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Best High Schools in Zip Code 28216

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its North Carolina rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

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At a glance

Schools

3,001

Students

Top rankedNorthwest School of the Arts92^nd of 662 North Carolina high schools

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Biggest riser

West Charlotte High School up 53 spots statewide this year

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Summary:

In ZIP code 28216 in Charlotte, NC, there are two public high schools — West Charlotte High School and Northwest School of the Arts — both serving grades 9–12 as part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, a district ranked 105th out of 246 districts in North Carolina.

These two schools offer vastly different experiences. Northwest School of the Arts is the clear academic standout, ranking 92nd out of 662 high schools in the state (86th percentile) with a 4-star rating. Its End-of-Course proficiency rates are exceptional: 85% in Biology, 94.7% in English II, 81% in Math I, and 94.1% in Math III — all well above district and state averages. It also has a lower student-to-teacher ratio (15.9 vs. 19.6) and a 93.9% graduation rate (from 2020–2021). Meanwhile, West Charlotte High School serves a very different population: nearly all students (99.85%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, 44.1% are chronically absent, and proficiency rates are far lower — for example, 36.6% in Math I versus 81% at Northwest. Even so, West Charlotte is historically improving: its state rank climbed from 498th to 442nd, EOC proficiency rose in every subject between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, and it moved from a 1-star to a 2-star rating. Its 78.7% graduation rate remains below the statewide average of 88.8%.

It is also worth noting that West Charlotte spends more per student ($12,290) than Northwest ($9,618), which likely reflects the extra costs of supporting a high-poverty population — but that extra spending has not yet translated into higher test scores. One data quirk: Northwest School of the Arts is listed as grades 9–12, yet its 2024–2025 data includes 6th–8th grade EOG results, so some of its test data may reflect middle school students and should be interpreted with caution. Overall, for families in 28216, Northwest School of the Arts currently offers the strongest academic indicators, while West Charlotte remains a school worth watching for its steady improvement despite substantial socioeconomic challenges.

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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)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (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	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Northwest School of the Arts	Public, Magnet	9-12	1415 Beatties Ford Rd	Charlotte	28216	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(980) 343-5500	993	62	15.9	38.1%	323 (32.5%)	432 (43.5%)	147 (14.8%)	12 (1.2%)	6 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (7.4%)	88.7	92^nd of 662 public high schools	86.1%		83.5	118^th of 641 public high schools	81.6%	26	85.0	94.7	81.0	94.1	$9,618	$478	$9,141
West Charlotte High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	2219 Senior Dr	Charlotte	28216	Mecklenburg County	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(980) 343-6060	2,008	102	19.6	99.9%	29 (1.4%)	1,499 (74.7%)	368 (18.3%)	60 (3.0%)	1 (0.0%)	1 (0.0%)	50 (2.5%)	34.5	442^nd of 662 public high schools	33.2%		25.1	495^th of 641 public high schools	22.8%	53	45.3	55.4	36.6	66.2	$12,290	$1,386	$10,904

Cities Near Zip Code 28216

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Charlotte	1.39 mi	185	282^nd
Huntersville	4.42 mi	16	116^th
Concord	6.68 mi	35	227^th
Mount Holly	7.36 mi	5	128^th
Belmont	8.94 mi	7	110^th

See the top NC North Carolina cities

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.