The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Charlotte for 2026 are Myers Park Traditional Elem (9.2/10), Shamrock Gardens Elementary (9.2/10), and Irwin Academic Center (9.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 112 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Charlotte ranks 113 elementary schools across a metro that spans fast-growing suburbs, established city neighborhoods, and everything in between. The average composite score sits at 6.7 out of 10, but the spread tells a more useful story: 58 schools — just over half — clear the 7.0 mark, meaning strong options are distributed across the region rather than concentrated in one pocket. Charlotte East Language Academy leads the field at 9.3 out of 10, followed closely by Oaklawn Language Academy and Lincoln Heights Montessori, both at 9.2. Vaughan Academy of Technology and Paw Creek Elementary round out the top five. Language-immersion and specialized programs appear prominently at the top of the rankings, though high-scoring traditional elementary schools are well represented throughout. Use the table below to sort by score, location, or other factors to find the schools that fit your family's priorities.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.2
- 29.2
- 39.2
- 49.2
- 59.1
- 69.0
- 78.9
- 88.9
- 98.9
- 108.9
All 112 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 112
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Myers Park Traditional ElemCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 669student-teacher ratio 16.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 2Shamrock Gardens ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 520student-teacher ratio 14.4:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 3Irwin Academic CenterCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 381student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 4Oaklawn Language AcademyCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 516student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 5Collinswood Language AcademyCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 839student-teacher ratio 15.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 6Charlotte East Language AcademyCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 625student-teacher ratio 11.4:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 7Elizabeth Traditional ElemCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 428student-teacher ratio 13.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 8Paw Creek ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 737student-teacher ratio 15.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 9University Park Creative ArtsCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 236student-teacher ratio 11.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 10Winget Park ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 701student-teacher ratio 16.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 11Park Road MontessoriCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 506student-teacher ratio 16.3:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 12Dilworth Elementary School Latta CampusCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 299student-teacher ratio 16.6:1grades 3rd–5th
- 13Vaughan Academy of TechnologyCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 316student-teacher ratio 14.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 14Piney Grove ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 474student-teacher ratio 12.5:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 15South Academy of International LanguagesCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,227student-teacher ratio 15.0:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 16Mckee Road ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 511student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 17Croft Community SchoolCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 405student-teacher ratio 15.6:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 18Lincoln Heights MontessoriCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 204student-teacher ratio 13.6:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 19Tuckaseegee ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 561student-teacher ratio 13.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 20Parkside ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 378student-teacher ratio 12.6:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 21Lansdowne ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 547student-teacher ratio 14.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 22Statesville Road ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 467student-teacher ratio 13.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 23Mallard Creek ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 520student-teacher ratio 16.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 24Eastover ElementaryCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 357student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 25Ashley Park Prek-8 SchoolCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 347student-teacher ratio 11.6:1grades Pre-K–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and North Carolina education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in North Carolina. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Myers Park Traditional Elem
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
669 students · 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 7.9
- 2
Shamrock Gardens Elementary
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
520 students · 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 1% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 9.1
- 3
Irwin Academic Center
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
381 students · 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 8.6
- 4
Oaklawn Language Academy
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
516 students · 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 1% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 8.7
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 9.4
- 5
Collinswood Language Academy
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
839 students · 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 1% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 8.5
- 6
Charlotte East Language Academy
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
625 students · 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 1% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 8.1
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 8.2
- 7
Elizabeth Traditional Elem
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
428 students · 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 2% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 8.2
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 8.9
- 8
Paw Creek Elementary
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
737 students · 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 6.5
- 9
University Park Creative Arts
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
236 students · 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 2% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 7.6
- Growth
- 10.0
- Environment
- 8.0
- 10
Winget Park Elementary
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
701 students · 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 8.4
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 6.9
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Charlotte, North Carolina?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Myers Park Traditional Elem is the top-rated elementary school in Charlotte with a composite score of 9.2/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Charlotte, North Carolina?
Charlotte has 138 elementary schools, including 14 charter schools. Of these, 133 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Charlotte?
Among 133 Charlotte elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.6/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in North Carolina).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within North Carolina, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in North Carolina, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Charlotte elementary school rankings?
Charlotte has 14 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Charlotte2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Charlotte2026 rankings and ratings
- All 230 schools in CharlotteElementary, middle and high
- North Carolina schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings