Summary
Kennedy Middle is a mid-sized school in southwest Charlotte serving 990 students in grades 6–8, and it's part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district. Overall, Kennedy sits right in the middle of the pack among North Carolina middle schools, ranking in the 45th percentile statewide. That's a genuine improvement from a few years ago, when it ranked near the 34th percentile, and the school has held steady at this stronger level for two straight years. Nearly all of its students (99.7%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places it alongside other nearby high-poverty schools like Sedgefield Middle, Quail Hollow Middle, and Southwest Middle School.
The most encouraging news for parents is that Kennedy performs notably well for specific groups of students. Its African American students rank in the 75th percentile statewide—a four-star result and the school's strongest academic outcome—and its economically disadvantaged students rank in the 60th percentile, meaning these students are achieving above what similar schools typically see. In terms of grade-level subjects, 7th-grade math and 8th-grade science are genuine bright spots, both at or above state averages. Reading proficiency has also climbed substantially across all three grades over the past two years. However, 8th-grade math remains a serious concern: only 38.7% of 8th graders are proficient, roughly 15 points behind both the district and state averages, and this weakness has barely budged over three years. Nearby schools with similar demographics, including Sedgefield and Quail Hollow Middle, outperform Kennedy in this one subject.
Attendance is another point to watch. Kennedy's chronic absenteeism rate was 31.7% in 2024-2025, higher than the district's 26.8% and the state's 24.2%, though it is comparable to Sedgefield and far better than Wilson STEM Academy (52.4%) or Quail Hollow (46.2%). When compared with its closest neighbors, Kennedy clearly outperforms Wilson, Southwest, and Quail Hollow overall, but it still trails higher-performing schools like Piedmont Middle School and First Ward Creative Arts Academy. In short, Kennedy Middle is an improving school with real strengths in science, 7th-grade instruction, and supporting African American and low-income students—but persistent 8th-grade math struggles and absenteeism are the two areas most worth understanding before enrolling.
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