Summary:
ZIP code 28206 in Charlotte, NC is served by five schools enrolling about 3,026 students, spanning PK through 12 across traditional, charter, and alternative settings, marked by extreme economic diversity.
These schools are split between two operators: four belong to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, while Sugar Creek Charter is independent. Outcomes differ drastically by school. Williams Secondary Montessori is the clear academic outlier, earning 4 stars and ranking at the 82nd percentile for high schools. With just 19.7% free/reduced lunch eligibility and 6.9% chronic absenteeism, its scores far exceed state averages. In contrast, the other four schools serve student bodies where 96% to 99% qualify for free/reduced lunch, which is linked to lower overall performance—though results vary widely from school to school.
Among those high-poverty schools, Druid Hills Academy is the most promising story, with strong math scores like 89.2% third-grade proficiency and a 2-star rating, though reading remains a hurdle. Sugar Creek Charter is the largest, enrolling half the ZIP's students, and shines at the high school level with a 94.6% graduation rate despite weaker elementary grades. Highland Renaissance Academy records lower absenteeism but only earns 1 star. The most concerning profile is Walter G. Byers School, which has 0 stars, 43% chronic absenteeism, and just 9.3% proficiency in 8th grade math.
Ultimately, comparing Williams Secondary Montessori with Walter G. Byers School exposes a 55-point gap in 8th grade reading, highlighting how attendance and poverty drive achievement. Interestingly, spending and class size do not predict outcomes—Byers has the best student-teacher ratio and highest spending yet tests the worst. Parents should evaluate these contrasting profiles closely to find the best fit for their child.
Thank you for your feedback!