According to Public School Review, the Charlotte Mecklenburg school district test results rank among the top 50% of schools in North Carolina.
Your child's early school years will shape their education for years to come. So, it's vital to find a house to rent that puts them close to the best schools in town.
Living close to your child's school also makes your life a lot easier when it comes to getting them to and from classes and sporting events.
Here's our guide to finding homes for rent in Charlotte, NC, to ensure your children get a great start in life.
What Defines a Good School?
Most school rankings focus on the educational achievements of the students, but good grades aren't the only factors you should think about. If you want your child to enjoy a well-rounded education, you must consider the full range of programs offered by schools, too.
You should also investigate the school sports programs, arts offerings, and extra classes on offer. Does the school present extracurricular opportunities that interest your child?
Student to teacher ratio is crucial, especially in the lower grades. With fewer students in a class, teachers have more time to spend assisting individual children.
Does your child have special needs? You must pick a school that can cater to learning or physical challenges your child may face. If you don't, they'll never achieve their full potential.
Other considerations might include sending your child to a school catering to children with a similar background, e.g., a Catholic School. Perhaps you prefer a private school over a public one. Do you want your child to attend a Montessori school?
Make a checklist of the things that are most important to you and your child before you start looking into schools in the area.
When you find a school that suits your needs, take your child to visit it before enrolling them, and make sure they feel comfortable there. They've got a lot to cope with when moving to a new area, so it's essential that they feel at home in their school environment.
A Snapshot of Schools in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte falls within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg public schools district. There are 180 schools in the area, as follows:
Elementary Schools
There are 97 elementary schools in Charlotte, catering to grades one to five. Under North Carolina law, children must attend school in the year they turn five if their birthday is before October 16th.
They may enroll in Pre-K education from the age of four years old.
Providence Spring Elementary is the best-rated school in the district:
Providence Spring Elementary
Providence Spring Elementary has around 750 students and 55 full-time teachers, and one full-time counselor. Over 80% of students at this school consistently achieve above the proficiency levels for math and reading.
There are fourteen students per teacher at Providence Spring Elementary, and the school offers the following after-school programs:
- Basketball
- Cooking
- Creative dancing
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Mad science
- Tennis
- Zumba
If you want your child to attend this elementary school, you should start searching for the best houses to rent in south Charlotte between Woodview Crescent and Weddington Road.
Middle Schools
North Carolina has 49 middle schools for children in grades six to eight. Of these, Jay M Robinson tops the list of school ratings.
Jay M Robinson Middle School
Over 1,000 students attend this school, and 87% achieve above the proficient level for math. There are 19 students per teacher in this school.
Some extra mural activities offered at Jay M Robinson include:
- Athletics
- Cheerleading
- Football
- Volleyball
- Softball
- Soccer
- Baseball
- Basketball
If you want your child to attend this school, you should look for family homes in the region of Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Colonel Francis Beatty Regional Park, and Ardrey Kell Road.
High Schools
If you find a house to rent near Ardrey Kell Road, your children are set for grades nine to twelve, too. Ardrey Kell High school comes out on top among the 35 high schools in Charlotte.
Ardrey Kell High School
Ardrey Kell High School ranks 10th in North Carolina and has over 3,000 students. There are 21 students per teacher in this school, and 75% of the students take part in Advanced Placement® coursework and exams.
In terms of math proficiency, 75% of students achieve the necessary grades, and 87% meet the reading proficiency requirements.
Ardrey Kell High School offers the following after-school activities:
- Athletics
- Cross Country running
- Football
- Soccer
- Field Hockey
- Golf
- Tennis
- Baseball
- Lacrosse
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Students who live in Charlotte south of the W-I485 Inner Highway are eligible to attend this school.
Charter Schools
Over 40 charter schools in Charlotte cater to those who prefer alternative learning paths. These public-funded schools serve children of all ages, from grades K to 12.
Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy is the top-rated charter school in Charlotte. It caters to grades K to 8 and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1.
There are currently around 370 children enrolled in this school, and 95% meet the required proficiency levels for math and reading.
This school focuses strongly on meeting the needs of intellectually gifted learners and offers many additional advanced courses.
As a magnet school, Metrolina accepts children from areas outside its official zone, but if you want to live nearby, you should center your search around the Yorkmount, Rennaissance Park, and Sedgefield areas.
Private Schools
There are 100 private schools in Mecklenburg County. Most of them cater to children from grades K to 12. Providence Day School consistently ranks at the top of the list and is the second-best private school in North Carolina.
Providence Day School
There are 1,700 students enrolled at Providence Day School. Of the 225 faculty members employed at this school, 84% have master's degrees in their fields.
Typically, all the students at this school go on to study for four-year degrees at colleges and universities. The school has a high focus on the arts and offers visual arts, orchestra, band, chorus, and theater as part of its after-school program.
Students can also take part in track and field events, soccer, basketball, cheerleading, golf, tennis, field hockey, and volleyball.
Neighborhoods close to Providence Day School include:
- Stonehaven
- Lansdowne
- Providence Park
- Sherwood Forest
You don't need to live in a specific zone when your child attends a private school, but it's more convenient when you live nearby.
Special Program Schools
Three special program schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area cater to children seeking a more specialized education. These are:
Manus Academy
Manus Academy offers a highly specialized curriculum focused on helping children with ADHD, Autism, and other special needs excel to the best of their ability.
The curriculum includes math, English, reading, writing, science, health, social studies, Spanish, physical education, music, and art. Manus Academy offers education for children in grades three to twelve.
Sports include football, soccer, and basketball. You should search for homes in the Carmel, Beverley Woods, and Pineville areas.
Fletcher School
The Fletcher School takes a multisensory approach to education to help children with learning differences prepare for college.
Children diagnosed with learning difficulties excel at Fletcher School, where an average of 61% of students achieve four-year college degrees. That's 20% higher than the national average for these students and 2% higher than the national average for regular students.
Apart from academics, The Fletcher School also offers the following sports:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Flag Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swim Team
- Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
The Fletcher School is closest to Fourth Ward, Dilworth, Wilmore, Ashley Park, and Plaza Millwood.
Philips Academy
Philips Academy suits children with complex learning, language, and cognitive difficulties. Classes range from grade five to twelve, and there are just five students per teacher in this school.
This highly personalized situation suits children who need more dedicated one-on-one attention to cope with the demands of academics. Extracurricular activities include soccer, music therapy, and various clubs.
The Providence Park, Cotswold, and Myers Park neighborhoods are closest to Philips Academy.
If none of these schools suit your needs, you can spread your search to include rentals in school districts nearby.
Find the Best Homes for Rent in Charlotte, NC
With so many excellent schools to choose from in the Charlotte area, it's a lot easier to find the perfect rental home to suit everyone's needs.
If you need to work every day, it's best to look for a rental house near schools close to your office. That way, you can cut your daily commute down to the bare minimum and have more time to enjoy the awesome activities available in your new hometown.
Wherever you choose to put down your roots, we have an excellent selection of homes for rent in Charlotte, NC. So, start your search right here.
