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Average

#1454 of 2,648 schools in NC

River Gate Elementary

Elementary School · Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

15340 Smith Rd, Charlotte, NC 28273

Enrollment

721

Student-Teacher

16.4:1

Score

6.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#1,454 of 2,648

In Charlotte

#94 of 174

public schools

In district

#100 of 179

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Equity

9.1 / 10

Excellent

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River Gate Elementary

6.1/10

Elementary School in Charlotte · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Unity Classical Charter School

6.8/10

0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Southwest Middle School

3.3/10

1.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About River Gate Elementary

River Gate Elementary is a public elementary school in Charlotte, NC, part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. River Gate Elementary serves approximately 721 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio. River Gate Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,454 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for River Gate Elementary show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.1 · Average
  • District avg 6.3
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.9Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.88 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency69.5% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency54.9% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+5.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+8.3 pts
Overall Proficiency62% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+15.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile75th
Resources & Environment5.6Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,198
Chronic Absenteeism26.2%

River Gate Elementary — Students at River Gate Elementary score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 62.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 52.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
91%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
91%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
79%
2012
Math
47%
ELA
46%
2013
Math
49%
ELA
43%
2014
Math
60%
ELA
50%
2015
Math
62%
ELA
51%
2016
Math
59%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
55%
ELA
39%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2020*
Math
46%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
46%
ELA
42%
2022
Math
53.5%
ELA
43.7%
2025
Math
69.5%
ELA
54.6%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.9/10.

How River Gate Elementary Compares

See how River Gate Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.1/10
45th percentile in NC
Academic
8.4/10
Excellent
Growth
4.9/10
Below Average
Environment
5.6/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
44 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
26.2%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

15340 Smith Rd, Charlotte, NC 28273

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering River Gate Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Tega Cay Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 3.0 miles away, in nearby Tega Cay), which scores notably higher. Another option is Orchard Park Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 4.5 miles away, in nearby Fort Mill), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Palisades Park Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 2.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Charlotte, see our Charlotte schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Unity Classical Charter School Charlotte 0.9 mi 6.8
Southwest Middle School Charlotte 1.6 mi 3.3
WALNUT GROVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Fort Mill 1.5 mi 6.3
Lake Wylie Elementary Charlotte 1.9 mi 6.1
Pleasant Knoll Middle Fort Mill 2.6 mi 8.2
Pleasant Knoll Elementary Fort Mill 2.7 mi 8.1
Palisades High School Charlotte 2.5 mi
Tega Cay Elementary Tega Cay 3.0 mi 8.9
Palisades Park Elementary Charlotte 2.8 mi 8.3
Winget Park Elementary Charlotte 3.3 mi 6.8
Gold Hill Elementary Tega Cay 3.4 mi 8.0
Gold Hill Middle Tega Cay 3.6 mi 7.7
Springfield Middle Fort Mill 3.4 mi 7.7
Springfield Elementary Fort Mill 3.5 mi 7.6
South Pine Academy Charlotte 3.9 mi 4.1
Orchard Park Elementary Fort Mill 4.5 mi 8.4
Kennedy Middle Charlotte 4.7 mi 6.3
PALISADES EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Charlotte 4.0 mi 6.5
Sugar Creek Elementary Fort Mill 4.2 mi 7.7
COMENIUS SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE LEADERSHIP Fort Mill 4.1 mi 7.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28273 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$84,739

Median Home Value

$304,900

Median Rent

$1,671/mo

Population

49,141

College Educated

39.1%

Homeownership

52%

Avg Commute

22.8 min

Poverty Rate

9.4%

Median Age

33

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Belmont Elementary School Roanoke Rapids, NC 6.1
Elkin Elementary Elkin, NC 6.1
Eno Valley Elementary Durham, NC 6.1
Evergreen Community Charter Asheville, NC 6.1
Kimmel Farm Elementary Winston-Salem, NC 6.1
Lake Wylie Elementary Charlotte, NC 6.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about River Gate Elementary

What grades does River Gate Elementary serve?

River Gate Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend River Gate Elementary?

River Gate Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 721 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at River Gate Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at River Gate Elementary is 16.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does River Gate Elementary rank in NC?

River Gate Elementary ranks #1,454 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is River Gate Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

River Gate Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at River Gate Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, River Gate Elementary has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is River Gate Elementary a charter school?

No, River Gate Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is River Gate Elementary a Title I school?

No, River Gate Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for River Gate Elementary?

99.6% of students at River Gate Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
4 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
0 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
29 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
721
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Mecklenburg County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
26.2%

District

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
District Enrollment
144,116
Schools in District
184
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,198
District Rank
#100 of 179

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