ALA Charlotte

ALA Charlotte contains just one school, American Leadership Academy Charlotte, a K-8 charter school in Charlotte, NC, serving 277 students. Located in the ALA Charlotte district, the school is notable for its high-need population: 94.58% of students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, and chronic absenteeism stands at 61.1% — 2.5 times the North Carolina state average of 24.2%.

Academically, American Leadership Academy Charlotte shows strengths and weaknesses at different grade levels. In 3rd grade math, 62.5% of students are proficient, just 3.9 points below the state average — an impressive result for a high-poverty school. That strength doesn't carry into later grades: by 6th through 8th grade, math proficiency falls to the mid-20s, leaving a 30-point gap with the state. Reading tells a similar story with a notable exception: 4th grade reading (54.1%) is only 3.6 points below the state average, but 3rd grade reading (22.5%) is the lowest single score in the dataset. Science is the weakest subject overall, with 5th grade science at 34.4% versus 67.7% statewide, and 8th grade at 43.5% versus 68.6%.

Despite these challenges, the school is trending upward. Its statewide ranking has improved from the 6th percentile (0 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 13th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026. Year-over-year gains were especially strong in 3rd grade math (+23 points), while 7th grade math (-13.3 points) and some reading grades regressed. Parents should know that chronic absenteeism touches nearly two out of three students, which compounds learning challenges. Still, the bright spots in early math and 4th grade reading show that progress is possible, and the improving rank suggests the school is moving in the right direction.