education Research Institute at Queens is housed within the Cato School of Education.  The institute is dedicated to examining key issues affecting local school districts both locally and nationally.  The institute will support research by the School's students and faculty, and facilitate community education in support of Queens' role as an educational resource for the community.

A gift to The Queens Fund for the Cato School of Education will support merit- and need- based scholarships for education students.