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Welcome Video

From the school

An introduction to Charlotte Preparatory School, in the school’s own words. Press play to watch.

Admissions

Jan 2, 2027
Early School & Kindergarten priority deadline
Jan 15, 2027
Grades 1–8 priority deadline
$100
non-refundable application fee
$300
CAIS testing fee, WPPSI-IV or WISC-V
Grade-by-Grade Application Guide — Early School & K · 1–8Pick your child's entry point and the guide personalizes: the steps in order, the 2027–28 deadlines, and the testing for that band — plus a printable checklist to take with you. The calendar breaks once, at Kindergarten → Grade 1; the test changes twice more inside the Grades 1–8 band.

One portal. Everything runs through FACTS: start an application in the FACTS admissions portal and pay the $100 non-refundable fee there. Entering a teacher’s and a registrar’s email in the portal sends them the recommendation and transcript forms directly.

Applying for entry at
Export checklist

Same spine in both bands — visit → apply through FACTS with the fee → recommendations (and transcripts from Grade 1) → testing → an on-campus visit → decision by email at 4:00 p.m. → enrollment contract. What changes is the calendar, which test your child sits, and who administers it.

Jan 2, 2027
priority application deadline
Feb 1, 2027
CAIS testing (Kindergarten) and teacher recommendations
Feb 26, 2027
decisions emailed at 4:00 p.m.
Mar 5, 2027
enrollment contract due by noon
  1. Visit — an open house or information sessionFall 2026

    The Montessori Open House is Wednesday, October 21 at 9:30 a.m., and a Kindergarten Virtual Information Session runs Thursday, November 12 at 12:00 p.m. Ages are set by August 1: 2 for Pre-Primary, 3 for Primary, 4 for TK, and 5 for Montessori K or Traditional K.

  2. Apply through FACTS and pay the $100 feeby Jan 2

    Start the application in the FACTS admissions portal; the $100 application fee is non-refundable. January 2 is the priority deadline — two weeks ahead of Grades 1–8.

  3. Teacher recommendationsby Feb 1

    Enter your child’s current teacher’s email in the portal and the recommendation form goes to them online. The school does not state how many recommendations it needs.

  4. Kindergarten testing — the WPPSI-IV through CAISby Feb 1

    Montessori K and Kindergarten applicants take the WPPSI-IV through the CAIS consortium, booked with one psychologist only. "External testing is not required before Montessori Kindergarten," so Pre-Primary, Primary and TK applicants sit no test. CAIS also requires an interview with each child, typically November–February.

  5. Meet and Greet, or Kindergarten Play DayWinter

    Montessori applicants come for a Meet and Greet of "about 20-30 minutes". Kindergarten applicants who apply by the Round 1 deadline are invited to a Kindergarten Play Day.

  6. Decision → contractFeb 26, 2027

    Decisions are emailed on February 26, 2027 at 4:00 p.m., and the enrollment contract is due March 5 by noon, with a $2,000 down payment credited to tuition.

Running in parallel: the financial-aid clock

Tuition assistance is offered for Kindergarten through 8th grade, through Clarity, on "financial need, academic merit, and the student’s fit". The school’s aid page gives two deadlines — January 2 in its body and January 15 in its FAQ — so confirm the date with the Director of Enrollment before relying on either. Pre-Primary, Primary and TK are not eligible for aid.

Financial Aid & Tuition
CROSS-BAND

Exactly what changes between bands

Early School & KindergartenGrades 1–8
Priority application deadlineJan 2, 2027Jan 15, 2027
Supporting materials dueFeb 1, 2027 — testing and recommendationsFeb 26, 2027 — recommendations, testing and transcripts
Decisions emailed (4:00 p.m.)Feb 26, 2027Apr 9, 2027
Enrollment contract due (noon)Mar 5, 2027Apr 16, 2027
Testing instrumentMontessori K / K: WPPSI-IV · none below Montessori KGr 1: WPPSI-IV · Gr 2–4: WISC-V · Gr 5–8: ISEE
Who administers the testA CAIS consortium psychologist — $300Gr 1–4: a CAIS psychologist, $300 · Gr 5–8: the ISEE, through ERB
The visitMontessori Meet and Greet (about 20–30 minutes) · Kindergarten Play DayAn on-campus experience, by invitation after the assessments
Constant in both bandsThe FACTS portal · the $100 non-refundable application fee · teacher recommendations sent from the portal · a $2,000 down payment credited to tuition · and the CAIS guarantee that no member school requires a contract before the consortium’s reply date
CONTACTS

The admissions office

212 Boyce Road, Charlotte, NC 28211 · admissions@charlotteprep.org
Seher Khanna — Director of Enrollment
704-366-5994 ext. 1127 · skhanna@charlotteprep.org
Jenny Formon — Associate Director of Admissions
admissions@charlotteprep.org

Course Offerings

Ages 2 – 6Montessori Early SchoolThree Montessori stages, the three-year Primary cycle, and specials — 11 entries in 3 areas.

The Early School teaches by the Montessori method in mixed-age classrooms rather than in separate courses. The rows below are the stages, milestones and specials the school names, in its own words.

All departments11 courses — scroll for full list
Pre-PrimaryAge 2Montessori Stages

Younger children "focus on gaining independence, large motor control, and early language and communication skills."

PrimaryAges 3–4Montessori Stages

Students "build concentration, coordination, organization, and independence through repeated, sequential practical life activities in preparation for future academic work."

Transitional K & Montessori KAges 5–6Montessori Stages

Older students "begin to make connections between concrete and abstract concepts through the use of specialized didactic materials and meaningful learning experiences."

First YearAge 3The Three-Year Cycle

Beginning phonemic awareness, and "developing the concepts of grading and 1:1 correspondence, and working on numeral recognition 0-10."

Second YearAge 4The Three-Year Cycle

"Connecting phonetic sounds to their alphabet symbols" and "connecting the numerals and quantities for numbers 0-20 and beyond."

Third YearAge 5The Three-Year Cycle

Writing with the movable alphabet and pencil, "beginning to blend sounds to decode (read) words," and "extending mathematical concepts, such as the decimal system and operations."

MusicAll Early SchoolSpecials

"All early school students participate in music classes."

ArtMontessori K · weeklySpecials

A weekly art class for Montessori Kindergarten students.

Physical EducationMontessori K · weeklySpecials

A weekly P.E. class for Montessori Kindergarten students.

SpanishMontessori K · weeklySpecials

A weekly Spanish class for Montessori Kindergarten students.

TechnologyMontessori K · weeklySpecials

A weekly technology class for Montessori Kindergarten students.

Kindergarten – Grade 4Lower School CoursesA workshop model for reading, writing and math, four named programs, and a six-day specials rotation — 13 entries in 3 areas.

Charlotte Prep publishes subjects and named programs for the Lower School, not individually described courses. The rows below are those, in the school’s words.

All departments13 courses — scroll for full list
Reading & WritingK–2Core Subjects

Daily instruction in "decoding knowledge, word attack strategies, fluency, literal and inferential comprehension skills, and essential skills in the writing process."

Reading & WritingGr 3–4Core Subjects

Students "support cross-discipline learning, develop interpretive and analytic comprehension skills, and establish their voices as writers."

MathematicsK–4Core Subjects

"Grounded in a global philosophy. A balanced approach is used to build and apply computational, conceptual, and problem-solving knowledge."

Collaborative ClassroomK–3Named Programs

A reading curriculum "based on the science of reading", launched with Prep Fund support.

SIPPSReading interventionNamed Programs

A reading intervention program used by the learning-support specialists.

Daily Language InstructionGr 3–4Named Programs

A grammar program for 3rd and 4th grade.

IXLGr 3–8Named Programs

An online practice platform for math, used since 2023.

MusicK–4Specials Rotation

Part of the fine arts in the six-day rotation of specialized classes.

DramaK–4Specials Rotation

Part of the fine arts in the six-day rotation of specialized classes.

ArtK–4Specials Rotation

Part of the fine arts in the six-day rotation of specialized classes.

Technology & STEMK–4Specials Rotation

A special in the six-day rotation.

SpanishK–4Specials Rotation

A special in the six-day rotation; Spanish is taught K–8.

Physical EducationK–4Specials Rotation

A special in the six-day rotation.

Grades 5 – 8Middle School CoursesCore subjects with math a year ahead and Spanish as a core class, a leadership sequence, and arts electives — 13 entries in 3 areas.

Charlotte Prep publishes no course catalog or program of studies. These are the subjects, programs and electives the school itself names, in its own words.

All departments13 courses — scroll for full list
MathematicsGr 5–8Core Subjects

"Our standard math curriculum is a full year ahead of learning at most other schools."

Algebra or GeometryGr 8Core Subjects

Some 8th graders take Algebra or Geometry; those students sit a CTP-5 Algebra sub-test.

SpanishGr 5–8 · coreCore Subjects

A core class on the Somos curriculum, developing "the confidence and skills they will need to succeed in high school Spanish"; 8th graders sit the National Spanish Exam.

Reading & WritingGr 5–8Core Subjects

"Reading and writing are emphasized throughout the curriculum."

Technology & STEMGr 5–8Core Subjects

Students "become creative and responsible users of emerging technologies, leveraging tools like coding and robotics."

Leadership ClassGr 5–8Leadership

Students learn to present themselves, with "interview skills such as shaking hands properly, appropriate dress, eye contact, and asking thoughtful questions."

Persuasive Speech ProjectGr 6Leadership

A sixth-grade public-speaking project.

Ignite TalksGr 8Leadership

"Prep 5x30" talks on a topic of the student’s choice — "five slides displayed for 30 seconds each."

Capstone ProjectGr 8Leadership

Policy proposals built around the 8th-grade trip to Washington, D.C.

Chorus or BandGr 5–6Arts & PE

A choice of ensemble from 5th grade, taken alongside both Drama and Art.

Drama and ArtGr 5–6Arts & PE

Fifth and sixth graders "continue to take both Drama and Art."

Drama or ArtGr 7–8Arts & PE

"Once they are in 7th grade they may choose between Drama and Art."

Physical EducationGr 5–8Arts & PE

Middle School students have Physical Education "twice a week."

Student Clubs

Service & Civic EngagementService is built into the leadership program: two annual service days, a cross-age buddy system that pairs every Lower Schooler with an older student, and student-led drives.

Service is built into the leadership program: two annual service days, a cross-age buddy system that pairs every Lower Schooler with an older student, and student-led drives. The school states five goals for it, from "nurture compassion and empathy for others" to "develop a life-long commitment to service and our society". "The leadership curriculum expounds on the idea of servant leadership and the importance of civic engagement."

2
annual service days
The Family Day of Service and the Student Morning of Service

On the Family Day of Service, "Prep families do service projects for local organizations" on and off campus. On the Student Morning of Service, "students engage in service work that addresses childhood literacy, child homelessness, animal welfare, homelessness, or economic inequality." Alongside both, the Parents Association’s holiday drive, Preppy’s Pantry, "collects coats and non-perishable food items", and Lower School students "routinely visit a local nursing home to read and play games with residents."

BUDEE
"Be Understanding, Dedicated, Empathetic, and Engaged"
A buddy for every Lower Schooler

BUDEE "matches TK students from the Early School with 3rd Graders and each of the other Lower School students with a Middle School buddy", and the pairs "meet for community service, character education, and teamwork exercises." In 2023–24 the BUDEE groups ran programs for the International Day of Peace, Veterans Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, a Day of Service, Earth Day and more. Eighth graders also tutor their 4th-grade BUDEEs.

300+
registered for the 2024 Hurricane Helene benefit concert
Student-led relief, and a 2nd-grade tradition

In October 2024 the student council ran a carpool-line supply drive for Hurricane Helene relief, every class made cards of hope, and the school co-hosted a benefit concert with 7th Street Concerts and the Sphinx Virtuosi; students "filled a moving truck with essential goods" and delivered it to the YMCA. Each February, second graders host a Black History Lunch & Learn for Charlotte community leaders — the seventh annual one was February 12, 2026.

Competitions & Student LeadershipRecognition here is won, not chartered: first place in Junior Physics at the regional science fair three years running, and delegate awards at Charlotte’s Model UN conference.

Recognition here is won, not chartered: first place in Junior Physics at the regional science fair three years running, and delegate awards at Charlotte’s Model UN conference. Charlotte Prep has no honor society. Its character framework is the Honor Code and the Four Pillars of leadership — respect, integrity, perseverance and courage.

SocietyDivisionWhat it recognizesFeeds from
Science & Engineering Fair — Region 6Lower and Middle SchoolStudents advanced to the North Carolina State Science & Engineering Fair seven times in 2024, five in 2025 and seven in 2026 (four Elementary, three Junior), with first place in Junior Physics in each of those three years. The school reports a 3rd place in physics at the 2024 state fair.the classroom
Model UN — CHARMUNMiddle SchoolA club since 2020 and a CHARMUN member school since 2023. The school’s first delegate awards came in 2023; in 2024, with 20 delegates attending, it won a vocal commendation and a Most-Improved Delegate award.a club
Student CouncilMiddle School (grades 5–8)Leads Middle School assemblies and organized the 2024 Hurricane Helene relief drive; in 2023 more than a third of 5th graders ran for it.the whole school
Club Catalog & OverviewSeven Middle School clubs and activities on the school’s own record.

Seven Middle School clubs and activities on the school’s own record. No clubs list is published — each one here appears in the school’s news.

Showing 7 of 7 clubs on record
Student CouncilLeadership
Grades 5–8, with an 8th-grade president; led the 2024–25 Middle School assemblies and the Hurricane Helene relief drive
Student AmbassadorsLeadership
Middle School students who lead guest tours, most recently at the 2nd-grade Black History Lunch & Learn in February 2026
Model UNCompetitive & academic
A club since 2020; CHARMUN member school since 2023, with delegate awards in 2023 and 2024
Set Design ClubArts & production
Middle School; built props and costumes for the November 2025 one-act, Alice
Stage CrewArts & production
Runs the spring stage show alongside the set design club — named for Willy Wonka Jr. in 2024
MOSAIC MS Diversity ClubCulture & community
The Middle School diversity club; ten members attended the ACT Middle School Diversity Conference in both 2023–24 and 2024–25
Dungeons & Dragons ClubSpecial interest
Founded by a student in the Class of 2023; last mentioned in January 2024
Joy Term (K–8)Each January since 2025, "over 20 mini-courses" — from Juggling and Prep Poetry Jam to Show Choir and Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse — with each student taking 3 to 4.School-reported
After School StudiosFee-based studios each fall and spring, such as STEM, Hindi, chorus, ukulele, printmaking and theatre — covered in the After School section.Structural

The Arts

The PreK–8 Arts LadderMusic, drama and art for every child through 4th grade, band from 4th, then a choice between chorus and band in 5th and between drama and art in 7th.

Music, drama and art for every child through 4th grade, band from 4th, then a choice between chorus and band in 5th and between drama and art in 7th.

20+
arts performances and events per year
4–8
grades in band
3–8
grades in the spring stage show
Early School · PreK–MK
"All early school students participate in music classes."Montessori Kindergarten adds weekly art alongside P.E., Spanish and technologyAn Early School Winter Concert each year
Lower School · K–4
Music, drama and art in a 6-day rotation of specialized classesK–2 "shine on stage annually in age-appropriate, curricular-themed costumed productions"Recorders and Orff instruments; a 3rd-grade recorder musical and a 4th-grade bilingual playBand begins in 4th grade
Middle School · 5–8
"Students may choose between Chorus and Band as 5th graders, while they continue to take both Drama and Art.""Once they are in 7th grade they may choose between Drama and Art."Middle School drama runs as year-long electivesThe spring show is open to 3rd–8th grade artists
Beyond the school day
After School StudiosFee-based studios add arts options, from a sample list that includes Storybook Theater (K–2), One-Act Play (3–8), Ukulele (3–5), Beginner and Intermediate Print Making (3–5, 6–8), Primary Chorus (1–2) and a before-school Beginner Chorus (3–6) in the Music Cottage.
Where the work goes publicA Winter and a Spring Fine Arts Showcase each year, performances for Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day, and school assemblies. The school’s Fine Arts page says students have performed at the Biltmore Estate, at Charlotte Knights and Hornets games, "and with Distinguished Concerts International New York at Carnegie Hall".
Theatre & Grade-Level ProductionsA stage show at nearly every grade — K–2 musicals, a 3rd-grade recorder musical, a 4th-grade bilingual play — and a 3rd–8th grade spring production with a Middle School one-act in the fall.

A stage show at nearly every grade — K–2 musicals, a 3rd-grade recorder musical, a 4th-grade bilingual play — and a 3rd–8th grade spring production with a Middle School one-act in the fall. Productions run as "Prep Players" in the gym, which has a proscenium stage and $180,000 of new stage lighting, plus new sets bought in 2024–25.

The season, from the school’s own record
November
Middle School one-act
Alice by Lindsay Price, November 14–15, 2025, in the gymnasium, with the Middle School set design club crafting props and costumes.
December
4th-grade bilingual play
Los Tres Cuentos, December 3, 2025.
February
1st & 2nd grade musical
Piece By Piece (February 25, 2026); earlier, United We Stand (2024) and Could You Hug a Cactus? (2025).
April
The 3rd–8th grade spring show
The Wizard of Oz (April 17, 2026); a murder-mystery comedy (April 11, 2025); Willy Wonka Jr. (April 19–20, 2024), which took more than 150 rehearsal hours and had its own stage crew.
April–May
3rd-grade recorder musical
Perseverance Project (April 30, 2026); Just Imagine (May 1, 2025); The Perseverance Project (May 2024).
May
Kindergarten performance
An annual Kindergarten performance closes the year.

Who runs it: Drama teacher Erica Davis (BFA in Musical Theater, East Carolina University; at Charlotte Prep since 2021) directs; Morgan Moscati was music director for Willy Wonka Jr.

Music & the Honors PipelineBand from 4th grade, then chorus or band from 5th — with recorders and Orff instruments underneath and a recorder musical in 3rd grade.

Band from 4th grade, then chorus or band from 5th — with recorders and Orff instruments underneath and a recorder musical in 3rd grade. An ensemble any interested student can join; no audition is described.

The ensemble board
Early School and K–3 — everyone participates
General music
Recorders
Orff instruments
4th grade
Band
5th grade on — choose one
Chorus
Band
Where the ensembles perform
01Fine Arts Showcases — A Winter and a Spring Fine Arts Showcase each year — the May 14, 2026 recording is titled "Middle School Band & Chorus".
02School occasions — Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day, the Veterans Day program and the International Day of Peace assembly, and traditional Prep songs from the chorus at 8th-grade graduation.
03Off campus — The school says its musicians have performed at the Biltmore Estate, at Charlotte Knights and Hornets games, "and with Distinguished Concerts International New York at Carnegie Hall" — no date is given for that performance.
Studio to GalleryA spiral curriculum — "growing in complexity from year to year" — across drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, collage, weaving and digital photography.

A spiral curriculum — "growing in complexity from year to year" — across drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, collage, weaving and digital photography. Work goes public at the Winter and Spring Fine Arts Showcases and on Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day.

The media
Drawing and painting
Printmaking
gelli, relief, linoleum, foam, screen and collograph
Sculpture
Collage and weaving
Digital photography
The course path
Art in the K–4 rotation→Art and Drama, grades 5–6→Art or Drama, grades 7–8· "Art is taught as a spiral curriculum woven around artistic principles, concepts, and habits, growing in complexity from year to year."
Where the work goes public
December
Winter Fine Arts Showcase
May
Spring Fine Arts Showcase
Each year
Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day
Guests "view student work" alongside the performances.

Faculty: Stephanie Mould is the art teacher (MA in Art Education, University of Florida; BA in Studio Art, SUNY Oneonta; at Charlotte Prep since 2021), working from the Art Studio.

Verdict & Visit ChecklistA broad, every-child arts programme for a PreK–8 school: a stage at nearly every grade, a freshly equipped theatre, and credentialed teachers in each discipline.

A broad, every-child arts programme for a PreK–8 school: a stage at nearly every grade, a freshly equipped theatre, and credentialed teachers in each discipline.

Why it holds up
Everyone takes all three — Music, drama and art for every child through 4th grade, and both Drama and Art alongside an ensemble in 5th and 6th.
A stage at nearly every grade — Six recurring productions across the year, from Kindergarten to the 3rd–8th grade spring show.
Real investment — $180,000 of new stage lighting and new sets, paid for by the auction, a parent fundraiser and the annual fund.
Visit Checklist — tick as you go

Sports

Sports OfferedTen named middle school teams across three seasons, open from 5th grade — "one of the few schools that allow 5th Graders the opportunity to be a part of our sports program."

Ten named middle school teams across three seasons, open from 5th grade — "one of the few schools that allow 5th Graders the opportunity to be a part of our sports program." Every team is a single grades 5–8 squad in the Queen City Conference; no A/B or JV split is published. "Including others is sometimes more important than winning."

10
teams named on the athletics page · Fast Facts says 11
5–8
grades eligible to play
80%+
of Middle School plays at least one season, per the athletics page
QCC
Queen City Conference
Depth chips:V VarsityJV Junior varsityMS Middle School
Fall · 4 teams
Cross-Country – CoedMS
Soccer – BoysMS
Tennis – GirlsMS
Volleyball – GirlsMS
Winter · 2 teams
Basketball – BoysMS
Basketball – GirlsMS
Spring · 3 teams
Golf – CoedMS
Soccer – GirlsMS
Tennis – BoysMS

Selected results, all Queen City Conference play. GIRLS’ BASKETBALL, 2023–24: "They won the regular season conference for the first time in 10 years and the QCC Tournament Championship final for the first time in 14 years." GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL, fall 2024: the 12-player team "won the QCC tournament championship". Girls Cheerleading is also offered. For younger students, "various athletic studios are offered to students of all ages, from Pre-Primary to 8th Grade" — golf, tennis, martial arts, soccer and gymnastics among them.

Coaching: Pedigree & ContinuityRenee Suttles leads the programme as Athletic Director and P.E. teacher — at Charlotte Prep since 2018.

Renee Suttles leads the programme as Athletic Director and P.E. teacher — at Charlotte Prep since 2018. Teams are coached by faculty: the 2023–24 girls’ basketball champions were coached by "three Charlotte Prep teachers".

Athletic Director · P.E. teacher, at Charlotte Prep since 2018
Renee Suttles
2018
joined Charlotte Prep, as Middle School P.E. teacher
B.S.
PK-12 Health and Physical Education, Kennesaw State University

Suttles came to Charlotte Prep in 2018 to teach Middle School P.E. and now holds the Athletic Director title alongside it. Before Charlotte Prep she taught P.E. at Crowders' Creek Elementary School and health and P.E. for grades 6–8 at Moses Middle School, where she coached softball and girls' basketball. In summer 2025 she attended Athletic Directors Training in Charlottesville, VA, "focusing on planning and safety".

Tenure ledger — head coaches & key staff
Renee SuttlesAthletic Director · P.E. Teachersince 2018
Amber O'ConnellP.E. and Middle School Health Teacher · has served as cross country coachsince 2022

High School Placement

Where Graduates Go97% of the Class of 2026 were accepted into one or both of their top two high school choices — and Charlotte Prep has published a rate like it for every class since 2023.

97% of the Class of 2026 were accepted into one or both of their top two high school choices — and Charlotte Prep has published a rate like it for every class since 2023. Fifteen members of the Class of 2026 were accepted to every school they applied to, the school says.

97%
Class of 2026 · into one or both top-two choices
39 graduates named on the class list
96%
Class of 2025 · into one or both top-two choices
27 graduates named on the class list
100%
Class of 2024 · into one or both top-two choices
29 graduates named on the class list
96%
over the past 10 years, as the school states it · an earlier page said 94% since 2015
NO DENOM.
Named scholarships won
Grant D. Williams Foundation ScholarshipProvidence Day School · Class of 2025 · "an exclusive four-year scholarship [that] includes a financial award and a personal mentorship with Grant Williams himself, NBA player and Providence Day alum"
Michaels-Dickson Merit ScholarshipThe McCallie School · Class of 2025 · "Over the past 16 years, Charlotte Prep has sent 11 graduates to McCallie, seven of whom earned the highly selective Michaels‑Dickson Merit Scholarship."

NOT AN ADMIT RATE These percentages describe the school’s graduates, not any high school’s selectivity. They say nothing about how hard any single destination is to enter, and must never be read as if they did.

Where They Land

More than 60 high schools across all of Charlotte Prep’s alumni — and, for each class from 2023 to 2026, exactly where its graduates are heading. Choose a class to see where each of its named graduates is heading. Schools are grouped by what each one actually is.

Indicates we have a dedicated school page on this portal — click the school name

Public, charter and magnet schools 26 schools
Ardrey Kell High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #475Central Academy of Technology and ArtsUS News National HS Rank #974Charlotte Lab SchoolUS News National HS Rank #6,763Cuthbertson High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #2,050East Mecklenburg High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #2,837Hickory Ridge High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #2,102Independence High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #5,023Marvin Ridge High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #614Myers Park High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #1,655Northwest School of the ArtsUS News National HS Rank #1,314Northwestern High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #5,730Olympic Community of Schools now Olympic High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #13,127Porter Ridge High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #4,721Providence High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #526Queen’s Grant High SchoolSouth Mecklenburg High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #5,217Union AcademyUS News National HS Rank #2,538Weddington High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #697West Mecklenburg High SchoolUS News National HS Rank #13,460-17,945York Prep AcademyUS News National HS Rank #3,954University of North Carolina School of the Arts Winston-Salem · residential arts conservatorySouth Carolina Governor's School for the Arts Greenville, SC · residential arts schoolCampolindo High School CaliforniaChristian-von-Dohm Gymnasium GermanyPortland High School Maine · the placement guide says South Portland High SchoolWashington-Lee High School Virginia · now Washington-Liberty
The Placement ProgramA dedicated placement team, a twelve-step path that starts before 8th grade, and a fall fair that brings over 40 high schools to campus to recruit.

A dedicated placement team, a twelve-step path that starts before 8th grade, and a fall fair that brings over 40 high schools to campus to recruit. The application is parent-driven, but the school manages the rest: "Our team manages all other aspects of the process to minimize stress and provide all necessary materials."

12
from the start of the path to acceptance
steps in the school’s guide
40+
to the High School Fair and Boarding School Fair
schools invited each September
ISEE
the one admissions test the school names
Grade 7 practice → Grade 8
The process, in sequence
Spring of 7th grade — the Parent Coffee
Orientation
"Each spring, rising 8th-grade parents attend a Parent Coffee to learn about the admissions process, events, deadlines, and other tips and information to prepare for the year ahead."
Grade 7 — a practice ISEE
Testing
Students sit the Independent School Entrance Exam for practice in 7th grade, then for high school placement in 8th, and the school provides ISEE test preparation in between: "Students learn test-taking strategies and prepare for admissions testing to gain comfort and fine tune skills."
September of 8th grade — the High School Fair
Exposure
"In September, administrators from over 40 schools are invited to Charlotte Prep's High School Fair and Boarding School Fair to recruit our students." The boarding fair includes a panel discussion — one 2026 family credits it with their decision to pursue boarding school.
Fall of 8th grade — meetings and school visits
Fit
The team meets individually with each 8th grader and separately with each student's parents "to discuss their plans, their objectives for their child, and appropriate placement opportunities." Families are encouraged to visit open houses and tours, and students make day visits to the schools on their list.
Grade 8 — interviews
Preparation
"In Leadership class, students learn interview etiquette and conduct. They learn about proper dress, eye contact, handshake, and what to look for as they seek the school that fits them best." Teachers and administrators run mock interviews, and the brochure adds a practice interview with the head of school.
Winter of 8th grade — applications and advocacy
Advocacy
"Charlotte Prep electronically delivers our students' complete transcripts and teacher recommendation packets to the schools prior to deadlines." The team then meets with each high school "for in-depth conversations about our student applicants and to provide further insight to ensure each student is well known."
What the school owns
✓A one-on-one meeting with every 8th grader, and a separate one with their parents
✓Mock interviews with teachers, administrators and the head of school
✓ISEE preparation, after a practice ISEE in 7th grade
✓Transcripts and teacher recommendations delivered electronically before each deadline
✓A meeting with each high school about its Charlotte Prep applicants
Visit ChecklistA published placement rate for every recent class, a named list behind each one, and a process written down step by step.

A published placement rate for every recent class, a named list behind each one, and a process written down step by step.

Ask on the tour — tick as you go

Where the Class of 2026 Is Headed

From the school

Charlotte Preparatory School’s own video of where its Class of 2026 is going for high school. Press play to watch.

After School

The Coverage MapOne K–8 After School Program from dismissal to 5:30 p.m. at a single annual price, a separate Extended Day for the Early School — and no morning care.

One K–8 After School Program from dismissal to 5:30 p.m. at a single annual price, a separate Extended Day for the Early School — and no morning care. Drop-off opens at 7:45 a.m. for Lower and Middle School and 8:00 a.m. for the Early School.

8 am10 am12 pm2 pm4 pm6 pm
Pre-Primary & Primary
half-day program ends 12:00
Extended Day · 12:00–5:30 · $5,900/yr
  • Extended Day · 12:00–5:30 · $5,900/yr
TK
dismissal 2:30
TK Extended Day · 2:30–5:30 · $2,700/yr
  • TK Extended Day · 2:30–5:30 · $2,700/yr
K – Grade 8
begins at dismissal
After School Program · 3:00–5:30 · $4,500/yr
  • After School Program · 3:00–5:30 · $4,500/yr
Mornings
before school
No before-school care — drop-off from 7:45 (8:00 Early School)
  • No before-school care — drop-off from 7:45 (8:00 Early School)
JUN–JULSummer Adventures at Prep ran seven weeks in 2026, June 8 to July 31, for campers from the Early School through 8th grade, with Before Care 8:00–9:00 a.m. and After Care 4:00–5:00 p.m. at $60/week each. See Summer Programs →

Prices on the bars are the 2026–27 annual figures from the tuition page. The school does not price after-school care by days per week; occasional use is the $20/hour drop-in instead.

Age groups: "kindergarteners, first and second graders, third and fourth graders, and then our middle school students"Siblings: "We provide complimentary care for younger students who have siblings with a later dismissal time."Drop-in: $20/hour, Montessori Kindergarten through 8th gradeStaff: Justen Kirchner, Director of Auxiliary Programs, oversees after school, extended day, studios and summer camp; the staff directory lists 14 After School Program Teachers
The Cost PlannerOne annual price — $4,500 for K–8 afternoons to 5:30 — with a $20-an-hour drop-in for families who only need care now and then.

One annual price — $4,500 for K–8 afternoons to 5:30 — with a $20-an-hour drop-in for families who only need care now and then. The 2026–27 rates, from the school’s own tuition page. The Early School’s Extended Day is priced separately.

Days / week
Grade · pickup slot (per year)1 day
EST.
2 days
EST.
3 days
EST.
4 days
EST.
5 days
VERIFIED
————$4,500
————$2,700
————$5,900
Fees & fine print
After School Program, K–8 (annual)$4,500
Drop-in, Montessori K–8$20 / hr
Pre-Primary/Primary School Day, 12:00–2:30/3:00$3,400

The School Day option is only "for students with siblings enrolled at Prep in TK-8th grade." After School Studios carry a separate fee for each class, which the school does not state.

Your estimate
Kindergarten–Grade 8 · 3:00–5:30 pm
5 days / week, until pickup
$4,500/ year
≈ per afternoon$25
Or drop in by the hour. Drop-in care is $20 an hour for Montessori Kindergarten through 8th grade. A full afternoon to 5:30 is about $50 on drop-in, against roughly $25 an afternoon on the annual plan over a 180-day year.
A Day Inside + EnrichmentSnack, homework time, monthly themes, hands-on activities and free time — plus 12-week studios in language, drama, music, art and STEM.

Snack, homework time, monthly themes, hands-on activities and free time — plus 12-week studios in language, drama, music, art and STEM. "Classes are led by warm and enthusiastic teachers and include a healthy mix of age-appropriate activities, homework time, and free time."

The program, in the school’s words
afternoon snackhomework timemonthly themeshands-on activitiesfree timehealthy routinesa loving and nurturing environment
After School Studios — a sample

"A new selection of studio choices is typically offered each fall and spring, and each session lasts approximately 12 weeks." Studios run 45 minutes to an hour, students are walked to them by their teacher, and "there is a fee, separate from Charlotte Prep's annual tuition, associated with each class." The school lists these as sample offerings, not this term’s schedule.

9 of 9 classes
ClassDayGradesFee
Hindi
Weekly: speaking for younger students, writing for advanced students, and culture through art and crafts.
—K–4—
Storybook Theater
Acting and communication, ending in an informal Reader’s Theatre performance.
—K–2—
One-Act Play
Audition for and perform a one-act play.
—3–8—
Ukulele
Chords and strumming.
—3–5—
STEM
Tinker, design, build and test in the STEM Lab.
—3–6—
Beginner Print Making
In the Art Studio, 3:15–4:00.
—3–5—
Intermediate Print Making
Linoleum, screen printing and collograph, 3:15–4:00.
—6–8—
Primary Chorus
Includes off-campus singing at venues such as Knights Stadium and Bojangles Coliseum.
—1–2—
Beginner Chorus
Meets before school, 7:15–8:00 a.m., in the Music Cottage — 3rd and 4th graders, plus 5th and 6th graders in Band.
—3–6—
Verdict & Visit ChecklistA simple, clearly priced afternoon program: one annual fee for every grade K–8, an hourly fallback, and free care for a younger sibling waiting on an older one.

A simple, clearly priced afternoon program: one annual fee for every grade K–8, an hourly fallback, and free care for a younger sibling waiting on an older one.

Why it holds up
✓One clear annual price. $4,500 covers K–8 afternoons to 5:30 p.m., and a $20 hourly drop-in covers occasional use.
✓Free care for younger siblings waiting for an older sibling’s later dismissal.
✓Four age groups with homework time built in — K, 1–2, 3–4 and Middle School — plus a snack and monthly themes.
✓Twelve-week studios in language, drama, music, art and STEM each fall and spring.
✓A dedicated director runs after school, extended day, studios and summer camp together.
Ask on the tour

Summer Programs

The Camp CatalogSummer 2026 ran seven weeks, June 8 to July 31, for campers from the Early School through 8th grade — a traditional day camp plus a specialty or sports camp almost every week.

Summer 2026 ran seven weeks, June 8 to July 31, for campers from the Early School through 8th grade — a traditional day camp plus a specialty or sports camp almost every week. Full days ran 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., half days 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. or 1:00–4:00 p.m. Camp was closed June 19 and the whole week of June 29–July 3, so June 15–18 was the one four-day week. Lunch was included for full-day campers.

Grade
16 of 16 camps
CampWhenGradesPrice
Young AdventurersDay camp
The Early School camp: water days, nature walks, arts and crafts, field trips and nap time.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00 or half day
All 7 weeks
Rising Primary & TK$500 full · $250 half
Traditional CampDay camp
The core day camp: games, crafts, off-campus field trips, karaoke and snow cones. The brochure says rising MK–8; the registration form says K–7.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00 or half day
All 7 weeks
Rising MK–8$525 full · $275 half
Junior CounselorJunior Counselor
For rising or graduated 8th graders. "Limited spots available and these positions may require an interview."
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
All 7 weeks
Rising or graduated 8th$300/week
Midsummer Tune-Up tutoringTutoring
An add-on for Traditional campers, taught by Charlotte Prep teachers in "small groups of 6 or less": literacy, math and social-skills sessions for rising MK–2 (Mon–Wed), reading and writing, math and critical-thinking sessions for rising 3–5 (Thu–Fri).
Mon–Wed or Thu–Fri
50-minute sessions, 9:00–11:50
Rising MK–5$60/session · $150 for all 3
Art Explorers WorkshopSpecialty
A full-day art camp.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
June 8–12
Rising MK–8$600
Rhythm & Beats MusicSpecialty
A full-day music camp.
Mon–Thu
9:00–4:00
June 15–18
Rising MK–8$500
Broadway Bound JuniorsSpecialty
A full-day musical-theatre camp. The registration form lists it at $525.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
June 22–26
Rising MK–8$550
GameMakers Coding CampSpecialty
A full-day coding camp for the older grades.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
July 6–10
Rising 2–8$550
Master Makers: LEGO EngineeringSpecialty
A full-day LEGO engineering camp, listed in the brochure but not on the registration form.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
July 13–17
Rising MK–5$550
Quantum Creators CampSpecialty
A full-day STEM camp.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
July 20–24
Rising 2–6$550
Junior Gourmet Cooking LabSpecialty
A full-day cooking camp.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
July 27–31
Rising MK–8$600
Amazing AthletesSports
A full-day multi-sport camp.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
June 8–12
K–8$500
KidokineticsSports
A full-day sports camp that runs twice — $400 in the four-day week, $500 in July.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
June 15–18 and July 13–17
K–8$400 · $500
BasketballSports
A full-day basketball camp.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
July 6–10
K–8$500
VolleyballSports
A full-day volleyball camp.
Mon–Fri
9:00–4:00
July 20–24
K–8$500
Nike Soccer CampSports
Run on campus by a third party, US Sports Camps, and registered on its own site, for ages 6–13. Lunch is not included.
Mon–Fri
9:00–12:00 or 9:00–3:00
June 22–26 and July 27–31
Ages 6–13$299 half · $429 full
The Summer Cost PlannerSummer 2026 priced by the week: $525 for a full day of Traditional Camp, $500 for the Early School camp, and $500–$600 for a specialty or sports week.

Summer 2026 priced by the week: $525 for a full day of Traditional Camp, $500 for the Early School camp, and $500–$600 for a specialty or sports week. Lunch was included for full-day campers, and before- and after-care were sold by the week. Payment was due in full at registration.

Weeks of summer
Camp tierPer week

$420 in the four-day week of June 15–18.
$525

$175 in the four-day week.
$275

$400 in the four-day week.
$500

$200 in the four-day week.
$250

Art Explorers Workshop and Junior Gourmet Cooking Lab.
$600

Broadway Bound Juniors, GameMakers Coding, LEGO Engineering and Quantum Creators.
$550

Amazing Athletes, Basketball, Volleyball, Kidokinetics (July) and Rhythm & Beats.
$500

$300 every week, including the four-day week.
$300
Add-ons
Your estimate
Traditional Camp · 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
3 weeks of camp
$1,575for the summer
Camp, per week$525
Total per week$525
≈ per camp day$105
Payment is due at registration. Registration for summer 2026 ran on the school's own web form, paid by card, and closed Friday, May 29, 2026. Children in the school-year Extended-Day Program were not enrolled automatically — they had to be registered for camp like everyone else. No summer 2027 programme has been posted yet.
Fees & fine print

Before and After Care together are $110/week — $10 less than the two toggles added up. In the four-day week each is $55, or $100 for both.

Midsummer Tune-Up tutoring is $60 per session per week, or $150 for all three — the toggle prices one session.

Early bird: "$25 savings per week now through January 15, 2026." The registration form showed several prices $25 below the brochure, consistent with that saving, but two of its cells were higher than the brochure, so the brochure is used here as the regular price list.

Refunds: "Refunds are available up to two weeks before camp starts. A refund fee of $150 will apply per camper."

Nike Soccer Camp is booked and paid separately through US Sports Camps ($299 half day, $429 full day) and does not include lunch.

Financial Aid & Tuition

In-Depth ReportTuition & Financial Aid — Deep Dive Report · 2026–27 school year · figures as of 19 Oct 2026

Tuition & Financial Aid — Deep Dive Report

2026–27 school year · figures as of 19 Oct 2026

One page, two aid deadlines. The school's aid page says January 2 in its text and January 15 in its FAQ. Confirm the date with the Director of Enrollment before relying on either.

Aid covers K–8 only. Tuition assistance is offered for Kindergarten through 8th grade; the Early School's Pre-Primary, Primary and TK programs are not eligible. Aid totals below are from the school's federal tax filings and are labelled so. Not financial advice.

Meters show how fully each section could be answered from published evidence — a disclosure score, not a rating of the school.

SECTION 01

The Tuition Table — Seven Programs, Two Grade Bands

Published tuition, 2026-27 against 2024-25prior yearcurrent

A 3% discount applies for younger siblings of current students.

Pre-Primary (8:30–12:00)$17,700+15% (2 yrs)
Primary (8:30–12:00)$18,500+15% (2 yrs)
Transitional K (8:30–2:30)$23,900+15% (2 yrs)
Montessori K$25,800+15% (2 yrs)
Kindergarten$25,800+15% (2 yrs)
Grades 1–4$28,800+15% (2 yrs)
Grades 5–8$30,200+15% (2 yrs)

The comparison is with 2024-25, the last year the school's tuition page survives in the archive — 2025-26 was never captured — so each change covers two years, about 7% a year. Since 2024-25 the school has folded its athletics, fine arts and technology fees into tuition, so part of the rise replaces fees families once paid separately. The board's stated aim is to keep tuition "at or below the median of peer schools".

SECTION 02

Beyond Tuition — The Real Cost of Attendance

What sits outside tuition
Down payment — $2,000, credited to tuition
New Family Commitment Fee — $1,000, one time
Parents' Association — $150 per student per year
Tuition Refund Plan — "approximately 1.45%" of tuition
After School Program, K–8 — $4,500 a year
Drop-in after school — $20 an hour
~Early School Extended Day — $2,700 (TK) to $5,900 (Pre-Primary/Primary)
~Summer camp — $250 to $600 a week (2026)
Lunch through FLIK — billed separately
After School Studios — a fee for each class
Field trips — "may be assessed"

The Tuition Refund Plan is required unless the full annual fees are paid by May 1, in which case it is optional. At about 1.45%, it would add roughly $418 to Grades 1–4 tuition — our estimate, since the school gives a percentage and no dollar figure.

SECTION 03

Aid Process and Timeline

NEED, MERIT AND FIT
Step 1Request tuition assistance from the Director of Enrollment, Seher Khanna
PlatformApply through Clarity; awards consider "financial need, academic merit, and the student's fit"
Jan 2 or Jan 15The aid deadline — the page text says January 2, its FAQ says January 15; confirm which applies
Jan 15, 2027Grades 1–8 admission application deadline (Early School & K: January 2)
Aid stops below Kindergarten

Assistance is "offered in grades K-8th", so a family entering at Pre-Primary, Primary or TK pays full tuition until Kindergarten. For a family planning a nine- or ten-year path, that makes the Early School years the most expensive stretch relative to aid.

SECTION 04

What the Numbers Disclose

10%
of families received tuition assistance, 2024-25 — the school's own figure
$476,679
tuition assistance, fiscal year ending June 2025 — per the Form 990
49
students aided, fiscal year ending June 2025 — per the Form 990
Tuition History & SourcesYears 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23 and 2025–26 are missing because no archived copy of the school's tuition page survives for them.

Tuition by year

School yearKindergartenGrades 1–4Grades 5–8After School Program (annual)Drop-in after school
2015–16 (page undated)$16,860$17,800$18,350$3,400 K · $2,975 Gr 1–4 · $2,750 Gr 5–8$17.00/hour
2016–17 (page undated)$16,860$18,300$19,100$3,430 K · $3,025 Gr 1–4 · $2,800 Gr 5–8$17.70/hour
2017–18$16,860$18,750$19,600$3,200$18.00/hour
2018–19$17,350$19,300$20,200$3,300$18.00/hour
2021–22$19,100$21,300$22,300$3,500 (also printed as $3,600)$18.00/hour
2023–24$21,300$23,800$25,000$4,000$20/hour
2024–25$22,400$25,000$26,250$4,200$20/hour
2026–27$25,800$28,800$30,200$4,500$20/hour

Years 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23 and 2025–26 are missing because no archived copy of the school's tuition page survives for them.

How fast tuition has risen (our calculation)

ChangeKindergartenGrades 1–4Grades 5–8
2015–16 → 2016–170%+3%+4%
2016–17 → 2017–180%+2%+3%
2017–18 → 2018–19+3%+3%+3%
2018–19 → 2021–22 (three years)+10%+10%+10%
2021–22 → 2023–24 (two years)+12%+12%+12%
2023–24 → 2024–25+5%+5%+5%
2024–25 → 2026–27 (two years)+15%+15%+15%
2015–16 → 2026–27 (eleven years)+53%+62%+65%

These percentages are our own arithmetic on the school's published prices, not figures the school publishes. Before 2019, Charlotte Prep raised tuition about 2–4% a year. From 2021–22 on the pace picked up to roughly 5–7% a year. The two years from 2024–25 to 2026–27 added 15%, about 7% a year. Two things changed alongside the prices. From 2024–25 the school folded its athletics, fine arts and technology fees into tuition, so part of that year's rise replaced fees families used to pay separately. Before-school care from 7:30 a.m. was free through 2021–22; by 2023–24 the page said "No additional before school care is available at this time."

Montessori Early School, morning and school-day programs

School yearPre-Primary, to noonPrimary, to noonTransitional K, to 2:30Montessori K
2015–16 (page undated)$10,950 (Pre-Primary and Primary)$10,950$14,900not offered on page
2016–17 (page undated)$11,250 (Pre-Primary and Primary)$11,250$14,900not offered on page
2017–18$11,500$12,000$15,500$16,860
2018–19$11,850$12,400$16,000$17,350
2021–22$13,100$13,700$17,700$19,100
2023–24$14,650$15,300$19,750$21,300
2024–25$15,400$16,100$20,750$22,400
2026–27$17,700$18,500$23,900$25,800

Until 2024–25 the Early School also sold year-round and school-year extended-day versions at a single all-in price. For 2026–27 the school instead sells the school-year program plus a separate Extended Day add-on, and no year-round option is listed.

More Charlotte-area schools

Independent research on Charlotte-area private schools. Notes are distilled, lightly-cleaned extracts of source documents — verify specifics with each school.