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Oaklawn Language Academy

Public, Magnet Grades K-8
312th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools
Better than 79% of North Carolina elementary schools
Summary

Oaklawn Language Academy is a K-8 public school in Charlotte, NC, serving 531 students within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and located in an area where most nearby schools struggle to reach average performance. In the 2025-2026 school year, the school ranks 312th out of 1,492 North Carolina schools, placing it in the 79th percentile with a 4-star rating, a remarkable position given that its student body has a 97.4% free/reduced-price lunch rate. Oaklawn's state ranking has improved steadily from the 41st percentile in 2020-2021, demonstrating a clear upward trajectory even as many schools have struggled to recover from pandemic-era losses.

Academically, Oaklawn outperforms both the district and state in mathematics at every grade level, with notably strong middle school results—8th grade math reached 91.1% proficiency in 2024-2025, nearly double the state average. Reading proficiency is above average in grades 4, 5, and 7, though 8th grade reading sits near the state level. Science results are mixed: 5th grade exceeds state averages, but 8th grade lags by roughly 9 points. The school's subgroup results are exceptional: African American students rank in the 99th percentile statewide, and economically disadvantaged students rank in the 91st percentile. Chronic absenteeism sits at 13.9%, far below the district's 26.8% and the rates at comparable neighbors like Druid Hills Academy (30.9%) or Walter G. Byers School (43.0%), making Oaklawn the clear standout among high-poverty schools within a few miles.

Comparing Oaklawn to elite magnets like Lincoln Heights Montessori or Irwin Academic Center is misleading due to far lower poverty rates at those schools; Oaklawn's performance for its student population is arguably unmatched locally. Parents should note a few areas for watch: 8th grade science and reading are near or below state averages, English learner students rank in the 67th percentile (solid but lower than other subgroups), and a slight gender gap favors male students. With a chronic absenteeism rate that rivals much more affluent schools and a steady climb up state rankings, Oaklawn appears on a strong path—one that could push even higher if upper-grade reading and science improve.

531
Students ?
12.5
Student/teacher ratio ?
97.4%
Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?
 1810 Oaklawn Ave
       Charlotte, NC  28216-5121

(980) 343-0400

District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
67.8%
African American:
20.7%
White:
9.2%
more
 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Oaklawn Language Academy to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 82nd percentile in 2016 → 79th in 2026
Strengths
✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (69% vs 59% meeting standards)
✓Ranks in the top 21% of North Carolina elementary schools
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school69%
District avg61%
North Carolina avg59%
Elementary school
312th of 1,492
North Carolina public elementary schools ?
Top 21%▼ down 3 pts since 2016
From top 18% (2016) to top 21% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
229th of 778
North Carolina public middle schools ?
Top 29%▼ down 14 pts since 2016
From top 16% (2016) to top 29% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
105th of 246Charlotte-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
202675.5312 of 149279.1%★★★★☆
202571.4368 of 149075.3%★★★★☆
202460.8570 of 150562.1%★★★☆☆
202357.2633 of 150257.9%★★★☆☆
202249.2756 of 151450.1%★★★☆☆
202139.0882 of 148940.8%★★☆☆☆
201958.8599 of 147359.3%★★★☆☆
201859.2590 of 143458.9%★★★☆☆
201767.7445 of 142968.9%★★★☆☆
201678.7254 of 142582.2%★★★★☆
201560.6562 of 144061.0%★★★☆☆
201467.9433 of 139068.8%★★★☆☆
201349.9666 of 140352.5%★★★☆☆
201263.8532 of 138861.7%★★★☆☆
201171.9366 of 138173.5%★★★★☆
201049.2783 of 136342.6%★★☆☆☆
200970.4386 of 135471.5%★★★★☆
200839.0883 of 132433.3%★★☆☆☆
200761.6519 of 129359.9%★★★☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202696.011 of 90398.8%★★★★★
202594.628 of 91896.9%★★★★★
202483.780 of 92491.3%★★★★★
202390.145 of 93395.2%★★★★★
202284.772 of 92792.2%★★★★★
202175.8112 of 89687.5%★★★★☆
201986.864 of 94993.3%★★★★★
201884.663 of 92793.2%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202655.0172 of 51966.9%★★★☆☆
202565.1121 of 56378.5%★★★★☆
202456.1171 of 53367.9%★★★☆☆
202358.2148 of 51471.2%★★★★☆
202251.5182 of 48562.5%★★★☆☆
202168.958 of 38584.9%★★★★☆
201871.764 of 42184.8%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202667.5402 of 144772.2%★★★★☆
202566.9421 of 145171.0%★★★★☆
202456.8605 of 145558.4%★★★☆☆
202354.1656 of 145955.0%★★★☆☆
202240.9871 of 145840.3%★★☆☆☆
202141.2813 of 144043.5%★★☆☆☆
201947.3790 of 142444.5%★★☆☆☆
201853.6679 of 140551.7%★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
201940.2552 of 6129.8%☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202678.5130 of 98186.7%★★★★☆
202573.4163 of 96183.0%★★★★☆
202462.0298 of 95168.7%★★★☆☆
202358.4316 of 91565.5%★★★☆☆
202253.4359 of 89359.8%★★★☆☆
202150.4369 of 84356.2%★★★☆☆
201969.6200 of 86576.9%★★★★☆
201876.8140 of 85183.5%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202682.0133 of 143490.7%★★★★★
202575.6222 of 143784.6%★★★★☆
202471.9288 of 145080.1%★★★★☆
202369.9318 of 143777.9%★★★★☆
202263.3384 of 136671.9%★★★★☆
202142.8724 of 132945.5%★★☆☆☆
201969.7320 of 136176.5%★★★★☆
201882.6129 of 133290.3%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202678.4245 of 145183.1%★★★★☆
202573.6327 of 145077.4%★★★★☆
202462.0528 of 146463.9%★★★☆☆
202359.5576 of 146160.6%★★★☆☆
202257.5605 of 146458.7%★★★☆☆
202136.7893 of 144438.2%★★☆☆☆
201969.1384 of 143073.1%★★★★☆
201863.6501 of 141364.5%★★★☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202666.9229 of 77870.6%★★★★☆
202581.9118 of 77384.7%★★★★☆
202472.1192 of 79375.8%★★★★☆
202372.1187 of 78476.1%★★★★☆
202252.1366 of 78653.4%★★★☆☆
202154.6315 of 74157.5%★★★☆☆
201952.2365 of 73750.5%★★★☆☆
201857.0311 of 69155.0%★★★☆☆
201775.8146 of 69479.0%★★★★☆
201680.3110 of 69284.1%★★★★☆
201587.863 of 70591.1%★★★★★
201488.454 of 62791.4%★★★★★
201362.2221 of 67367.2%★★★☆☆
201265.8241 of 66263.6%★★★☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202495.623 of 56095.9%★★★★★
202290.437 of 55093.3%★★★★★
202193.622 of 53395.9%★★★★★
201974.178 of 51985.0%★★★★☆
201875.966 of 49486.6%★★★★☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202661.482 of 36377.4%★★★★☆
202581.531 of 37191.6%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202667.3214 of 73170.7%★★★★☆
202577.6143 of 73380.5%★★★★☆
202479.2132 of 73882.1%★★★★☆
202366.1216 of 73170.5%★★★★☆
202241.9423 of 73342.3%★★☆☆☆
202152.7312 of 70655.8%★★★☆☆
201942.3421 of 68438.5%★★☆☆☆
201853.6326 of 65650.3%★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202349.3289 of 45236.1%★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202669.7127 of 56677.6%★★★★☆
202585.645 of 56292.0%★★★★★
202473.691 of 56483.9%★★★★☆
202379.063 of 55388.6%★★★★☆
202252.2239 of 54155.8%★★★☆☆
202162.0145 of 52272.2%★★★★☆
201964.4120 of 49375.7%★★★★☆
201870.891 of 47280.7%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202680.586 of 72588.1%★★★★☆
202592.927 of 72996.3%★★★★★
202475.4107 of 74385.6%★★★★☆
202382.176 of 73589.7%★★★★☆
202267.3148 of 68978.5%★★★★☆
202164.3161 of 63374.6%★★★★☆
201972.3120 of 63981.2%★★★★☆
201874.893 of 60484.6%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202662.7257 of 73665.1%★★★☆☆
202582.9102 of 73386.1%★★★★☆
202460.8264 of 75164.8%★★★☆☆
202374.2166 of 74777.8%★★★★☆
202260.7263 of 74864.8%★★★☆☆
202155.0291 of 71159.1%★★★☆☆
201963.6251 of 69764.0%★★★☆☆
201857.6287 of 66556.8%★★★☆☆
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
African American (2026)99th percentile+20 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)91st percentile+12 vs school
Hispanic (2026)87th percentile+8 vs school
Male (2026)83rd percentile+4 vs school
Female (2026)72nd percentile-7 vs school
English Language Learner (2026)67th percentile-12 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2019)10th percentile-50 vs school
Middle school
African American (2024)96th percentile+20 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)88th percentile+18 vs school
Hispanic (2026)78th percentile+7 vs school
English Language Learner (2026)77th percentile+7 vs school
Female (2026)71st percentile~ school
Male (2026)65th percentile-5 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2023)36th percentile-40 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?
Mathematics73%+13 vs state
Science69%~ state avg
Reading65%+9 vs state

5.0
2 ratings · 2 written reviews
5★2
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What people are saying
by a parent
Sunday, November 27, 2011

Open Quote PLEASE VISIT US AT OUR OPEN HOUSE NOVEMBER 29, 2011
10:30 to 11:30 am
6:30 to 7:30 pm
Thanks Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Open Quote Oaklawn Language Academy is wonderful magnet school with caring teachers. The school is a language immersion program for students in grades K-8 grades. Studies have shown that learning a new language helps children improve their problem solving skills, increase their cognitive development, become more culturally diverse, and be more competitive in the workforce. I have witnessed improved test scores by my children attending Oaklawn.

Don't miss out on an opportunity for a quality education that's free. If you want your children to be globally competitive citizens demonstrating high academic achievement, bilingualism, bi-literacy and bi-cultural, consider the immersion curriculum at Oaklawn.

Oaklawn's success has resulted in substantial media coverage and numerous accolades from the Department of Public Instruction.
School of High Growth 2007 - 2008
School or Progress 2008 - 2009
School of Progress 2009 - 2010
We have also met "AYP" (Adequate Yearly Progress) for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Magnet School of America honored Oaklawn as a "School of Distinction" for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Oaklawn Language Academy, a bilingual window to the world. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Oaklawn Language Academy

Students at Oaklawn Language Academy are 68% Hispanic, 21% African American, 9% White, 2% Two or more races.

In the 2024-25 school year, 531 students attended Oaklawn Language Academy.

Oaklawn Language Academy ranks 312th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »
2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026
2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026
2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025
2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025


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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