My Family Has 45 Public Kindergarten Options in Charlotte, NC! —How About Yours?
When my kids were starting school, I learned that here in Charlotte we are eligible for 45 different public elementary school options! It is incredible to have so many choices! But it is also daunting to figure out where to start.
How are busy families supposed to sort through 45 options?!
Below is a guide for finding out which schools your child is eligible for and how to get support in sorting through these choices to ensure you don't miss out on a great opportunity for your child.
Understanding Your Public School Options in Charlotte
Charlotte offers a robust public school system with three main types of public schools: traditional public schools, magnet schools, and charter schools. Each offers unique opportunities for your child.
Here's a very brief overview of each school type. Join us for a School Selection Info Session to learn more, including important information families should know about each:
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS | These are your local neighborhood schools that your child is automatically assigned to based on your address. These schools are part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools or your local school district. Some traditional schools have special themes like STEM or world languages while many do not.
MAGNET SCHOOLS | These are public schools that are a part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district that offer specialized programming like Montessori, language immersion, STEM (which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math), early college programming, and more. They are open to families across Charlotte but transportation is only provided to magnet programs in your transportation zone—Blue, Green or Violet.
IMPORTANT
To join a magnet school, families must apply through the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools lottery in the fall of the school year before your child will enroll.
CHARTER SCHOOLS | These are public schools that operate independently of the school district. They often have unique teaching styles or specialized programs. Students typically apply individually to charter schools via an application process that is separate from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools lottery. Contact each charter school for more details.
Check out our blog post on charters for a list of options in the Charlotte area.
How to identify all of your Options
—The easy way!
RYSE offers a custom “My List” showing every charter, magnet, and traditional public school your family is eligible for based on your home address. This is the only place to get one complete, customized list.
Your list includes:
Each school’s program type
Transportation availability
Total enrollment and a look at the school’s diversity
Indicators of how effectively a school supports student learning, both overall and for specific groups
For example, you’ll see how effectively the school supports students with special needs or students learning English in making academic progress.
Don’t waste time wondering if you’re missing a great option for your family! Start searching with confidence with a RYSE “My List”!
How to identify all of your Options
—The DIY way!
To determine which public school options are available for your child in Charlotte, follow these steps:
Identify the Traditional Public Schools You Are Zoned For: Enter your address in the Mecklenburg County Geo Finder. Look under the "2025-2026 School Year" section to find your zoned schools. If you enroll your child in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools but do not participate in the lottery, your child will attend the zoned school for their grade level.
Explore Magnet Options: Use the Geo Finder to discover magnet schools available to your family listed under the title, "Magnet Schools". Note: You are not necessarily eligible for transportation to all of these schools. Visit the CMS School Choice "Themes & Schools" webpage to explore the various magnet options available in your transportation zone. Learn more about transportation in another blog post!
Consider Charter Options: Research Charlotte-area charter schools that may fit your family's needs and priorities. It can be difficult to find a list of charter school, so we have provided the information in another blog post.
Now You Have Your List of Schools!
Whoa — that list is way longer than what most of us had growing up, right?
First the good news.
There are a ton of amazing options! Here are a couple of highlights.
JAPANESE IMMERSION
Did you know all Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students in K-8 can learn Japanese in an immersion program with transportation provided?
Charlotte has a robust set of language programs for Chinese, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish which are discussed in more detail here.
NATURE SCHOOL
Did you know Charlotte has a nature school where kids spend 80% of the school day outside?! A K-12 charter school called Pioneer Springs Community School is beloved by many families for the benefits of learning and playing among the trees.
FREE COLLEGE IN HIGH SCHOOL
Charlotte Early and Middle Colleges allow students to take college-level courses while in high school, providing them with a head start on earning college credits or even graduating with their associates degree—for no extra cost! More details can be found here for Early Colleges and here for Middle Colleges.
MANY MORE
Charlotte has many other specialized learning opportunities such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs, Montessori schools, leadership-focused academies, and high schools that allow students to explore law, social justice, and forensic pathology or health sciences. Consider what options might be a great fit for your child here.
Now for the challenge…
How are we supposed to know which schools are actually going to be great for our kids? How do we sort through it all without resorting to whatever our co-worker’s cousin said about a school?
Great questions — and exactly why we built RYSE!
Join a RYSE Live school selection info session to get research-backed insights, practical tools, and straight-up real talk about what matters (and what doesn’t) when choosing a school. You’ll leave feeling clearer, more confident, and way less stressed about making the right call.
Don't Miss Important Info in Our Upcoming Blogs!
Stay tuned for future blogs where we'll share common mistakes that leads families to unknowingly choose schools where kids learn less than at alternatives and other important facts to know as you make your school choice.
Follow us on social media to stay current with RYSE’s posts!
We strive to always provide high quality and accurate information for families. But mistakes happen. If you encounter any errors, kindly let us know at hello@rysekids.com.
