Neighborhoods

Private Schools

NC ReportCards.org

Providence Spring Elementary

Matthews Elementary McKee Road Elementary

Elizabeth Lane Elementary

    Blythe Elementary

More Quality Elementary

Weddington Elementary  Antioch Elementary           Marvin Elementary

Endhaven, Marvin,

The list above is not conclusive, just a good place to start, if you find a house you like and don't recognized the school, plug the name in at ncreportcards.org and see for yourself.. 

   About Charlotte Schools...

Your "Greater Charlotte" public school choices are:

 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools, (CMS) Mecklenburg County,

Union County for cities like Waxhaw, Weddington, Indian Trail

Iredell County- northern cities like Mooresville

Cabarrus County- Concord and Harrisburg

Fort Mill- South Carolina schools in nearby FT Mill

But by far the giant in the room is CMS...

Meet the new CMS Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman here.  18 months in, it is clear this Superintendent "gets it." Test scores are up 13%. Communication issues are down. The schools remain quite crowded, some overcrowded, but in November the city expressed their confidence in Dr, Gorman by approving a $520 Million dollar school construction  bond package by a vote of almost 2 to 1.  

You will find 4 Mecklenburg County High Schools in the Top 200 of the Top 1000 High Schools in America list by Newsweek. And if you want to look at the lowest performing schools, you will see that Charlotte outperform 19 of 20 similar city districts in the NAEP (pronounced Nape- National Assessment of Educational Progress) sometimes called the Nation's Report Card, a math and reading test given to the nations 4th and 8th graders.

The State of North Carolina publishes a wonderful site where you can check the results of student testing at every public K-12 school in the state.  Get full information and test results at www.ncreportcards.org   I like to use the summary's, found at the top, and take a quick glance at the graphs to see how many of the students are testing on grade level.  then you can study the report in detail if it meets your minimum criteria.  Once you find a particular school of interest, you can search for homes in your price range in that school district.  Statewide, North Carolina  K-12 education is a mixed bag. There are many good schools in the mix, you just need to find them. You'll see a sample of some quality elementary schools on the left, High Schools on the right. Check out the test scores and summary information in the link beneath each school. Of course test scores are not everything- I view them as a starting point, look carefully and you'll see teacher turnover rate-- and indication of the relative happiness there- class size, demographics, and No Child Left Behind stats... and I 'd recommend you visit the "contenders" when you visit Charlotte. There is more on CMS below.

What your child studies is determined by the State Board of Education and you can look at the curricula here:  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/

Background Information on our area schools are below. Here are some of the highlights if you want an overview of the best of the best: http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/discover/wow.pdf

Families new to the area will find a wealth of educational opportunities here. The Charlotte region’s public school systems offer solid, broad programs that meet the needs of a wide range of students, from special needs to academically gifted, college prep to technical. North Carolina has traditionally encouraged consolidation of public systems so that many counties have a single school system. While many systems have consolidated, some remain fiercely independent, such as Mooresville Graded School District in southern Iredell  County. York County, S.C., also has four public school systems, each with its own distinct qualities.

In addition, there are magnet and IB schools around the county. In additon, there  are half- dozen charter schools in the area too.

The largest public school system in the Carolinas is Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). This system was ranked 23rd largest in the nation in 2003-2004, with over 116,000 students enrolled in 148 schools.

There are many issues confronting CMS: overcrowding in certain suburban schools, continuing inequity between "have" and "have not" schools, a desire by some to secede from the schools system.

The issue of pupil assignment is a large one in the CMS system. From the early 1970s to spring 2002, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools operated under a federal court desegregation order that placed emphasis on assigning pupils to schools to achieve a balanced racial mix. That court order has now ended and Charlotte-Mecklenburg has launched a new assignment plan that offers a K-12 feeder system, choice opportunities, stability, guaranteed school assignment and diversity through choice by letting parents decide which school is right for their child. For complete details on the current assignment plan, check the CMS website at www.cms.k12.nc.us.

The CMS system is rightly proud of its steadily improving performance in such areas as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and end-of-grade tests. In 2003, the top 10 percent of CMS graduates outperformed their peers statewide and nationally, scoring 1228 on the SAT, compared to 1185 for the top 10 percent in North Carolina and 1192 for the top 10 percent in the U.S.

CMS will continue to provide top-rated educational opportunities such as The Bright Beginnings program. This program offers a literacy-rich curriculum to 3,000 4-year-olds who might otherwise start kindergarten already behind other students. The program has proven its worth by preparing students to be on par with or ahead of their peers as they begin elementary school.

CMS features an innovative magnet school program that provides opportunities for students to pursue specific interests in their education. Fifteen magnet programs in 54 schools (see list) focus on such subjects as foreign language immersion; communication arts; math, science and technology; visual and performing arts; and accelerated learning.

Elementary School County Map: http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/studentassignment04-05/adopted/map2.asp?Courier=es_bdys

Middle School County Map: http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/studentassignment04-05/adopted/map2.asp?Courier=ms_bdys

High School County Map: http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/studentassignment04-05/adopted/map2.asp?Courier=hs_bdys

CMS participates in the state’s ABCs of Public Education Accountability Program, which establishes standards for performance and improvement for every public school and then assesses the school using results on end-of-grade tests. The program ensures that schools are meeting the educational standards set up by the state and rewards schools that exceed their goals. Check the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s website at www.ncpublicschools.org for details on the ABCs at the schools you’re considering.

A common theme among all Charlotte-region schools is growth. The tremendous increase in population is causing a surge in school enrollment, often putting classroom space, money and resources at a premium. Throughout this area, public and private schools are studying projections for growth and considering options to meet the demand for school services. As you check out the schools you’re considering, you’ll certainly see plenty of new construction and expansion projects under way, as well as plenty of modular units (mobile classrooms).

The Charlotte region also has a wealth of independent secular and religious private schools. Some large, well-established schools have huge campuses; others are small and new. There’s even a parochial school system, Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools, which encompasses the county’s seven parochial schools (but not the Catholic schools in Gastonia and Rock Hill). You’ll find a range of educational offerings, including innovative programs, special classes for students with learning disabilities, religious training and character-building. Because each private school has its own distinct philosophy and approach to learning, you’ll want to research schools, talk to parents and take a tour. Check here for that list.

The N.C. Board of Education must approve charter schools before they can begin operation. In addition, these schools must undergo periodic reviews to determine that they’re meeting regulations and standards. There are eight charter schools in Mecklenburg County, two in Gaston County, three in Iredell County and one in Union County.

Public School Entrance Requirements

North Carolina: A child entering kindergarten must be

5 years old on or before Oct. 16.

A child entering the first grade must be

6 years old on or before the same date.

A copy of the child’s birth certificate and proof of residency must be taken to the school in order to register the child.

The following basic immunizations are required:

• 5 or more DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus). 3 doses by age seven months and two booster doses, one dose between 12 and 19 months and the second dose on or after the fourth birthday and before enrolling in school (K-1) for the first time. If the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday, the fifth dose is not required.

• 3 or more oral polio vaccines. Two doses by age five months, a third dose by 19 months of age and a booster dose on or after the fourth birthday and before enrolling in school (K-1) for the first time. If the third dose was administered on or after the 4th birthday, the 4th dose is not required. Two doses of enhanced-potency inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (IPV) may be substituted for two doses of OPV.

• 4 MMR (2 measles, 1 mumps, 1 rubella) for children enrolling in K-1. A child must have two measles vaccines with one dose on or after the first birthday, but before 16 months of age. The second dose must be after the fourth birthday, but before enrolling in school (K-1) for the first time. In addition, a child must have one rubella vaccine and one mumps vaccine occurring on or after the first birthday, but before 16 months of age.

• 4 HiB (not required after fifth birthday) Three doses of HbOC or two doses of PRP-OMP by seven months old and a final dose of any type on or after the first birthday, but before 16 months old. Children who receive the first dose of HiB on or after their first birthday and before 15 months old are required to have only two doses with one dose being after 15 months of age. Children who receive the first dose of HiB vaccine on or after 15 months old are required to have one dose.

• 3 Hepatitis B vaccines with one occurring prior to three months old, a second dose by five months old and a third dose by 19 months old. Persons born before July 1, 1994 are not required to receive the hepatitis B vaccine.

A certificate of immunization must include the following:

• Name of child and date of birth.

• Name of the parent(s) or guardian.

• Address of the parent(s) or guardian.

• Sex of the child.

Kindergarten students must have a health assessment before entering school.

Transfer students should bring their most recent report card or transfer slip to verify grade.

Beginner’s days are held each spring at school to help parents prepare children for entry in the fall.

Parent(s)/guardians should contact their child’s school for more information, or visit www.cms.k12.nc.us/resources/kinderhandbook/index.asp

South Carolina

S.C. law requires that children between ages 5 and 17 enroll in school. Schools operate for 180 days each year.

S.C. law requires that all children to be enrolled in kindergarten and first grade present a birth certificate issued by the state of birth and be 6 years of age by Sept. 1 of the current school year. An exception is made for children who have completed first grade in another state that has a different age requirement. To enter kindergarten, children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1.

All children entering S.C. schools for the first time must be immunized prior to enrolling and obtain an S.C. Certificate of Immunization form. Certificates may be obtained from the S.C. Health Department or other sources of medical care.

South Carolina requires the following immunizations: measles, rubella, DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) and polio.

 I remember moving here, it was exciting, and sometimes worrying. We had four school age children so where to live and where our children would go to school was our biggest concern... We've experienced both public and private schools and can give you a solid overview of education in this area, and a way to find the specific information you may be looking for. I've been called an "education agent" because of my concern and knowledge about our local schools.  This page is designed to help you find the best choice for your family. I've tried to make it as comprehensive as possible. A look at some of the best High Schools below.

Butler High School

Myers Park High School

Providence High School

  Hopewell, Ardrey Kell, Weddington HS

Whether you are from around the Carolina's or out of state, I'd like to help take the worry out of any real estate decision you need to make this year. There are excellent choices in just about every price range. I'll help you find them plus- the right neighborhood and right lot.