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Whitewater Academy

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1269^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 15% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Whitewater Academy is a large PK–5 elementary school in Charlotte, NC, serving 832 students and operating within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, a district rated above the state median. The school serves a student population in which roughly 99.6% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and it has seen a sharp one-year decline: its statewide ranking fell from the 41st percentile in 2024–25 to the 15th percentile in 2025–26, earning a 1-star rating and making it the lowest-ranked nearby CMS elementary in the data. Paw Creek Elementary sits at the 86th percentile, Tuckaseegee Elementary at the 58th, Mountain Island Lake Academy at the 42nd, and River Oaks Academy at the 23rd.

Test scores are below district and state averages in every grade and subject. Math proficiency ranges from 48.1% to 51.5% across grades 3–5, reading from 32.6% to 39.8%, and 5th-grade science fell from 60.4% to 54.1% — a subject that was once above state averages. Reading is the deepest concern: only about one in three 5th graders reads proficiently, leaving a 20+ point gap to the district average. Chronic absenteeism is a persistent challenge, with 34.1% of students chronically absent in 2024–25 versus 26.8% for CMS and 24.2% statewide. That rate is roughly double the level at nearby Paw Creek Elementary (17.9%).

The 2025–26 decline is broad-based, but earlier data show this school is capable of stronger results: several student subgroups posted strong rankings in 2024–25, and gifted students ranked at the 96th percentile statewide that year. High poverty alone does not explain the gap — Whitewater and Paw Creek Elementary have essentially identical free/reduced lunch rates, yet Paw Creek's proficiency rates are dramatically higher, suggesting that school-wide conditions such as attendance and instructional support are key drivers. Watch items for the coming year include whether the recent proficiency decline is reversed, whether chronic absenteeism can be reduced from its persistent 34% level, and whether reading proficiency can begin closing the gap to the district average.

832

Students ?

17.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

94.8%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (any vaccine)

11600 White Rapids Rd
Charlotte, NC 28214-2813

(980) 343-0003

District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Students who attend Whitewater Academy usually attend:

Middle:	Whitewater Middle
High:	West Mecklenburg High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

45.8%

Hispanic:

36.7%

White:

8.4%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Whitewater Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 28th percentile in 2016 → 15th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (45% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 24% North Carolina)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg64%

North Carolina avg61%

1,269^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 15%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From bottom 28% (2016) to bottom 15% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

105^th 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	20.6	1269 of 1492	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.8	883 of 1490	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.7	921 of 1505	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.3	893 of 1502	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.1	881 of 1514	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.1	1184 of 1489	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.5	1061 of 1473	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.1	1063 of 1434	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	33.0	1033 of 1429	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.0	1028 of 1425	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	31.4	1060 of 1440	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	29.2	1022 of 1390	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	24.9	1116 of 1403	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	25.5	1146 of 1388	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	31.8	1041 of 1381	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	32.1	1034 of 1363	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	27.4	1062 of 1354	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.8	529 of 903	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	67.6	217 of 918	76.4%	★★★★☆
2024	68.8	204 of 924	77.9%	★★★★☆
2023	76.4	137 of 933	85.3%	★★★★☆
2022	65.5	228 of 927	75.4%	★★★★☆
2021	42.6	468 of 896	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.4	379 of 949	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.3	343 of 927	63.0%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	13.4	96 of 106	9.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	8.5	94 of 99	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	22.2	562 of 634	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.1	640 of 646	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	21.9	785 of 878	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.0	840 of 897	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.6	263 of 519	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	71.1	88 of 563	84.4%	★★★★☆
2024	50.9	212 of 533	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.8	186 of 514	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.9	138 of 485	71.5%	★★★★☆
2021	41.0	199 of 385	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.9	140 of 497	71.8%	★★★★☆
2018	47.2	188 of 421	55.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	19.8	1255 of 1447	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.7	869 of 1451	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.2	727 of 1455	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.1	814 of 1459	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.3	774 of 1458	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.0	1117 of 1440	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.6	1001 of 1424	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.5	981 of 1405	30.2%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	70.8	28 of 710	96.1%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.3	790 of 981	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	56.4	375 of 961	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.2	400 of 951	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.5	408 of 915	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.3	344 of 893	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	34.0	580 of 843	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.2	318 of 865	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.8	299 of 851	64.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.7	1222 of 1434	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	56.0	560 of 1437	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.7	607 of 1450	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.5	589 of 1437	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.5	739 of 1366	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.0	1066 of 1329	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.1	865 of 1361	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.5	863 of 1332	35.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	23.6	1193 of 1451	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	42.2	859 of 1450	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.3	1035 of 1464	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.6	923 of 1461	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.7	948 of 1464	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.2	1179 of 1444	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.7	1074 of 1430	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.4	1088 of 1413	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	26.6	664 of 815	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.6	582 of 821	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.7	469 of 801	41.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	73.5	275 of 1172	76.5%	★★★★☆
2023	10.4	1132 of 1183	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	27.7	968 of 1183	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.1	1131 of 1178	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2025)96th percentile+55 vs school

White (2025)77th percentile+36 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)49th percentile+34 vs school

African American (2026)41st percentile+26 vs school

Hispanic (2026)19th percentile+5 vs school

Special Education (2026)19th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)18th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)15th percentile~ school

Female (2026)13th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)11th percentile-30 vs school

Asian (2019)9th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science54%-14 vs state

Mathematics50%-13 vs state

Reading37%-19 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Wednesday, March 15, 2017

This school has moved from a D score to a C in the past two years. The teachers are dedicated to providing the best education possible to all students. Close Quote

Schools Near Whitewater Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)					EOG Reading (2026)					EOG Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Whitewater Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	11600 White Rapids Rd	Charlotte	28214	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-0003	832	47	17.6	—	70 (8.4%)	381 (45.8%)	305 (36.7%)	35 (4.2%)	1 (0.1%)	6 (0.7%)	34 (4.1%)	20.6	1269^th of 1492 public elementary schools	14.9%		41.8	883^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	40.7%	386	51.5	51.5	48.1			37.1	39.8	32.6			54.1	94.8%	0%	$9,291	$1,057	$8,234
River Oaks Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1015 Mt Holly-Huntersville Rd	Charlotte	28214	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 344-1020	555	31	17.8	—	47 (8.5%)	333 (60.0%)	144 (25.9%)	18 (3.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.0%)	27.1	1156^th of 1492 public elementary schools	22.5%		11.9	1395^th of 1490 public elementary schools	6.4%	239	54.8	51.9	39.8			45.2	55.1	38.6			53.7	89.2%	6%	$10,288	$1,014	$9,274
Ida Rankin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	301 W Central Avenue	Mount Holly	28120	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9136	533	37	14.2	97.6%	266 (49.9%)	128 (24.0%)	91 (17.1%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (7.9%)	66.2	487^th of 1492 public elementary schools	67.4%		62.2	527^th of 1490 public elementary schools	64.6%	40	65.1	59.3	86.7			60.2	56.0	72.0			77.3	96.3%	3.7%	$8,721	$1,006	$7,715
Paw Creek Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1300 Cathey Rd	Charlotte	28214	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(980) 343-6088	784	45	17.3	—	51 (6.5%)	400 (51.0%)	263 (33.5%)	37 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	30 (3.8%)	83.2	203^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	86.4%		79.1	260^th of 1490 public elementary schools	82.6%	57	90.2	82.9	81.7			66.1	65.3	61.4			87.9	90.5%	8.6%	$10,851	$1,377	$9,474
Catawba Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	101 Ivey Street	Belmont	28012	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9119	238	20	11.9	—	120 (50.4%)	23 (9.7%)	68 (28.6%)	7 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (8.4%)	59.7	588^th of 1492 public elementary schools	60.6%		56.6	620^th of 1490 public elementary schools	58.4%	32	54.5	65.2	66.7			54.5	56.5	64.3			85.7	92.5%	2.5%	$10,876	$1,354	$9,522
Pinewood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1925 N Main Street	Mount Holly	28120	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9138	508	33	15.4	—	271 (53.3%)	65 (12.8%)	109 (21.5%)	21 (4.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (8.1%)	72.9	360^th of 1492 public elementary schools	75.9%		65.9	467^th of 1490 public elementary schools	68.7%	107	70.5	72.2	70.8			64.1	69.4	62.9			76.4	97.3%	1.4%	$8,545	$911	$7,633
Movement School Northwest	Public, Charter	K-3	8015 Bellhaven Boulevard	Charlotte	28216	Mecklenburg County	Movement School Northwest	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(980) 431-5330	208	14	15.1	—	2 (1.0%)	168 (80.8%)	22 (10.6%)	3 (1.4%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	11 (5.3%)								(n/a)	64.3					53.5						97.7%	1.1%
East Voyager Academy of Charlotte	Public, Charter	K-8	7429 Tuckaseegee Rd.	Charlotte	28214	Mecklenburg County	East Voyager Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 412-6988	200	8	24.5	—	10 (5.0%)	95 (47.5%)	78 (39.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (8.0%)	41.7	885^th of 1492 public elementary schools	40.7%		32.5	1045^th of 1490 public elementary schools	29.9%	160	45.5	68.4	50.0	64.5	60.0	36.4	47.4	33.3	64.5	53.3	50.0
North Belmont Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	210 School Street	Belmont	28012	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9135	371	26	14.2	—	172 (46.4%)	29 (7.8%)	133 (35.8%)	17 (4.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.9%)	55.3	650^th of 1492 public elementary schools	56.4%		70.6	380^th of 1490 public elementary schools	74.5%	270	59.3	73.1	67.2			45.8	63.5	53.7			70.1	94.9%	3.4%	$10,302	$1,927	$8,375
Tuckaseegee Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-5	2028 Little Rock Rd	Charlotte	28214	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(980) 343-6055	544	40	13.6	—	12 (2.2%)	232 (42.6%)	234 (43.0%)	50 (9.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (2.6%)	57.2	622^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	58.3%		57.1	606^th of 1490 public elementary schools	59.3%	16	69.9	59.6	76.7			54.4	51.4	52.3			77.4	82.7%	2.5%	$10,356	$1,167	$9,190

Frequently Asked Questions about Whitewater Academy

What schools do graduates of Whitewater Academy attend?

Students who attend Whitewater Academy usually go on to attend:

Middle : Whitewater Middle
High : West Mecklenburg High School

What district is Whitewater Academy in?

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Is Whitewater Academy a good school?

Whitewater Academy ranks in the bottom 14.9% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Whitewater Academy?

Students at Whitewater Academy are 46% African American, 37% Hispanic, 8% White, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

How many students attend Whitewater Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 832 students attended Whitewater Academy.

Rate Whitewater Academy!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 attendance dataSep 2, 2026

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.