Summary:
ZIP code 28270 in Charlotte, North Carolina, is served by two public elementary schools within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools — Lansdowne Elementary and McKee Road Elementary — both of which perform well above district and state averages in every tested subject. They serve grades K–5 (McKee Road also offers pre-K), with enrollments of 573 and 534 students respectively, and student-teacher ratios of roughly 15 to 1.
McKee Road Elementary is the clear standout: a 5-star school ranked 56th out of 1,492 statewide (96th percentile) with exceptional math and science scores. Its average math proficiency is 92.9%, reading is 80.9%, and 5th-grade science is 88%. Chronic absenteeism is just 9.9%, and only 27.3% of students receive free/reduced-price lunch. In comparison, Lansdowne Elementary is a strong but lower-tier school: 4 stars, ranked 267th statewide (82nd percentile). Its average math proficiency is 81.9%, reading is 64.9%, and science is 72%. Lansdowne has a higher free/reduced-price lunch rate (37.2%) and slightly higher chronic absenteeism (12.6%). While both schools beat district and state benchmarks, McKee Road’s overall proficiency advantage is roughly 14 percentage points.
Reading is the relative weak spot at both schools — Lansdowne’s math scores run 17 points ahead of reading, while McKee Road’s run 12 points ahead. Lansdowne also made impressive gains from the previous year, lifting its overall average from 64.9% to 73.2%, while McKee Road saw a mild dip in 5th-grade scores, a common cohort effect. Both schools have dramatically lower chronic absenteeism than the district rate of 26.8% or the state rate of 24.2%, reflecting strong attendance and engagement. Notably, Lansdowne spends more per student ($10,426 vs. $9,115), though it scores lower — likely reflecting the higher needs of its student population. For parents weighing options, McKee Road is the higher-performing, more consistent choice, while Lansdowne remains a solid, improving neighborhood school with a clear upward trajectory.
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