The 10 best private schools in Charlotte

Charlotte has one of the deepest private school markets in the Southeast, and the right school depends on the child, the family’s faith or lack of it, the commute and the budget. This is not a ranking by test scores, which private schools do not publish uniformly. It is the ten schools that families consider first, described by what each one is and who it serves, so you know where to start. Office hours are listed; every school works by appointment and tour.

1. Charlotte Latin School

The independent, nonsectarian TK through 12 school on Providence Road, founded in 1970, one of the three large independents in the city. A college preparatory curriculum built around an honor code, dedicated lower, middle and upper school buildings on a large south Charlotte campus, and competitive athletics and arts. Selective admission in the fall.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Address: 9502 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277

Why it made the list

• One of the three big independents.
• An honor code culture.
• Full arts and athletics.
• South Charlotte campus.

Directory listing: Charlotte Latin School

2. Charlotte Country Day School

The oldest independent school in Charlotte, founded in 1941, JK through 12 across the Cannon campus on Carmel Road and the Bissell middle school campus. The International Baccalaureate diploma alongside a traditional track, a broad athletics program, the deepest alumni network in the city and financial aid for admitted families.

Office hours: See the school’s site for office hours

Address: 1440 Carmel Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226

Why it made the list

• The oldest and most connected.
• The IB diploma option.
• Two campuses in south Charlotte.
• Financial aid available.

Directory listing: Charlotte Country Day School

3. Providence Day School

The independent, nonsectarian TK through 12 school on Sardis Road, founded in 1970, with a global studies emphasis, one of the largest enrollments in the region, athletics at the top of the state’s independent leagues and a preschool program on campus. Selective admission with financial aid and fall open houses.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 5800 Sardis Rd, Charlotte, NC 28270

Why it made the list

• Global studies focus.
• The largest of the independents.
• Championship level athletics.
• Preschool through 12 on one campus.

Directory listing: Providence Day School

4. Charlotte Christian School

The nondenominational Christian college preparatory school on Sardis Road since 1950, JK through 12 on one campus, combining rigorous academics with a Christian worldview, athletics that produce college athletes and a fine arts program with its own performance spaces. Families of every denomination enroll.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 7301 Sardis Rd, Charlotte, NC 28270

Why it made the list

• The leading Christian independent in the city.
• Athletics and arts of equal strength.
• Nondenominational.
• A single south Charlotte campus.

Directory listing: Charlotte Christian School

5. Cannon School

The independent JK through 12 school on Poplar Tent Road in Concord, founded in 1969, and the leading independent school for the north side of the metro, Concord, Huntersville, Davidson and the Lake Norman towns. College preparatory academics, athletics and arts on a large campus, with the same selective fall admission cycle as the Charlotte independents.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Address: 5801 Poplar Tent Rd, Concord, NC 28027

Why it made the list

• The north metro’s independent school.
• JK through 12.
• A large Concord campus.
• Serves Lake Norman and Cabarrus County.

Directory listing: Cannon School

6. Charlotte Catholic High School

The Diocese of Charlotte’s high school on Pineville-Matthews Road, grades 9 through 12, the destination for the diocesan elementary and middle schools across the city. College preparatory academics, a state championship athletics tradition, an engaged parent community and tuition well below the independents, with parish rates for Catholic families and admission open to all.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 7:35 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.

Address: 7702 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226

Why it made the list

• The value option among the top schools.
• Championship athletics.
• A large, engaged community.
• Open to students of any faith.

Directory listing: Charlotte Catholic High School

7. Covenant Day School

The Christian college preparatory school in Matthews beside Christ Covenant Church, TK through 12, with a classical influenced curriculum on a Reformed Christian foundation. It serves Matthews, Mint Hill, Weddington and south Charlotte with athletics, fine arts and a strong college placement record.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Address: 800 Fullwood Ln, Matthews, NC 28105

Why it made the list

• The southeast side’s Christian independent.
• Classical influenced academics.
• TK through 12.
• Strong college placement.

Directory listing: Covenant Day School

8. Trinity Episcopal School

The K through 8 independent school in First Ward, founded in 2000 and the only independent school inside Uptown, using the center city’s museums, parks and institutions as an extended campus. Episcopal in tradition, intentionally diverse, with significant financial aid and graduates who move on to the city’s independent high schools and magnet programs.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 750 E. 9th St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Why it made the list

• The Uptown school.
• K through 8 with small classes.
• Intentional diversity and real aid.
• A feeder to the top high schools.

Directory listing: Trinity Episcopal School

9. Charlotte Preparatory School

The preschool through grade 8 independent school on Boyce Road in southeast Charlotte, with a Montessori based early childhood program that transitions into a traditional college preparatory lower and middle school. Small by design, with individualized attention and graduates at the city’s leading high schools.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Address: 212 Boyce Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211

Why it made the list

• Montessori to middle school.
• Small and personal.
• Preschool through grade 8.
• Southeast Charlotte convenience.

Directory listing: Charlotte Preparatory School

10. Carmel Christian School

The K through 12 Christian school on Pineville-Matthews Road in Matthews, a ministry of Carmel Baptist Church, with college preparatory academics, STEM and fine arts, and an athletics program that has risen to the top of the state’s Christian school leagues. Serves south Charlotte, Matthews and Union County.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Address: 1145 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Matthews, NC 28105

Why it made the list

• K through 12 in Matthews.
• A rising athletics program.
• Church affiliated with a broad enrollment.
• Convenient to Union County.

Directory listing: Carmel Christian School

How to use this list

Tour before you rank. Every school here runs open houses in the fall and private tours by appointment, and the feel of a campus matters more than any list. Ask about financial aid early; most of these schools award it, and the deadlines run with admissions. Our schools guide covers the public magnet and charter options, and our school calendars guide has every district’s dates. If a school belongs on this list, tell us.