Charlotte Lab School

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Charlotte, North Carolina - 1 schools

An equity score of 40/100 ranks Charlotte Lab School #162 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,031 per pupil, Charlotte Lab School ranks #189 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

991
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$11,031
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Charlotte Lab School operates 1 public schools serving 991 students, placing it among the smallest districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Mecklenburg County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,031 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending. See how North Carolina compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 32.5% local, 59.1% state, and 8.3% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 40/100, ranked #162 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 1 schools offering Advanced Placement (5 AP courses district-wide), a 538:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 27.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 49.9% African American, 17.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% White across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Charlotte Lab School, enrolling 807 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Charlotte Lab School accounts for 81.4% of all Charlotte Lab School student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Charlotte Lab School a distant remainder — means Charlotte Lab School-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Charlotte Lab School student-counselor ratio is 538:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Charlotte Lab School chronic absenteeism rate is 27.3% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Charlotte Lab School is typically wider than the Charlotte Lab School-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.3%
Federal
59.1%
State
32.5%
Local

Funding Equity

40
Equity Score
162 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Charlotte Lab School.

White 17.0%
Hispanic or Latino 17.8%
African American 49.9%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 13.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 1
Schools with AP
5 AP courses total
538:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
27.3%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Charlotte Lab School

School Enrollment
Charlotte Lab School
Charter
807

How Charlotte Lab School Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The North Carolina districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Excelsior Classical Academy Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Classical Charter Schools of Leland Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Wayne Preparatory Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Mallard Creek Stem Academy Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Rocky Mount Preparatory Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Charlotte Lab School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in North Carolina

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Wake County Schools
159,778 students · 197 schools · $11,859/pupil
Compare vs Charlotte Lab School →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $11,853/pupil
Compare vs Charlotte Lab School →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Charlotte Lab School →
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
52,717 students · 81 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Charlotte Lab School →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,412/pupil
Compare vs Charlotte Lab School →

Compare Charlotte Lab School

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Wake County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Charlotte Lab School?

Charlotte Lab School has 1 school, including 1 combined. Total enrollment is 991 students.

How much does Charlotte Lab School spend per student?

Charlotte Lab School spends $11,031 per student. The district has an equity score of 40/100, ranking #162 in North Carolina.

What is the demographic composition of Charlotte Lab School?

Charlotte Lab School students are 49.9% African American, 17.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% White, 1.2% Asian, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Charlotte Lab School?

Charlotte Lab School has an equity score of 40/100, ranking #162 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.