The 10 Most Popular High School in Charlotte

Finding a great high school for your child to attend can be a daunting task. Not only are you looking for the best possible education and learning opportunities, but also a safe, supportive environment that is going to propel them through their future.

We’re here today to help you narrow down your search by introducing you ten of Charlotte’s best high schools! Here’s what our experts have determined are the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to secondary education in Charlotte—stay tuned for our exclusive list!

The Top 10 High Schools in Charlotte

East Mecklenburg High School

Address: 6800 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28212, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.2 (191)
Phone: +1 980-343-6430
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Tuesday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Wednesday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Thursday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Friday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

I’m an East Meck alumni and love what has been done to this school after 30 years. Really cool!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Ryan Dion (3 years ago)

School is nice for the most part, haven’t really had any issues since my children have been going here.

✭✭✭✭ By Kendra Sheppard (a year ago)

It is a very good school

✭✭✭✭✭ By gerson jimenez (4 years ago)

My son is enjoying his 1st year of High School there.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Lorraine Teleshuk (4 years ago)

I go to the school and I think most of the teachers are Awesome but I think the schedules and the buildings are a bit confusing.

✭✭✭✭ By Tavis Hester (a year ago)

South Mecklenburg High School

Address: 8900 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4 (43)
Phone: +1 980-343-3600
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 7:10 AM – 2:15 PM

Tuesday: 7:10 AM – 2:15 PM

Wednesday: 7:10 AM – 2:15 PM

Thursday: 7:10 AM – 2:15 PM

Friday: 7:10 AM – 2:15 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

This is only my freshman year and I can already tell that the school is a great one. Faculty, staff, and students all get along well due to the diverse community. It does have it’s downsides in the fact that there are lots of troublemakers at the school but, they are handled responsibly. The administration knows what it is doing and decides to crack down on more serious issues such as students skipping class or fights rather than small, insignificant issues such as dress code. I love this school and am sad that this will be my only year here.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Xailin Ortiz (5 years ago)

I graduated from SM in 99 back when before all of you current students were even babies and it was fine back then. I have no idea what it is like now… Based on other reviews it sounds like there needs to be some attention paid to toilet paper supplies in the bathrooms, so I took of a star.

✭✭✭✭ By Peter Alstone (4 years ago)

First of all, let’s talk about the bathrooms. Don’t sit, you’ll get an STD. Every single building constantly lacks toilet paper in every stall and paper towels! We have not had paper towels in the D building for about a month. We also do not have metal boxes in the stalls, so girls leave their BLOODY TAMPONS AND PADS EVERYWHERE! On the seat, the ground, you name it… Beyond repulsive and horrific. It’s unacceptable. South Meck is such a joke, the conditions are unbelievably poor, and I hate that this is what my government provides me with for “public education”.

✭ By jiang joli (5 years ago)

This is my Junior Year at South Meck and I absolutely love it!
Because of the Language Magnet Program, we have been able to attract a diverse group of students.
South Mecklenburg High School has become a ‘Salad Bowl’. And as a result, students are able to befriend and encounter a range of different personalities. In addition, South’s faculty and staff try their best to ensure students gain a quality education while maintaining a upbeat atmosphere.
For prospective students and parents, do not be afraid of a populous school, there is more to gain than lose from it.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Jocelyn Yang (6 years ago)

WHAT A JOKE!! If I could give this school minus zero stars then I would. I’ve tried twice reaching the principal only to be lied to both times. Was also lied to about what was happening during the student walk out. These people act like we parents don’t watch the news. You people spend several hours a day with our children and we parents have the right to know everything that goes on. Workers have told me they’d assist with certain things only to disappear. I HATE LIARS AND I ALSO HATE THAT MY CHILD HAS TO ATTEND HERE. There’s more I can say about this system but there isn’t enough room for me to do so. Just know these people SUCK!

✭ By Gerri Summers (5 years ago)

Harding University High School

Address: 2001 Alleghany St, Charlotte, NC 28208, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 2.8 (37)
Phone: +1 980-343-6007
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Tuesday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Wednesday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Thursday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Friday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

As a Harding University Student I have learned quite a few things. I am heading into my senior year and while i have seen progress in our school i have also seen the setbacks. Coming into the Harding University system I was not previously aware of its reputation and believed that I was walking into a prestigious and well accommodating high school , however I was mistaking. For my freshman was a mixture of unprofessional and horrible administrators who clearly did not deserve the jobs to a principal that was smug, rude, disrespectful and lack luster. They did not give a good start to my freshman class who basically had to fend for themselves. We weren’t being on the level we were supposed to and some not even given the proper classes. Add in the teachers struggling to take control of overcrowded classes with half the class not wanting to learn and distracting the students who actually wanted to. So after a long struggling freshman year we got Mr. Eric Ward a principal that actually made a difference in my school, while it still had its flaws and it was becoming better. This however did make up for teachers who were not able to control their classes or distinguish between teacher and friend. My third year had Harding has so far been better than my last two with fewer complaints. What I must authorize is if you are a successful student DO NOT GET INTO THE IB PROGRAM SAVE YOURSELF THE HEADACHE AND STRESS!! Its not even worth all of the Bs they say. In the last 8 years only 5 people have gotten the diploma if you really want a challenge worth the effort enroll in AP Classes its way worth it and this is coming from an IB student don’t do it to yourself. But Harding as a school is not so bad, the media may give us as Rams a bad rep but we’re actually pretty normal. Yea there are some bad apples in the bunch nut we won’t let that ruin all the hard work that some people have put in. While I strongly believe Harding is not the best school it has made progress and there are Teachers and Staff Members who actually do want to see you achieve greatness. HUHS And this is coming from a Proud Ram!!

✭✭✭✭ By Wynter Williamson (5 years ago)

As an alumni from class of 2014 who graduated completing 2 years of IB and 2 years of AP, I would highly recommend keeping your child away from this school. The students are pretty unruly and the new staff shows a lack of respect for the learning environment. The teacher over turn rate is ridiculous, I’m surprised if a teacher stays longer than a year. Academics are not taken seriously at this school. All 4 years of attending Harding, I’ve never had a stable mathematics teacher. Each year that i took a math course, the teacher would either quit or get fired in the beginning of the year causing a year long substitute who did not teach math to take over. I kid you not, this happened every single math course. Not to mention the inappropriate language exhibited by the staff. Anywhere from cursing to name calling. My senior year I was called a “Yapping Chihuahua” by a chemistry teacher. This was not a light hearted joke. I took high offense and reported it to the principal. No action was taken towards the teacher. I could go on and on about my awful high school experience at Harding, trust me there’s more but the bottom line is, Don’t let your student attend this school. If no other choice then monitor them closely.

✭ By Vanessa Rivera (8 years ago)

Harding is one of those schools where if you come in expecting it to suck, it will. Being a 10th grader at Harding who has been at the school for 2 years, I believe it is a pretty good school. The thing about this school is that the teachers are either really cool, really strict or extremely boring which is both good and bad. One thing you can’t say about Harding is that you didn’t learn anything. The only bad thing about the school that I would say is that the Administration really sucks but from what I hear that’s gonna change really soon. And if you wanna be successful at Harding do NOT join the IB Program. I’d suggest you do Honors and AP and/or AVID unless you like a challenge/ a ton of work. And finally if you come to Harding and you’d like to better your Harding experience, join the band! it makes up for a lot of Harding’s cons. But I guess I’m a little bias because unlike the 1st person, I’m a proud RAM. 🙂

✭✭✭✭ By Kelia Williams (10 years ago)

I have been going to HUHS for a year and i personally think the school, said from it’s unruly students is a great school. I mean yeah, it’s not a wealthy or super clean school but they’re doing what they can. It’s not a perfect place and on some occasions nor is it safe but the teachers i know and I have had teach me were very serious and educating us students

✭✭✭✭ By Succubus Siren (7 years ago)

I am now a junior at this school and suffice to say I hate it! I was suppose to go to Waddel and they closed it and now I’m at an over populated school where I learn NOTHING! I have been here for three years and have hated it since before I started. If your child is suppose to go here please reconsider! I have witnessed numerous things wrong. The fact that every year Ive been here Ive had a different principle, the fact that I have been made fun of because of the color of my skin, the fact that I have had to correct teachers whilst they are teaching because they made a mistake. I am absolutely disgusted by the way some of the staff are treated. Yes I have had some teachers actually want to be great mind shapers but others simply come to work LATE, tell us what to work on and watch Netflix! Not to mention the fact that I live literally 5 minutes from myers park and 10 from south meck and yet I have to take a 30 minute drive just to get to school! Let’s also not forget the fact that my freshman year we had a riot at our spring fling. And the fact that every single class Ive had is OVER POPLUATED. I am seriously disappointed with this school and how it has absolutely RUINED my previous thoughts on education. I strongly suggest really looking into other educational options for your child !

✭ By McKalia Blair (7 years ago)

Independence High School

Address: 1967 Patriot Dr, Charlotte, NC 28227, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.4 (37)
Phone: +1 980-343-6900
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Tuesday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Wednesday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Thursday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Friday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

I started here in 1966 as a “Model School” and it was just that…strict academics, pride and maker of great future college students. It is not Butler true, and whomever wrote that comment cannot appreciate another era of true school spirit and with discipline and respect that created the true lesson of school pride over a much longer history. Butler could find itself in another world of change someday as demographics do change, and not for the better, so, having no knowledge or appreciation of history, I would expect such a narrow-minded true teen comment of disrespect.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Danny Huntley (5 years ago)

I’m very disappointed with this school. The administration is horrible and they do not care about the children’s success. My son was put in ISS for allegedly having his cell phone on him. When he tried to explain he had already turned it in, the teacher would not allow him to talk. After ISS he was brought back to the class to retrieve his phone. The teacher had the nerve to ask him…why didn’t you tell me I already had your phone? They have targeted my son’s and harass them. Then wonder why they no longer respect them. This school is horrible

✭ By Melony Turay (5 years ago)

I see a pattern with the reviewers of Independence High School.
Those who love the school got high ACT/SAT scores, and can write well.

The reviewers here who hated the school can neither spell, put a sentence together in a cohesive fashion, nor can distinguish between they’re, their, or there. I think I see the problem – these are students who decided not to participate in their own education process, and as a result, hate the school.

I have fond memories of this place, but then again, I participated in my education.
Go Patriots!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Jennifer Knight (6 years ago)

I love this this this school honestly. I have made so many friends and I have learned so much in the four years of being there yes there might be a lot of homework but no lie there are some cool teachers there, you will notice them but only if you appreciate your education.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Melsie Ramos (7 years ago)

I loved my four years here. With great teaching staff, a student-run frisbee club, and phenomenal diversity, this school will not disappoint. Go class of 2017!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Abigail Overson (5 years ago)

West Mecklenburg High School

Address: 7400 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28214, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.3 (36)
Phone: +1 980-343-6080
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Tuesday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Wednesday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Thursday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Friday: 7:15 AM – 2:15 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

I am one of the parents that initially did not want my daughter to attend this school because of the negative feedback I received. Eventually I came to my senses and reach an understanding that we can not continue to run away from the obstacles that we must face every day. This is my neighborhood and that is why my kids must go to the school in my neighborhood so that we can build a solid foundation where we as a community can live in peace and harmony with one another. Words are easy to pen down and I know the reality is different. Nevertheless I sign up to be a member of the pta and looking forward for a call of duty. I am hope that others also take a stand. Our children are the future of tomorrow. Let us help them as they will be the best and most valuable investment we can do in our life time.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Hen Soon (4 years ago)

My son attends West Meck, I think the school is ok… My son is taking Jap, and he does very well in his classes…. This school is better than the schools he attended in Milwaukee. The PTA is a joke, there is not enough communication at all about anything. But my son is cool with hos school and so am I

✭✭✭✭ By Loc Goddess (6 years ago)

Attended the kickoff classic because my son was running out to represent west meck. My daughter will be a senior this year, she plays softball and is a straight A student. But I am sad, when they did the national anthem at the kickoff classic, how many parents did not stand up to respect the flag and country we live in. When your kid gets to the next level , if he does. Which he has a 1 in a million shot. I hope you stand for him. West Meck parents, you are riding the wave. Support your child’s choices, don’t push him for your gains. Football is supposed to be fun! Watch the movies ” the program” and ” varsity blues”. You’ll realize you can’t make a living off your kid. Just let them have fun.

✭✭ By Michael Jones (5 years ago)

My daughter is a freshman at West Meck. She plays tennis and is in JROTC and honor classes. Every school will have it’s issues. It takes the staff, teachers, parents and the students to do the real work. Try being a part of the PTSA to help make a difference.

✭✭✭✭ By Tashia Jones (6 years ago)

Worst school in CMS. Thought things would be better with the new principal. He was not qualified and probably was not made aware of what he was accepting, but the real problems are with the Assistant principals he has to work with, namely Mrs. Smithe, Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Willaims. No one holds students to standards. No one enforces the standards. Teachers are helpless and the staff does not support them. The campus is wide open and insecure and no one helps. This school should close.

✭ By Troy Elliot (7 years ago)

Julius L. Chambers High School

Address: 7600 IBM Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.4 (34)

West Charlotte High School

Address: 2219 Senior Dr, Charlotte, NC 28216, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.9 (33)

Ardrey Kell High School

Address: 10220 Ardrey Kell Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.1 (31)

Myers Park High School

Address: 2400 Colony Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.5 (29)

Mallard Creek High School

Address: 3825 Johnston Oehler Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.7 (28)

Thank you for reading! We hope this list helps you find the best high schools in Charlotte. If you have any additional information, please leave a comment below!