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Average

#1195 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 45% in state

South Mecklenburg High School

High School · Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

8900 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210

Enrollment

3,244

Student-Teacher

18:1

Score

6.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#1,195 of 2,648

In Charlotte

#74 of 174

public schools

In district

#79 of 179

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Academic performance

7.3 / 10

Very Good

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South Mecklenburg High School

6.6/10

High School in Charlotte · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Quail Hollow Middle

4.5/10

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

Smithfield Elementary

6.9/10

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

About South Mecklenburg High School

South Mecklenburg High School is a public high school in Charlotte, NC, part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. South Mecklenburg High School serves approximately 3,244 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 18:1 student-teacher ratio. South Mecklenburg High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,195 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for South Mecklenburg High School show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about South Mecklenburg High School

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

South Mecklenburg High School is a public secondary school located in Charlotte, North Carolina, within the Charlotte Mecklenburg School District 2 . The institution is commonly referred to locally as "South Meck" 2 . Its mascot is the Sabre, and the school colors are red, black, and white 2 . The school's attendance boundary includes the nearby area of Pineville 2 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.6 · Average
  • District avg 6.3
  • NC avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

South Mecklenburg High School is a large school: 3,244 students. Size usually brings more course choices and activities than a smaller school can staff, but kids can also blend into the crowd. Ask how the school keeps students known and supported.

33% of students at South Mecklenburg High School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.3Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.52 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.3Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency62.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency61.3% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+6.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+7.7 pts
Overall Proficiency62% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)61% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+0.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile60th
College Readiness8.1Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate88%
AP Participation33.7%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.7Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,198
Chronic Absenteeism33.2%

South Mecklenburg High School — Students at South Mecklenburg High School score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

50.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 61.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
56.0% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 67.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.6% (2025 NC)

Based on 28 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
90%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
92%
ELA
84%
2011
Math
88%
ELA
89%
2012
Math
45%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
48%
ELA
66%
2014
Math
48%
ELA
66%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
64%
2016
Math
61%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
0.5%
ELA
60%
2018
Math
66%
ELA
58%
2019
Math
66%
ELA
58%
2020*
Math
71%
ELA
66%
2021*
Math
71%
ELA
66%
2025
Math
62.3%
ELA
61.3%

* 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: 6.3/10.

How South Mecklenburg High School Compares

See how South Mecklenburg High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.6/10
55th percentile in NC
Academic
7.3/10
Very Good
Growth
6.3/10
Average
Environment
3.7/10
Needs Improvement
AP Courses
4
State avg: 3
Sports
20
10 boys' · 10 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
51%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
180 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
33.2%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4 AP courses offered
33.7% participation·State avg: 3 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics20sports offered
10 boys'·10 girls'·34 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
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

8900 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering South Mecklenburg High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Harper Middle College High (rated 7.6/10, 2.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is FUSION ACADEMY AND LEARNING CENTER - CHARLOTTE (rated 6.8/10, 3.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (rated 4.5/10, 1.6 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Charlotte, see our Charlotte schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Quail Hollow Middle Charlotte 0.4 mi 4.5
Smithfield Elementary Charlotte 0.5 mi 6.9
Huntingtowne Farms Elementary Charlotte 1.6 mi 5.7
CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Charlotte 1.6 mi 4.5
MANUS ACADEMY Charlotte 1.5 mi 7.0
Sterling Elementary Pineville 1.5 mi 2.5
Beverly Woods Elementary Charlotte 2.0 mi 8.4
Starmount Academy of Excellence Charlotte 2.2 mi 5.7
CEDARWOOD ACADEMY Charlotte 2.5 mi 5.4
Pineville Elementary Pineville 2.5 mi 7.1
Harper Middle College High Charlotte 2.5 mi 7.6
McAlpine Elementary Charlotte 2.6 mi 7.9
SOUTH CHARLOTTE BAPTIST ACADEMY Pineville 2.8 mi 6.5
Montclaire Elementary Charlotte 3.0 mi 4.5
FUSION ACADEMY AND LEARNING CENTER - CHARLOTTE Charlotte 3.1 mi 6.8
BRTISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF CHARLOTTE Charlotte 3.1 mi 8.4
South Academy of International Languages Charlotte 2.9 mi 8.1
FUSION CHARLOTTE Charlotte 3.2 mi 7.6
Endhaven Elementary Charlotte 3.2 mi 6.3
Collinswood Language Academy Charlotte 3.6 mi 6.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28210 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$94,145

Median Home Value

$486,000

Median Rent

$1,444/mo

Population

47,537

College Educated

59.5%

Homeownership

55.2%

Avg Commute

23.4 min

Poverty Rate

8.8%

Median Age

35.3

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Rolesville High Rolesville, NC 6.6
Emsley A Laney High Wilmington, NC 6.5
North Mecklenburg High School Huntersville, NC 6.5
West Forsyth High Clemmons, NC 6.5
Lake Norman High Mooresville, NC 6.7
Corinth Holders High Wendell, NC 6.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about South Mecklenburg High School

What grades does South Mecklenburg High School serve?

South Mecklenburg High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend South Mecklenburg High School?

South Mecklenburg High School has an enrollment of approximately 3,244 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at South Mecklenburg High School?

The student-teacher ratio at South Mecklenburg High School is 18:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does South Mecklenburg High School rank in NC?

South Mecklenburg High School ranks #1,195 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is South Mecklenburg High School's MySchoolScout rating?

South Mecklenburg High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 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 South Mecklenburg High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, South Mecklenburg High School has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is South Mecklenburg High School a charter school?

No, South Mecklenburg High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is South Mecklenburg High School a Title I school?

No, South Mecklenburg High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South Mecklenburg High School?

50.6% of students at South Mecklenburg High School 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
18 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
34 Some Transit
Bike Score
49 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
3,244
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
Teachers (FTE)
180
Free/Reduced Lunch
50.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Mecklenburg County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
33.2%
4-Year Graduation
88.0%

District

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

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