- Enrollment
- 3,225
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Charlotte, NC
South Mecklenburg High School
Federal NCES profile for South Mecklenburg High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370297001274
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Mecklenburg High School earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #6 of 24
- high schools in Charlotte · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.9:1
- students per teacher
- 36.1%
- free-lunch eligible
South Mecklenburg High School has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Mecklenburg High School ranks #6 of 24 high schools in Charlotte, NC.
School address
District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370297001274 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-100 students YoY
South Mecklenburg High School held near 3,244 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-100 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 170.6 → 180.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-100 students YoY 370297001274 · Charlotte, NC High · LARGE · TRAD
2,534 enr · 14.9:1 · 36.1% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Myers Park High School (3,225 students)
South Mecklenburg High School held near 3,244 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-100 headcount). Teacher FTE added 170.6 → 180.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
South Mecklenburg High School 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
- This school
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
- Palisades High
Palisades High School
2,332 students
What this shows South Mecklenburg High School reports 2,534 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Mecklenburg High School compares
South Mecklenburg High School held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 14.9:1 | ▼ 6% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.1% | ▼ 45% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,534 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
2,534
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 45% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 48% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
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
Counselors9.0 FTE
Per 282 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
106
in-school suspensions + 197 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 42.3%
White 31.7%
African American 20.6%
Two or More 2.8%
Asian 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.7, South Mecklenburg High School is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 28
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 South Mecklenburg High School 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 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William Amos Hough High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Mecklenburg High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palisades High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Mecklenburg High School'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
- 2,518
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 2,422
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,332
- Students per teacher
- 34.3:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
Similar high schools in Charlotte
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Myers Park High School
Standard public school
3,225 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Ardrey Kell High School
Standard public school
3,036 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
East Mecklenburg High School
Standard public school
2,422 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Palisades High School
Standard public school
2,332 students 34.3:1 students per teacher
Julius L. Chambers High School
Standard public school
2,225 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Providence High School
Standard public school
2,167 students 23.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high 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 (~2,534 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.9:1)
Frequently asked questions about South Mecklenburg High School
How many students attend South Mecklenburg High School?
South Mecklenburg High School has 2,534 students enrolled. It is a high school in Charlotte, NC. CCD year-over-year: 3,344 (2022-23) → 3,244 (2023-24), nearly flat (-100).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Mecklenburg High School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Mecklenburg High School is 14.9:1, which is 6% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 5% 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 South Mecklenburg High School?
36.1% of students at South Mecklenburg High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Mecklenburg High School?
The largest demographic group at South Mecklenburg High School is Hispanic or Latino at 42.3% of enrollment, in Charlotte, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Mecklenburg High School?
South Mecklenburg High School has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does South Mecklenburg High School rank among high schools in Charlotte?
By Resource Investment Index, South Mecklenburg High School ranks #6 of 24 high 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 high schools in Charlotte on the city page.
What other schools are in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools?
Besides South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools also operates Myers Park High School (3,225 students), Ardrey Kell High School (3,036 students), and William Amos Hough High (2,518 students). See the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district page for the complete list.