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South Academy of International Languages

Public, Magnet Grades K-8
142nd
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools
Better than 90% of North Carolina elementary schools
Summary

South Academy of International Languages is a public magnet elementary and middle school in Charlotte, North Carolina, serving 1,227 students in grades K-8. The school is part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district, which is ranked 119 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

South Academy consistently outperforms the district and the state of North Carolina in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 89.3% of 3rd graders at South Academy were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 66.7% for the district and 64.1% for the state. The school also demonstrates strong performance across various student subgroups, ranking highly in the state for African American, Hispanic, and White student performance, as well as for English Language Learners and students with disabilities. In the most recent 2024-2025 school year, South Academy of International Languages ranked 142nd out of 1,490 elementary schools in the state, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

When compared to other nearby elementary schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district, South Academy of International Languages significantly outperforms its peers on standardized test scores, particularly in Mathematics and Reading. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, South Academy's 3rd grade Mathematics proficiency rate was 89.3%, compared to 43.3% at the nearby Montclaire Elementary and 38.6% at Nations Ford Elementary.

1,259
Students ?
14.7
Student/teacher ratio ?
$9,365
Per pupil spending ?
34.1%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 8300 Nations Ford Rd
       Charlotte, NC  28217-3461

(980) 343-5815

District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:
33.4%
Hispanic:
33.2%
African American:
18.3%
more
 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare South Academy of International Languages to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Holding steady — 93rd percentile in 2015 → 90th in 2025
Strengths
Test scores above the North Carolina average (76% vs 56% meeting standards)
Ranks in the top 10% of North Carolina elementary schools
Among the top-ranked schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school76%
District avg57%
North Carolina avg56%
Elementary school
142nd of 1,490
North Carolina public elementary schools ?
Top 10%▼ down 2 pts since 2015
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
78th of 773
North Carolina public middle schools ?
Top 10%▼ down 1 pts since 2015
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
25th of 109Elementary Schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
119th of 242Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools among North Carolina districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202587.7142 of 149090.5%★★★★★
202477.9281 of 150581.3%★★★★☆
202383.2194 of 150287.1%★★★★☆
202278.4263 of 151482.6%★★★★☆
202179.8241 of 148983.8%★★★★☆
201987.4133 of 147391.0%★★★★★
201889.994 of 143493.4%★★★★★
201790.283 of 142994.2%★★★★★
201691.764 of 142595.5%★★★★★
201588.7107 of 144092.6%★★★★★
201491.487 of 139093.7%★★★★★
201390.1105 of 140392.5%★★★★★
201281.0186 of 138886.6%★★★★☆
201181.3186 of 138186.5%★★★★☆
201081.6169 of 136387.6%★★★★☆
200979.3223 of 135483.5%★★★★☆
200876.8247 of 132481.3%★★★★☆
200773.2294 of 129377.3%★★★★☆
200672.2305 of 127676.1%★★★★☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202589.746 of 91895.0%★★★★★
202481.797 of 92489.5%★★★★☆
202390.740 of 93395.7%★★★★★
202287.358 of 92793.7%★★★★★
202189.158 of 89693.5%★★★★★
201988.655 of 94994.2%★★★★★
201893.814 of 92798.5%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202572.433 of 13174.8%★★★★☆
202453.383 of 13036.2%★★☆☆☆
201957.858 of 10645.3%★★☆☆☆
201873.134 of 9965.7%★★★☆☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202296.29 of 63498.6%★★★★★
202187.831 of 64695.2%★★★★★
201962.3219 of 87875.1%★★★★☆
201892.826 of 89797.1%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202577.465 of 56388.5%★★★★☆
202473.180 of 53385.0%★★★★☆
202378.460 of 51488.3%★★★★☆
202272.457 of 48588.2%★★★★☆
202160.587 of 38577.4%★★★★☆
201980.649 of 49790.1%★★★★★
201880.339 of 42190.7%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202583.9168 of 145188.4%★★★★☆
202473.7302 of 145579.2%★★★★☆
202377.5257 of 145982.4%★★★★☆
202279.4231 of 145884.2%★★★★☆
202180.9211 of 144085.3%★★★★☆
201984.3146 of 142489.7%★★★★☆
201887.9103 of 140592.7%★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202564.0231 of 71067.5%★★★☆☆
202446.1525 of 66921.5%★☆☆☆☆
202342.9486 of 58216.5%★☆☆☆☆
202255.3292 of 50041.6%★★☆☆☆
202155.6280 of 49443.3%★★☆☆☆
201934.0565 of 6127.7%☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202578.3117 of 96187.8%★★★★☆
202466.1257 of 95173.0%★★★★☆
202374.9146 of 91584.0%★★★★☆
202273.5163 of 89381.7%★★★★☆
202164.5210 of 84375.1%★★★★☆
201977.5116 of 86586.6%★★★★☆
201878.9113 of 85186.7%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202581.0135 of 143790.6%★★★★★
202466.2381 of 145073.7%★★★★☆
202380.2157 of 143789.1%★★★★☆
202277.4178 of 136687.0%★★★★☆
202179.6158 of 132988.1%★★★★☆
201977.1194 of 136185.7%★★★★☆
201876.5200 of 133285.0%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202588.4112 of 145092.3%★★★★★
202479.7234 of 146484.0%★★★★☆
202386.3138 of 146190.6%★★★★★
202274.2320 of 146478.1%★★★★☆
202175.6307 of 144478.7%★★★★☆
201987.7124 of 143091.3%★★★★★
201890.091 of 141393.6%★★★★★

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202178.616 of 9783.5%★★★★☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202561.8208 of 82174.7%★★★★☆
202470.1135 of 80183.1%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202588.873 of 117293.8%★★★★★
202484.8122 of 116689.5%★★★★☆
202384.6123 of 118389.6%★★★★☆
202283.5148 of 119487.6%★★★★☆
202182.5156 of 117286.7%★★★★☆
201991.930 of 118397.5%★★★★★
201891.235 of 117897.0%★★★★★
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202586.878 of 77389.9%★★★★★
202473.2184 of 79376.8%★★★★☆
202380.9133 of 78483.0%★★★★☆
202278.1152 of 78680.7%★★★★☆
202185.086 of 74188.4%★★★★☆
201991.835 of 73795.3%★★★★★
201888.745 of 69193.5%★★★★★
201786.163 of 69490.9%★★★★★
201688.056 of 69291.9%★★★★★
201587.764 of 70590.9%★★★★★
201486.859 of 62790.6%★★★★★
201387.067 of 67390.0%★★★★★
201284.151 of 66292.3%★★★★★
201184.837 of 64894.3%★★★★★
201083.355 of 64091.4%★★★★★
200980.988 of 63086.0%★★★★☆
200885.548 of 62092.3%★★★★★
200773.7127 of 60679.0%★★★★☆
200665.0211 of 59864.7%★★★☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202594.027 of 54695.1%★★★★★
202482.067 of 56088.0%★★★★☆
202388.541 of 55992.7%★★★★★
202283.562 of 55088.7%★★★★☆
202189.431 of 53394.2%★★★★★
201994.020 of 51996.1%★★★★★
201893.122 of 49495.5%★★★★★

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202138.4295 of 47838.3%★★☆☆☆
201988.218 of 50496.4%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202555.6100 of 37173.0%★★★★☆
202442.9182 of 35648.9%★★☆☆☆
202366.248 of 31884.9%★★★★☆
202251.8108 of 31265.4%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202580.7120 of 73383.6%★★★★☆
202465.4230 of 73868.8%★★★☆☆
202377.6140 of 73180.8%★★★★☆
202278.1142 of 73380.6%★★★★☆
202182.889 of 70687.4%★★★★☆
201988.147 of 68493.1%★★★★★
201887.848 of 65692.7%★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202559.1225 of 45850.9%★★★☆☆
202445.2335 of 46127.3%★☆☆☆☆
202363.8173 of 45261.7%★★★☆☆
202265.9131 of 45070.9%★★★★☆
202164.0170 of 44862.1%★★★☆☆
201973.922 of 41694.7%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202575.387 of 56284.5%★★★★☆
202458.5200 of 56464.5%★★★☆☆
202363.8150 of 55372.9%★★★★☆
202251.4247 of 54154.3%★★★☆☆
202159.4160 of 52269.3%★★★☆☆
201991.816 of 49396.8%★★★★★
201886.826 of 47294.5%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202586.459 of 72991.9%★★★★★
202472.5126 of 74383.0%★★★★☆
202378.2105 of 73585.7%★★★★☆
202270.7127 of 68981.6%★★★★☆
202172.3112 of 63382.3%★★★★☆
201989.132 of 63995.0%★★★★★
201891.817 of 60497.2%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202591.248 of 73393.5%★★★★★
202478.0140 of 75181.4%★★★★☆
202381.4123 of 74783.5%★★★★☆
202275.6156 of 74879.1%★★★★☆
202185.083 of 71188.3%★★★★☆
201994.127 of 69796.1%★★★★★
201888.551 of 66592.3%★★★★★

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202187.123 of 24890.7%★★★★★
201996.61 of 23799.6%★★★★★

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202546.1182 of 47861.9%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202595.110 of 64998.5%★★★★★
202490.740 of 65293.9%★★★★★
202392.331 of 65695.3%★★★★★
202289.053 of 65891.9%★★★★★
202192.232 of 63294.9%★★★★★
201994.518 of 62497.1%★★★★★
201894.613 of 59697.8%★★★★★
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Elementary school
Disabled (2022)99th percentile+16 vs school
African American (2025)95th percentile+5 vs school
White (2025)94th percentile+3 vs school
Male (2025)92nd percentile~ school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)91st percentile~ school
English Language Learner (2025)88th percentile~ school
Female (2025)88th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2025)88th percentile-3 vs school
Multi-racial (2021)84th percentile~ school
Asian (2025)75th percentile-16 vs school
Special Education (2025)75th percentile-16 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2025)67th percentile-23 vs school
Middle school
White (2025)98th percentile+9 vs school
African American (2025)95th percentile+5 vs school
Male (2025)93rd percentile+4 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)92nd percentile~ school
Multi-racial (2021)91st percentile~ school
Hispanic (2025)85th percentile-5 vs school
Female (2025)84th percentile-6 vs school
English Language Learner (2025)73rd percentile-17 vs school
Special Education (2025)62nd percentile-28 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2025)51st percentile-39 vs school
Disabled (2021)38th percentile-50 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?
Science80%+19 vs state
Mathematics76%+19 vs state
Reading74%+21 vs state

3.5
6 ratings · 6 written reviews
53
41
30
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12
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What people are saying
by a parent
Thursday, November 21, 2019

Open Quote Waddell is a great school. Only drawback is the language is emphasized more than the English language for younger learners. Teachers and given too much flexibility on how the language is taught Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Open Quote Principal and Vice Principal not interested in taking care of bullying and aren’t technology savvy with no desire to get training needed Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, July 2, 2018

Open Quote Due to Principal and Vice Principal being quite uncommunicative about the happenings with our children and not responding to voice messages, emails and meetings, I rate this school a 1 star. Close Quote


by a student
Monday, June 12, 2017

Open Quote It is a great school and I have learned a new language which has give me multiple opportunities I wouldn't have before the teachers are kind and caring Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Open Quote Amazing school with amazing teachers. Truly a special opportunity for children in Charlotte to get a global education. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, July 11, 2014

Open Quote I have had all of my 4 kids at Waddell E. Language Academy (formerly known as Smith Language Academy). Best (!) school program I have seen and heard of - and free of charge !!

My oldest just graduated from High School ... with EXCELLENT grades and the opportunity to study in Germany - free of charge - because he speaks German.

BEST SCHOOL ! Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about South Academy of International Languages

Students at South Academy of International Languages are 33% White, 33% Hispanic, 18% African American, 9% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,259 students attended South Academy of International Languages.

Yes. South Academy of International Languages ranks in the top 9.5% of North Carolina elementary schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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