- Enrollment
- 3,225
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Charlotte, NC
First Ward Creative Arts Academy
Federal NCES profile for First Ward Creative Arts Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370297001211
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
First Ward Creative Arts Academy earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of North Carolina schools.
- #26 of 59
- elementary schools in Charlotte · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 99.4%
- free-lunch eligible
First Ward Creative Arts Academy has class sizes smaller than 87% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, First Ward Creative Arts Academy ranks #26 of 59 elementary schools in Charlotte, NC.
School address
District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370297001211 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-48 students YoY
First Ward Creative Arts Academy shrank from 495 students in 2022-23 to 447 in 2023-24 (-9.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 35.6 → 35.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-48 students YoY 370297001211 · Charlotte, NC Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
421 enr · 12:1 · 99.4% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Myers Park High School (3,225 students)
First Ward Creative Arts Academy shrank from 495 students in 2022-23 to 447 in 2023-24 (-9.7%). Teacher FTE lost 35.6 → 35.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
First Ward Creative Arts Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Myers Park Hig
Myers Park High School
3,225 students
- Ardrey Kell Hi
Ardrey Kell High School
3,036 students
- South Mecklenb
South Mecklenburg High School
2,534 students
- William Amos H
William Amos Hough High
2,518 students
- East Mecklenbu
East Mecklenburg High School
2,422 students
- This school 421
First Ward Creative Arts Academy
421 students
What this shows First Ward Creative Arts Academy reports 421 students on the CCD universe file.
How First Ward Creative Arts Academy compares
First Ward Creative Arts Academy is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12:1 | ▼ 24% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.4% | ▲ 51% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 421 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
421
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 13% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
52.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,198
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 211 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 76.2%
Hispanic or Latino 12.8%
Two or More 6.7%
White 2.9%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 76.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.8, First Ward Creative Arts Academy is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools reports $12,198 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How First Ward Creative Arts Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myers Park High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ardrey Kell High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Mecklenburg High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William Amos Hough High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Mecklenburg High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to First Ward Creative Arts Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,036
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,534
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 2,518
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 2,422
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Charlotte
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
South Academy of International Languages
Standard public school
1,259 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Rea Farms Steam Academy
Standard public school
1,098 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Mallard Creek Stem Academy
Standard public school
961 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Palisades Park Elementary
Standard public school
940 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
Unity Classical Charter School
Standard public school
928 students 40.3:1 students per teacher
Collinswood Language Academy
Standard public school
893 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~421 students)
Frequently asked questions about First Ward Creative Arts Academy
How many students attend First Ward Creative Arts Academy?
First Ward Creative Arts Academy has 421 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Charlotte, NC. CCD year-over-year: 495 (2022-23) → 447 (2023-24), down 48.
What is the student-teacher ratio at First Ward Creative Arts Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at First Ward Creative Arts Academy is 12:1, which is 24% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 24% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at First Ward Creative Arts Academy?
99.4% of students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of First Ward Creative Arts Academy?
The largest demographic group at First Ward Creative Arts Academy is African American at 76.2% of enrollment, in Charlotte, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for First Ward Creative Arts Academy?
First Ward Creative Arts Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does First Ward Creative Arts Academy rank among elementary schools in Charlotte?
By Resource Investment Index, First Ward Creative Arts Academy ranks #26 of 59 elementary schools in Charlotte, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Charlotte on the city page.
What other schools are in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools?
Besides First Ward Creative Arts Academy, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools also operates Myers Park High School (3,225 students), Ardrey Kell High School (3,036 students), and South Mecklenburg High School (2,534 students). See the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district page for the complete list.