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Charlotte Lab School

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12

1305^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Alternative Schools

Better than 12% of North Carolina alternative schools

Summary

Charlotte Lab School is a public charter school serving 1,002 students in grades K-12 in Charlotte, North Carolina, within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district. The school has consistently high four-year graduation rates, ranging from 86.4% in 2021-2022 to 94.7% in 2024-2025, significantly higher than the state average. However, the school's academic performance in mathematics and reading proficiency is more mixed, with rates ranging from 23.8% to 42.9% in math and 31.3% to 53.1% in reading across grade levels in 2024-2025.

Compared to nearby charter schools like Corvian Community School, Mountain Island Charter School, and Jackson Day School, Charlotte Lab School has lower mathematics and reading proficiency rates, particularly in the upper grades. These nearby charter schools also have higher graduation rates, ranging from 87.7% to 94.7% in 2024-2025. In comparison to traditional public schools like Elbert Edwin Waddell High School and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Academy, Charlotte Lab School has stronger academic performance and graduation rates.

An interesting finding is the increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Charlotte Lab School, from 20.06% in 2021-2022 to 41.12% in 2023-2024. This shift in the school's demographic composition may be a factor in its academic performance, as the nearby charter schools with stronger outcomes have lower percentages of economically disadvantaged students. Overall, Charlotte Lab School has several strengths, including high graduation rates and some areas of strong academic performance, but also faces challenges in mathematics and reading proficiency that may be influenced by the changing socioeconomic makeup of the student population.

807

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

50.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2045 Suttle Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28208

(704) 464-3830

District: Charlotte Lab School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

49.9%

Hispanic:

17.8%

White:

17.0%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Charlotte Lab School to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 65th percentile in 2022 → 16th in 2025

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (88%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (38% vs 55% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 49 percentile points since 2022

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

North Carolina avg55%

Elementary school

1,305^th of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 12%▼ down 73 pts since 2017

From top 14% (2017) to bottom 12% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

542^nd of 773

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 30%▼ down 45 pts since 2019

From top 25% (2019) to bottom 30% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

539^th of 641

North Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 12 pts since 2024

From bottom 28% (2024) to bottom 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	18.6	1305 of 1490	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.8	1162 of 1505	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.9	869 of 1502	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	63.4	532 of 1514	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.4	549 of 1489	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.6	451 of 1473	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.0	423 of 1434	70.5%	★★★★☆
2017	81.3	203 of 1429	85.8%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	25.1	768 of 918	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.1	810 of 924	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.3	798 of 933	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.1	620 of 927	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.0	752 of 896	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.5	480 of 949	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.0	616 of 927	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2021	69.3	104 of 646	83.9%	★★★★☆
2019	66.6	183 of 878	79.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	22.7	1218 of 1451	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.9	1132 of 1455	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.5	860 of 1459	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.4	566 of 1458	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.8	627 of 1440	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.3	587 of 1424	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.2	564 of 1405	59.9%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	28.4	764 of 961	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.2	719 of 951	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	50.6	431 of 915	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.0	158 of 893	82.3%	★★★★☆
2021	61.0	250 of 843	70.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	11.2	1390 of 1437	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.8	1342 of 1450	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.0	1295 of 1437	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	37.6	886 of 1366	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.2	883 of 1329	33.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	17.5	1300 of 1450	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.4	1115 of 1464	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.2	836 of 1461	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	63.6	499 of 1464	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.1	468 of 1444	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.3	295 of 1430	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	74.3	308 of 1413	78.2%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	15.2	159 of 175	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	38.6	64 of 86	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	63.7	399 of 1166	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.5	346 of 1183	70.8%	★★★★☆
2022	76.7	237 of 1194	80.2%	★★★★☆
2021	80.0	193 of 1172	83.5%	★★★★☆
2019	80.2	180 of 1183	84.8%	★★★★☆
2018	76.0	253 of 1178	78.5%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	30.6	542 of 773	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.4	421 of 793	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.7	398 of 784	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.2	422 of 786	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.8	345 of 741	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.0	183 of 737	75.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	25.0	449 of 546	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.8	330 of 560	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.0	299 of 559	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.2	429 of 550	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	50.8	205 of 533	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.9	174 of 519	66.5%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	59.7	96 of 449	78.6%	★★★★☆
2021	59.1	111 of 478	76.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	27.4	554 of 733	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.9	440 of 738	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.1	474 of 731	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.0	536 of 733	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	52.6	315 of 706	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.8	185 of 684	73.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	66.7	137 of 553	75.2%	★★★★☆
2022	61.8	167 of 541	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	12.0	689 of 729	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	44.7	390 of 743	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.7	439 of 735	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.3	515 of 689	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.7	411 of 633	35.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	34.8	484 of 733	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.0	342 of 751	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.6	303 of 747	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.7	286 of 748	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.4	344 of 711	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.8	168 of 697	75.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	81.8	99 of 649	84.7%	★★★★☆
2024	82.6	110 of 652	83.1%	★★★★☆
2023	72.3	169 of 656	74.2%	★★★★☆
2022	77.0	137 of 658	79.2%	★★★★☆
2021	71.4	157 of 632	75.2%	★★★★☆
2019	91.2	34 of 624	94.6%	★★★★★

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	17.8	539 of 641	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.9	462 of 640	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	15.6	411 of 440	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	35.2	272 of 437	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	12.7	561 of 610	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	32.1	418 of 602	30.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	18.2	538 of 606	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.0	543 of 613	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	23.6	480 of 601	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.0	458 of 607	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	49.9	282 of 553	49.0%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2021)84th percentile+21 vs school

White (2024)66th percentile+43 vs school

Hispanic (2025)20th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2025)16th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)16th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)10th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)9th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)3rd percentile-9 vs school

Middle school

White (2025)85th percentile+55 vs school

Disabled (2022)79th percentile+32 vs school

Hispanic (2023)75th percentile+26 vs school

Male (2025)34th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)24th percentile-5 vs school

African American (2025)18th percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)5th percentile-24 vs school

High school

White (2024)49th percentile+21 vs school

Male (2025)20th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)11th percentile-5 vs school

Female (2025)8th percentile-8 vs school

African American (2025)7th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

English II54%-5 vs state

Science49%-12 vs state

Reading42%-10 vs state

Mathematics32%-25 vs state

Math III31%-35 vs state

Math I24%-10 vs state

Biology23%-26 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, September 5, 2019

Teachers are fantastic and students are happy and well-adjusted. The focus on the whole student instead of solely on test scores, makes this school superior to others in the area. Character and values are integrated into the curriculum so kids learn how to be the best human possible. Could not recommend enough. Close Quote

Schools Near Charlotte Lab School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				EOC Biology (2025)	EOC English II (2025)	EOC Math I (2025)	EOC Math III (2025)	EOG Mathematics (2025)						EOG Reading (2025)						EOG Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Charlotte Lab School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2045 Suttle Avenue	Charlotte	28208	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte Lab School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 464-3830	807	65	12.4	50.1%	137 (17.0%)	403 (49.9%)	144 (17.8%)	10 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	112 (13.9%)								(n/a)	22.7	54.3	24.3	31.3	34.2	32.9	23.8	27.9	33.3	42.9	39.2	47.9	31.3	47.5	35.9	53.1	46.8	52.1
Metro School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	405 S Davidson St	Charlotte	28202	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-5450	258	36	7.1	98.8%	46 (17.8%)	118 (45.7%)	73 (28.3%)	13 (5.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.7%)								(n/a)																			$33,839	$4,305	$29,534
Jackson Day School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1209 Little Rock Rd	Charlotte	28214	Mecklenburg County	Jackson Day School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 391-5516	882	60	14.6		387 (43.9%)	279 (31.6%)	80 (9.1%)	34 (3.9%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	99 (11.2%)								(n/a)	52.3	69.4	43.8	73.6	83.3	70.0	73.4	76.8	60.4	36.6	65.0	61.4	70.3	58.5	64.4	61.4	70.3	60.9
Sugar Creek Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	4101 N Tryon Street	Charlotte	28206	Mecklenburg County	Sugar Creek Charter	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 509-5470	1,591	68	23.3	96.6%	3 (0.2%)	1,110 (69.8%)	425 (26.7%)	13 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (2.5%)								(n/a)	33.3	76.8	45.1	66.2	41.0	42.9	49.2	50.3	47.1	44.0	22.2	56.7	40.2	48.8	51.6	56.3	49.6	60.4
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	5833 Millhaven Lane	Charlotte	28269	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-0680	91	21	4.3	96.7%	14 (15.4%)	57 (62.6%)	14 (15.4%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.5%)								(n/a)	10.0	23.1													30.0	7.7		15.4	$60,725	$16,356	$44,369
Pioneer Springs Community School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	9232 Bob Beatty Rd.	Charlotte	28269	Mecklenburg County	Pioneer Springs Community School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 494-0777	558	47	11.8		336 (60.2%)	70 (12.5%)	92 (16.5%)	16 (2.9%)	6 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (6.6%)								(n/a)	52.6	82.4	20.0	52.0	50.0	46.5	48.6	59.1	46.7	18.2	52.3	55.8	70.3	65.9	60.0	65.9	67.6	56.8
TMSA Charlotte	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	9108 Mallard Creek Rd.	Charlotte	28262	Mecklenburg County	The Math and Science Academy of Charlott	Yes	No	No	Yes	(980) 321-7744	760	51	14.8	94.1%	30 (3.9%)	471 (62.0%)	83 (10.9%)	118 (15.5%)	6 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	51 (6.7%)								(n/a)	23.5	58.8	14.3	60.0	71.8	56.2	53.2	30.8	52.0	23.8	42.3	65.8	56.5	34.6	50.0	42.9	71.0	30.2
Aspire Trade High	Public, Charter, Alternative	9-11	7125 Hambright Rd	Huntersville	28078	Mecklenburg County	Aspire Trade High School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(980) 399-7554	270	14	19.7	47.8%	58 (21.5%)	100 (37.0%)	84 (31.1%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (8.9%)								(n/a)	15.9	31.6	15.1	10.9
Ballantyne Ridge High School	Public, Alternative	9-11	4004 Toringdon Way	Charlotte	28277	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(980) 343-1122	1,414	83	16.9	40.5%	442 (31.3%)	286 (20.2%)	420 (29.7%)	215 (15.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	50 (3.5%)								(n/a)	68.8	65.9	31.2	83.5
Corvian Community School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	4041 Johnston Oehler Road	Charlotte	28269	Mecklenburg County	Corvian Community School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 717-7550	1,376	73	18.8		549 (39.9%)	456 (33.1%)	176 (12.8%)	101 (7.3%)	4 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	88 (6.4%)								(n/a)	71.1	85.5	69.6	78.4	76.0	64.7	69.0	56.9	88.6	74.0	71.0	75.5	60.0	61.8	70.5	78.8	63.0	85.6

Frequently Asked Questions about Charlotte Lab School

Is Charlotte Lab School a good school?

Charlotte Lab School ranks in the bottom 12.4% of North Carolina alternative schools.

What district is Charlotte Lab School in?

Charlotte Lab School

How many students attend Charlotte Lab School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 807 students attended Charlotte Lab School.

What is the racial makeup of Charlotte Lab School?

Students at Charlotte Lab School are 50% African American, 18% Hispanic, 17% White, 14% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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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.