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Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside

Q: Is Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside a good school?

Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside ranks 514 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

514^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 66% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside is a small public PK–5 school in Charlotte, NC serving 309 students, nearly all of whom come from low-income households. In the most recent North Carolina state rankings (2025–26), it placed in the 66th percentile—earning 3 stars out of 5—after two straight years ranking at the 76th percentile. Those numbers put the school well above every nearby elementary school: most of the ten comparison schools around it, including KIPP Charlotte, Briarwood Academy, and Devonshire Elementary, rank in the bottom 30% of the state, averaging around the 18th percentile.

The school’s clearest academic strength is early literacy. Third-grade reading proficiency reached 72.9% in the latest testing year—roughly 15 points above the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools average of 57.6% and 17 points above the state average. Fourth-grade reading (69.6% proficient) is similarly strong, and the school also beats district averages in 3rd- and 4th-grade math. Another important difference is attendance: chronic absenteeism at Dorothy Vaughan Academy is 16.5%, far lower than the district’s 26.8% or the 28–55% range seen at nearby schools like KIPP Charlotte. Steady attendance and the school’s smaller size—many neighboring elementaries enroll 700–800 students—help explain why students here stay on track.

State school-effectiveness ratings are especially strong for particular groups: African American students rank in the 91st percentile statewide, Hispanic students at the 79th, and low-income students at the 83rd. Gifted students earn a remarkable 99th-percentile rating, placing the school 8th in the state. The softer spots are 5th-grade reading and science, which fell slightly below district and state averages in the latest year after a stronger showing in 2024–25, with results likely reflecting a smaller cohort. Overall, Dorothy J Vaughan Academy is a standout high-poverty, high-performing school in Charlotte and an academic outlier within its immediate cluster.

309

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

99%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2945 Johnston Oehler Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28269

(980) 343-0030

District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

63.1%

Hispanic:

24.6%

White:

5.8%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 54th percentile in 2019 → 66th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2019

✓Above the North Carolina median (66th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school66%

District avg64%

North Carolina avg61%

514^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 34%▲ up 12 pts since 2019

From top 46% (2019) to top 34% (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	64.3	514 of 1492	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	72.6	352 of 1490	76.4%	★★★★☆
2024	72.6	362 of 1505	75.9%	★★★★☆
2023	55.6	658 of 1502	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.2	494 of 1514	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.0	751 of 1489	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.9	677 of 1473	54.0%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	84.9	81 of 903	91.0%	★★★★★
2025	88.2	51 of 918	94.4%	★★★★★
2024	89.7	39 of 924	95.8%	★★★★★
2023	80.5	107 of 933	88.5%	★★★★☆
2022	87.7	57 of 927	93.9%	★★★★★
2021	80.9	93 of 896	89.6%	★★★★☆
2019	81.2	95 of 949	90.0%	★★★★★
2018	72.0	169 of 927	81.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.4	466 of 1447	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	67.4	409 of 1451	71.8%	★★★★☆
2024	64.5	465 of 1455	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.8	543 of 1459	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.9	575 of 1458	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.9	849 of 1440	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.9	595 of 1424	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.7	728 of 1405	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	71.3	8 of 743	98.9%	★★★★★
2025	70.8	28 of 710	96.1%	★★★★★
2024	62.6	263 of 669	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.5	363 of 494	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	71.2	205 of 981	79.1%	★★★★☆
2025	81.9	95 of 961	90.1%	★★★★★
2024	82.8	95 of 951	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	64.6	233 of 915	74.5%	★★★★☆
2022	64.3	229 of 893	74.4%	★★★★☆
2021	48.4	383 of 843	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.2	253 of 865	70.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.5	237 of 1434	83.5%	★★★★☆
2025	81.0	136 of 1437	90.5%	★★★★★
2024	82.4	125 of 1450	91.4%	★★★★★
2023	73.4	266 of 1437	81.5%	★★★★☆
2022	67.7	313 of 1366	77.1%	★★★★☆
2021	63.7	360 of 1329	72.9%	★★★★☆
2019	64.7	393 of 1361	71.1%	★★★★☆
2018	63.5	425 of 1332	68.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.7	541 of 1451	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	74.0	322 of 1450	77.8%	★★★★☆
2024	76.7	274 of 1464	81.3%	★★★★☆
2023	49.7	751 of 1461	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	68.9	402 of 1464	72.5%	★★★★☆
2021	52.4	647 of 1444	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.1	705 of 1430	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.9	741 of 1413	47.6%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.1	348 of 815	57.3%	★★★☆☆

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 (2026)99th percentile+33 vs school

African American (2026)91st percentile+25 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)83rd percentile+18 vs school

Hispanic (2026)79th percentile+14 vs school

Female (2026)68th percentile~ school

Male (2026)63rd percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)57th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics68%+5 vs state

Reading65%+9 vs state

Science62%-6 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Friday, June 4, 2021

Great place to work with a family environment! Close Quote

Schools Near Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside

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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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		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 (2025)	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 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
Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	2945 Johnston Oehler Rd.	Charlotte	28269	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(980) 343-0030	309	20	15.2	99.0%	18 (5.8%)	195 (63.1%)	76 (24.6%)	10 (3.2%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	64.3	514^th of 1492 public elementary schools	65.5%		72.6	352^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	76.4%	162	70.8	70.5	63.6				72.9	69.6	53.6				61.8		$9,792	$720	$9,072
United Community School	Public, Charter	K-8	1406 Suther Road	Charlotte	28213	Mecklenburg County	United Community School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(980) 819-0555	250	19	13.0		16 (6.4%)	135 (54.0%)	69 (27.6%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (10.4%)	40.3	900^th of 1492 public elementary schools	39.7%		33.5	1028^th of 1490 public elementary schools	31.0%	128	70.8	41.7	50.0	52.6	26.3	14.3	66.7	62.5	33.3	47.4	31.6	42.9	33.3	35.7
Newell Elementary	Public	K-5	325 Rocky River Road West	Charlotte	28213	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6820	554	42	13.2	99.5%	12 (2.2%)	159 (28.7%)	362 (65.3%)	14 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	5 (0.9%)	15	1363^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	8.6%		11.7	1397^th of 1490 public elementary schools	6.2%	34	47.3	34.3	47.6				35.1	29.3	37.0				57.3		$9,891	$1,089	$8,802
Joseph W Grier Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	8330 Grier Rd	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-5671	529	33	16.2	99.4%	30 (5.7%)	239 (45.2%)	223 (42.2%)	25 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.3%)	23.2	1224^th of 1492 public elementary schools	18.0%		19.1	1294^th of 1490 public elementary schools	13.2%	70	52.7	46.3	42.5				44.0	54.9	35.6				47.7		$10,343	$1,072	$9,271
Grove Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7515 The Plaza	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(980) 343-6900	740	42	17.6	99.6%	57 (7.7%)	252 (34.1%)	360 (48.6%)	42 (5.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	27 (3.6%)	21.2	1261^st of 1492 public elementary schools	15.5%		27.1	1134^th of 1490 public elementary schools	23.9%	127	57.6	41.8	38.5				45.5	45.1	44.4				42.7
University Meadows Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1600 Pavilion Blvd	Charlotte	28262	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-3685	737	38	19.1	99.6%	46 (6.2%)	418 (56.7%)	212 (28.8%)	32 (4.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	27 (3.7%)	34.7	1012^th of 1492 public elementary schools	32.2%		21.3	1255^th of 1490 public elementary schools	15.8%	243	59.6	42.9	54.3				49.0	45.6	38.3				73.4		$10,305	$1,460	$8,845
Gov's Village STEM (Lower)	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-4	7910 Neal Rd	Charlotte	28262	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(980) 343-5268	784	47	16.6	99.6%	22 (2.8%)	420 (53.6%)	204 (26.0%)	112 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	25 (3.2%)	22.1	1242^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	16.8%		22.1	1242^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	16.6%		48.3	44.7					47.7	39.8							$9,622	$1,382	$8,241
Devonshire Elementary	Public	K-5	6500 Barrington Dr	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6445	550	32	17.2	99.5%	17 (3.1%)	125 (22.7%)	394 (71.6%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	4 (0.7%)	14.1	1374^th of 1492 public elementary schools	7.9%		9.8	1425^th of 1490 public elementary schools	4.4%	51	31.9	32.9	52.6				26.4	24.7	34.6				62.8		$9,844	$1,144	$8,700
Briarwood Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1001 Wilann Dr	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(980) 343-6475	649	39	16.5	99.5%	15 (2.3%)	166 (25.6%)	418 (64.4%)	31 (4.8%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	16 (2.5%)	31.6	1063^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	28.8%		27.1	1132^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	24.0%	69	62.6	60.9	53.5				41.4	46.7	41.6				50.5		$10,516	$1,259	$9,257
KIPP Charlotte	Public, Charter	K-8	931 Wilann Dr	Charlotte	28215	Mecklenburg County	KIPP: Charlotte	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 537-2044	813	50	16.3	98.9%	5 (0.6%)	661 (81.3%)	103 (12.7%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (5.0%)	18.5	1310^th of 1492 public elementary schools	12.2%		18.6	1306^th of 1490 public elementary schools	12.3%	4	48.7	36.5	35.9	52.4	26.0	26.7	34.6	40.4	33.3	43.4	37.7	51.7	55.3	73.3

Frequently Asked Questions about Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside

What district is Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside in?

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

How many students attend Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside?

In the 2024-25 school year, 309 students attended Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside.

Is Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside a good school?

Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside ranks 514^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside?

Students at Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside are 63% African American, 25% Hispanic, 6% White, 3% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

Rate Dorothy J Vaughan Academy at Parkside!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesNewSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresNewSep 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.