The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Charlotte for 2026 are Coulwood Stem Academy (7.5/10), Community House Middle (7.4/10), and Mcclintock Middle (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 23 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Charlotte's middle school landscape spans 23 ranked schools, with performance ranging from a district average of 5.7 out of 10 up to Coulwood STEM Academy, the top performer at 8.5. That nearly three-point gap between the average and the leader signals real variation — where a student lands matters. Only five schools, about 22% of the ranked list, clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold. Coulwood STEM Academy and Sedgefield Middle sit at the top, followed closely by McClintock Middle, Whitewater Middle, and Wilson STEM Academy. Families prioritizing academics will want to pay close attention to score spreads, not just school names. The table below lets you sort by composite score, location, and other key metrics to find the middle schools that best match what you're looking for.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 17.5
- 27.4
- 37.1
- 47.1
- 56.8
- 66.7
- 76.7
- 86.7
- 96.4
- 106.3
All 23 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 23
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Coulwood Stem AcademyCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 609student-teacher ratio 13.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 2Community House MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,412student-teacher ratio 19.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 3Mcclintock MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,007student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 4Sedgefield MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 484student-teacher ratio 15.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 5Jay M. Robinson MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,330student-teacher ratio 18.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 6Kennedy MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 953student-teacher ratio 17.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 7South Charlotte MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 821student-teacher ratio 19.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 8Northridge MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,046student-teacher ratio 18.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 9Piedmont Middle SchoolCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,130student-teacher ratio 21.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Carmel MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,050student-teacher ratio 16.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 11Whitewater MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 725student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 12Gov's Village Stem (upper)Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 671student-teacher ratio 17.7:1grades 5th–8th
- 13Southwest Middle SchoolCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,287student-teacher ratio 20.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 14Wilson Stem AcademyCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 374student-teacher ratio 13.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 15Quail Hollow MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,074student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 16Eastway MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 805student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 17James Martin MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 691student-teacher ratio 16.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 18Randolph MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,176student-teacher ratio 19.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 19Alexander Graham MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 1,202student-teacher ratio 18.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 20Martin Luther King JR MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 899student-teacher ratio 17.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 21Ridge Road MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 905student-teacher ratio 17.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 22Albemarle Road MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 934student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 23Ranson MiddleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsstudents 733student-teacher ratio 15.6:1grades 6th–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 middle schools in North Carolina. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 23 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Coulwood Stem Academy
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
609 students · 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 21% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 7.8
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 5.7
- 2
Community House Middle
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
1,412 students · 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 23% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 4.7
- 3
Mcclintock Middle
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
1,007 students · 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 31% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 6.4
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 4.5
- 4
Sedgefield Middle
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
484 students · 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 31% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 7.7
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 4.3
- 5
Jay M. Robinson Middle
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
1,330 students · 18.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 38% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 5.7
- Environment
- 5.4
- 6
Kennedy Middle
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
953 students · 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 41% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 5.9
- Growth
- 8.7
- Environment
- 4.8
- 7
South Charlotte Middle
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
821 students · 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 41% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 8.3
- Growth
- 6.7
- Environment
- 4.6
- 8
Northridge Middle
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
1,046 students · 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 41% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 5.9
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 3.3
- 9
Piedmont Middle School
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
1,130 students · 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 50% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 8.4
- Growth
- 6.5
- Environment
- 3.5
- 10
Carmel Middle
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
1,050 students · 16.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 53% in North Carolina
- Academics
- 5.9
- Growth
- 7.9
- Environment
- 4.2
Questions
What is the best middle school in Charlotte, North Carolina?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Coulwood Stem Academy is the top-rated middle school in Charlotte with a composite score of 7.5/10. 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 middle schools are in Charlotte, North Carolina?
Charlotte has 25 middle schools. Of these, 23 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Charlotte?
Among 23 Charlotte middle schools with a composite score, the average is 6.0/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in North Carolina).
How does MySchoolScout rate middle 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.
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 elementary 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