Selwyn Elementary

Selwyn Elementary is a K–5 school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools serving 669 students in southeast Charlotte that consistently ranks among the very best elementary schools in North Carolina. It currently holds a 5-star state rating, ranking #40 out of roughly 1,500 elementary schools in the state (97th percentile) after earning the #26 spot the previous year, and it has never fallen below the 93rd percentile in over a decade. The student body is largely economically advantaged — about 15% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and just 9.9% of students are chronically absent, far below the district's 26.8% and the state's 24.2%.

Academics are exceptionally strong, especially in upper elementary. In 2025–26, 5th-grade reading proficiency reached 90.8% and 5th-grade math reached 92.0% — roughly 30 percentage points above state averages — and reading proficiency rises steadily as students move from 3rd grade (75.7%) to 5th grade (90.8%). That growth pattern sets Selwyn apart from nearby high performers like Myers Park Traditional Elementary and Beverly Woods Elementary, where reading proficiency typically declines by 5th grade, and it outperforms demographically similar Sharon Elementary in 5th-grade reading, math, and science. Special education outcomes are a standout too: in 2024–25, Selwyn's special education students ranked #1 out of 821 schools statewide. The school accomplishes all this while spending less per student than several nearby schools.

For parents, the main caveat is equity. Though Selwyn's overall results are elite, its economically disadvantaged students have historically scored below the statewide median for low-income students — though they improved to the 52nd percentile in 2025–26. Gifted student rankings have also been volatile, swinging from #1 in the state in 2023–24 to the middle of the pack two years later. For most families, however, Selwyn offers a rare combination of consistent excellence, academic momentum, and strong attendance year after year.