Enrollment
993
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Charlotte, NC
Northwest School of the Arts
Federal NCES profile for Northwest School of the Arts, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370297001250
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northwest School of the Arts earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of North Carolina schools.
- #11 of 70
- schools in Charlotte · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.4:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 30.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Northwest School of the Arts has class sizes larger than 76% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northwest School of the Arts ranks #11 of 70 schools in Charlotte, NC.
School address
District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370297001250 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
57.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.4:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
+10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
30.3%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-54% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Northwest School of the Arts compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Northwest School of the Arts
Northwest School of the Arts is a large combined-grade school in Charlotte, North Carolina, enrolling 993 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.4:1 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 30.3% free-meal eligibility runs 54% below the North Carolina average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in North Carolina, bigger than 90% of state schools at 993 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 260 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #26, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (44%) and White (33%) (diversity index 68/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 21.3% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 15.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Charlotte's public schools, it stands alongside Sugar Creek Charter (1,591 students): Northwest School of the Arts is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.4:1 vs 30:1).
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools also operates Myers Park High School (3,225 students) and Ardrey Kell High School (3,036 students) alongside Northwest School of the Arts.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Northwest School of the Arts compares
Northwest School of the Arts on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▲ 10% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.3% | ▼ 54% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 993 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
993
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
30.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 76% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.3%
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
$11,853
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,017
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.2 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
47
in-school suspensions + 70 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 43.5%
White 32.5%
Hispanic or Latino 14.8%
Two or More 7.4%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: African American at 43.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.8, Northwest School of the Arts is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 16
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, which includes Northwest School of the Arts.
$11,853
Per student
-1%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.2%
State 52.1%
Federal 15.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Northwest School of the Arts Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myers Park High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ardrey Kell High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Mecklenburg High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| William Amos Hough High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Mecklenburg High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northwest School of the Arts's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,225
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- 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 other schools in Charlotte
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sugar Creek Charter
Standard public school
1,591 students 30:1 students per teacher
Bradford Preparatory School
Standard public school
1,566 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Corvian Community School
Standard public school
1,376 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Jackson Day School
Standard public school
882 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Cochrane Collegiate Academy
Standard public school
854 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Idlewild Elementary
Standard public school
850 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~993 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Northwest School of the Arts's federal record.
- Compare Northwest School of the Arts against another school. Compare schools
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Northwest School of the Arts
How many students attend Northwest School of the Arts?
Northwest School of the Arts has 993 students enrolled. It is a public school in Charlotte, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwest School of the Arts?
The student-teacher ratio at Northwest School of the Arts is 17.4:1, which is 10% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northwest School of the Arts?
30.3% of students at Northwest School of the Arts are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northwest School of the Arts?
The largest demographic group at Northwest School of the Arts is African American at 43.5% of enrollment, in Charlotte, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northwest School of the Arts?
Northwest School of the Arts has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Northwest School of the Arts rank among schools in Charlotte?
By Resource Investment Index, Northwest School of the Arts ranks #11 of 70 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 schools in Charlotte on the city page.
Is Northwest School of the Arts a good school?
Northwest School of the Arts earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of North Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools?
Besides Northwest School of the Arts, 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.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.