Charlotte Secondary School

Charlotte Secondary School (CSS) is a mid-sized middle school located in East Charlotte. In its sixth year, CSS has a diverse enrollment of 240 students in 6th – 8th grades, with a wait list of 37. The student-teacher ratio is 20:1, and 13 percent of the student population is EC. Students learn in a rigorous academic environment that promotes a comprehensive liberal arts education with a focus on civic responsibility along with the Paideia philosophy of learning. Parental involvement is highly encouraged at CSS. In the 2013-14 school year, CSS will open its college-preparatory high school. CSS provides lunch three days per week from outside vendors; four percent of students qualify for free- or reduced-price meals. The school does not provide transportation for students. For more information, visit www.charlottesecondary.org.

• EOG proficiency: 77.8% Reading and 83.5% Math,91% 8th Grade Science
• EOC proficiency: >95% Algebra I
• ABCs status: School of Distinction, Expected Growth
• Met Annual Measurable Objectives
• Per-pupil expenditure: $7,308
• Student demographics:  47% white, 38% black, 8% Hispanic, 2% Asian, and 5% Multiracial

Community Charter School

Community Charter School (CCS) is a small K-5th grade school located near Uptown Charlotte that has been open since 1997. The school will serve about 160 students in 2012-2013 and currently has no wait list. CCS has a student-teacher ratio of 22:1, and 14 percent of its student population is EC. Sixty percent of the student population qualifies for free- or reduced-price lunch. CCS is a non-traditional project based school with an emphasis on the arts whose classroom is the community. The school is a committed partnership of families, teachers, and community resources who work together to develop independent learners and thinkers. At Community Charter School, every child’s individuality is respected and nurtured. CCS does not offer food or transportation services. For more information, visit www.charlottecommunitycharter.com

• EOG proficiency: 63.9% Reading, 68.1% Math, 59.1% science
• ABCs status: School of Progress, Expected Growth
• Did not meet Annual Measurable Objectives
• Per-pupil expenditure: $8,147
• Student demographics: 56% black, 38% white, 3% Hispanic, and 3% other

Community School of Davidson

The Community School of Davidson (CSD) is a K-11 school with approximately 1,180 students and a student-teacher ratio of 24:2. CSD currently has a waiting list of more than 3,500 students, and 95% of current staff have their own children enrolled in the school. 15 percent of students are EC. CSD opened in 2004 as a K-3 school and has added one grade per year. CSD is currently housed in two separate buildings, one being K-8 and the other building containing grades 9-11 with plans to complete their growth model by adding 12th grade next year (2013-2014). The school promotes a curriculum that is progressive, research-based and has a heavy emphasis on the arts. CSD does not provide transportation, but does offer hot lunch from local vendors twice per week. Less than five percent of students qualify for free- or reduced-priced meals. For more information, visit www.csdnc.org

• EOG proficiency: 93% Reading, >95% Math, 91.6% 5th Grade Science, >95% 8th Grade Science
• EOC proficiency: >95% Algebra I, English I, Biology
• ABCs status: Honor School of Excellence, High Growth
• Met Annual Measurable Objectives
• Per-Pupil expenditure: $8,294
• Student demographics: 85% white, 6% multiracial, 4% black, 2% Asian, 2% Hispanic, and

Crossroads Charter High School

Crossroads Charter High School (CCHS) is located off of North Tryon Street and opened in 2001. It has morphed over the past few years from an alternative school for children who had either dropped out or been excluded from CMS schools to a charter school that focuses on innovative teaching solutions for high-risk students. Crossroads Charter High School did not respond to our request for additional information about its student-teacher ratio, wait list size, availability of food or transportation services, and student demographics. For more information, visit www.crossroadscharter.org

• EOC proficiency: 22.9% Algebra I, 45.8% English I, 14.5% Biology
• Average SAT score: 768
• ABCs status: Priority School, High Growth
• Did not meet Annual Measurable Objectives
• Graduation rate: 68%
• Per-pupil expenditure: $8,021
• Student demographics: 96% black, < 1% Asian and approximately 1.5% white and Hispanic (2008-09 school year)

Corvian Community School

Corvian Community School (CCS), which opened in 2010, was a private school for two years before becoming a charter school. It serves 88 students in grades K-3 and has a wait list of 450. The demographic makeup of the student population includes 79 white students, nine minority students, and 20 percent E.C. students. Next year, CCS plans to add several new grades and expects to serve 444 students. The school currently has only six teachers and three teacher assistants, with a student-teacher ratio of 22:2. CCS’s curriculum is focused on principles of “The Basic School” and places emphasis on health and wellness. The school does not provide transportation, but has a carpool system in place. Free- or reduced-price lunch is provided to all eligible students, and food from outside vendors is served on Fridays. For more information, visit www.corvian.org

Note: Because Corvian Community School was just granted charter school status in the 2012-13 school year, certain data is not available at this time.

Kennedy Charter Public School

Kennedy Charter Public School (KCPS) in South Charlotte was once an alternative school in 1998, and at one time was also a foster care residential facility. Because current charter school law does not allow for an alternative school status, KCPS become a more typical charter school in 2007. This school year, KCPS plans to serve approximately 360 students and has a wait list of 30. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 18:1 in its upper school and 12:1 in its lower grades, and 16 percent of students are EC. According to Lead Administrator William Stubbs, a former Teach for America Corps Member and KIPP teacher, KCPS has a waiting list for some grade levels, but not all. The school serves students in a K-12 setting where the student-to-teacher ratio is smaller than traditional public school. The elementary school offers Spanish club, technology, art, and physical education as enrichment activities. The middle school is based on well-defined student grouping: homogenous and single sex instruction, when applicable. And at the high school level, students benefit from creative scheduling and special programs like Summer Bridge (for rising 9th graders), the SAT Academy (for those preparing to take the SAT), and advisory council where academics and future planning are tracked. Unlike many other charter schools, KCPS provides transportation, as well as food service; 92 percent of students qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch. For more information, visit www.kennedycharter.org

• EOG proficiency: 32.9% Reading, 64.3% Math, 46,9% 8th Grade Science
• EOC proficiency: 32.3% Algebra I, 50% English I, 35.6% Biology
• Average SAT score: 695
• ABCs status: Low-Performing
• Did not meet Annual Measurable Objectives
• Graduation rate: 56.5%
• Per-pupil expenditure: $10,769
• Student demographics: 96% black, 2% white, 2% other (2008-09 school year)

KIPP: Charlotte

KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) is a national charter school movement that has experienced significant success across the country. KIPP: Charlotte in East Charlotte opened in 2007 and serves 360 students in grades 5-8, with a wait list of 180. The school has a 1:25 teacher student ratio, and 20 percent of its students are EC. Students often arrive at KIPP several years behind grade level. KIPP requires their students and parents to participate in extended day programs, an extended year (two weeks of additional instruction in summer) and monthly half-day Saturday classes. There are currently three KIPP schools in North Carolina, one in Charlotte, a second in Gaston, and a third in Northampton. KIPP promotes a culture that espouses that learning and hard work can be fun. KIPP has also developed a strong system of rewards and consequences, as well as a consistent focus on preparing for college. KIPP: Charlotte does not provide bus transportation, but does provide food service. Seventy-two percent of the school’s students qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch. For more information, visit www.kippcharlotte.org

• EOG proficiency: 66% Reading, 83.5% Math, 83.7% 5th Grade Science, >95% 8th Grade Science
• EOC proficiency: 73.9% Algebra I
• ABCs status: School of Progress, High Growth
• Met Annual Measurable Objectives
• Per-pupil expenditure: $9,800
• Student demographics: 93% black, 4% Hispanic, 2% multiracial, 1% white

Lake Norman Charter

Lake Norman Charter (LNC) is a large, 5th-12th grade school located in Huntersville that opened in 1998. The school serves almost 1,600 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 23:1. Twelve percent of LNC’s students are EC. Lake Norman Charter has a waiting list of more than 2,600 students for the 2012-13 school year. LNC’s curriculum emphasizes service learning and leadership skills. Lake Norman Charter does not provide bus transportation or food service. For more information, visit www.lncharter.org

• EOG proficiency: 90.6% Reading, >95% Math, 89.9% 5th Grade Science, >95% 8th Grade Science
• EOC proficiency: >95% Algebra I, English I, Biology
• Average SAT score: 1,077
• ABCs status: Honor School of Excellence, High Growth
• Met Annual Measurable Objectives
• Graduation rate: 94%
• Per-pupil expenditure: $6,088
• Student demographics: 81% white, 8% black, 4% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 3% other

Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy

Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (MRSA), located off Tyvola Road, is the only charter school that enrolls students who are certified as highly intellectually gifted. MRSA opened in 2000 and adheres to the same admission criteria used by the CMS Horizons Program, also a program for highly intellectually gifted students. The average IQ for these students is 145. MRSA serves approximately 360 students in a K – 8 grade level configuration and has a wait list of 125. The school has a 1:20 teacher student ratio, and less than one percent of the student population is EC. Students come to MRSA from Gaston, Union, Mecklenburg, and Cabarrus counties. The school’s curriculum is accelerated, and students take Spanish and Chinese every day. MRSA administration emphasizes teacher training, which follows the principles of gifted education. The school does not provide transportation but does provide food service one to two times per week from an outside vendor. For more information, visit www.scholarsacademy.org

• EOG proficiency : >95% Reading, Math, 5th Grade Science, 8th Grade Science
• EOC proficiency: >95% Algebra I, English I, Biology
• ABCs Status: Honor School of Excellence, High Growth
• AYP: Met Annual Measurable Objectives
• Per-pupil expenditure: $7,641
• Student demographics: 57% white, 38% Asian, 7% black, and .55% American Indian

Queen’s Grant Community School

Queen’s Grant Community School (QGCS) is located in Mint Hill and opened in 2002. The school expects to enroll more than 1300 students this year in two separate schools (under one charter), a K-8th grade school with 752 students and a 9th-12th grade school with 575 students. The K-8th school has a waiting list of 1,300 students, while the high school has no waiting list. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 1:21 in grades K-5, 1:17 in middle school, and 1:17 in high school. In grades K-8, 9.8% of the students are EC, and in high school, 12.92% of students are EC. QGCS is a member of National Heritage Academies, Inc., a for-profit company that manages charter schools in nine states. At this time, National Heritage Academies, Inc. only manages the K-8 school. QGCS has a college preparatory curriculum and has high expectations for students’ academics and behavior. Parents are encouraged to take an active role in partnership with the school, and Queens Grant reinforces the virtues of integrity, wisdom, courage, and respect. QGCS does not provide transportation, but does provide food service. Eighteen percent of the K-8 student population qualifies for free- or reduced-price meals. For more information on the K-8 school, visit www.queensgrantcommunityschool.org and for more information on the high school, visit www.queensgranthigh.org.

• EOG proficiency: 81% Reading, 85.1% Math, 83.5% 5th Grade Science, 88.1% 8th Grade Science
• EOC proficiency: 75.6% Algebra I, 86.3% English I, 81.7% Biology
• Average SAT Score: 996
• ABCs status: No Recognition
• Did Not Meet Annual Measurable Objectives
• Graduation rate: 72%
• Per-pupil expenditure: $7,245
• Student demographics: 84% white, 12% black, 2% Asian, <1% American Indian, <1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (K-8); 53% white, 34.5% black, 8% Hispanic, 3.4% multiracial, 1.1% Asian (9th-12th)

Socrates Academy

Socrates Academy (SA) is a K-8 grade school located in Matthews that believes strongly in multi-culturalism and the study of foreign languages. SA opened in 2005 and offers English, Greek, Chinese, and Spanish courses. All students study Greek two hours each day, and in 5th grade students are encouraged to study a third language. SA currently has 604 students enrolled and a wait list of 300 students. The school’s student-teacher ratio is 20:1. Eleven to 14 percent of students qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch, and 10 percent of students are E.C. Strong parental involvement is encouraged, and the school challenges their students to become critical thinkers in a high-achieving environment. SA does not provide transportation and offers a hot lunch to students four times per week. Eleven to 14 percent of students qualify for free- or reduced-priced meals. For more information, visit www.socratesacademy.us/

• EOG proficiency: 94.7% Reading, >95% Math, 95% 5th Grade Science
• EOC proficiency: >95% Algebra I
• ABCs status: Honor School of Excellence, High Growth
• Met Annual Measurable Objectives
• Per-pupil expenditure: $7,606
• Student demographics: 81% white, 6.2% Asian, 5.1% Hispanic, 5% black, 1.7% multiracial,

Sugar Creek Charter

Sugar Creek Charter (SCC) is a K-8th grade school located off North Tryon Street near Sugar Creek Road. Since opening in 1999, the school’s mission has been to ultimately serve 90% minority students, 90% of students eligible for free- and-reduced-price lunch, and 90% of students on grade level. This year SCC will serve 889 students and has a waiting list of 450. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 18:1 in kindergarten, 25:1 in grades 1-5, and 22:1 in grades 6-8. Thirteen percent of students are EC. SCC requires all students to wear uniforms and has high expectations for student behavior and parental support. The school has also made transportation a priority in its budgeting and provides a fleet of 13 buses that serve students from approximately 80% of Mecklenburg County. SCC also provides food service. For more information, visit www.thesugarcreek.org

• EOG proficiency: 69% Reading, 88.9% Math, 80.5% 5th Grade Science, 84.8% 8th Grade Science
• EOC proficiency: >95% Algebra I
• ABCs status: School of Distinction, High Growth
• Met Annual Measurable Objectives
• Per-pupil expenditure: $8,303
• Student demographics: 96% black, 3% Hispanic, 1% Asian,