Enrollment
2,534
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
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 64/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370297001274
👥 S:T ratio 40
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 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 64/100 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
- 64
- 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 →
Teachers (FTE)
170.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.9:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
36.1%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-45% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Mecklenburg High School compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Mecklenburg High School
South Mecklenburg High School is a large high school in Charlotte, North Carolina, enrolling 2,534 students.
At 14.9:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 36.1% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in North Carolina, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,534 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 51 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #1, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (42%) and White (32%) (diversity index 68/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 28 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 282 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
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 8 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Charlotte's high schools, it stands alongside Myers Park High School (3,225 students): South Mecklenburg High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.9:1 vs 19.7:1).
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools also operates Myers Park High School (3,225 students) and Ardrey Kell High School (3,036 students) alongside South Mecklenburg High School.
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 South Mecklenburg High School compares
South Mecklenburg High School 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$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
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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, which includes South Mecklenburg High School.
$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 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
- 3,225
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 3,036
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,518
- 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
Similar high 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 (~2,534 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Mecklenburg High School's federal record.
- Compare South Mecklenburg High School 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 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.
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 64/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, 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.
Is South Mecklenburg High School a good school?
South Mecklenburg High School earns 64/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina. 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 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.
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.