Carolina International School
Carolina International School serves 916 students in grades Kindergarten-12.
Carolina International School placed in the top 50% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%) for the 2018-19 school year.
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 35% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 42%) for the 2018-19 school year. The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 48% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 46%) for the 2018-19 school year.
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 52% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Top Rankings
Carolina International School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
School Overview
Carolina International School's student population of 916 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 58 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-12
Total Students
916 students

Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers
58 teachers

Students by Grade

School Rankings
Carolina International School is ranked within the top 50% of all 2,571 schools in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2018-19 school year.
The diversity score of Carolina International School is 0.73, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.68. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#1269 out of 2571 schools
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
42%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
46%

Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
15:1

American Indian
n/a
1%

Asian
8%
4%

Hispanic
16%
18%

Black
28%
25%

White
40%
48%

Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
8%
4%

All Ethnic Groups



Graduation Rate
≥90%
85%

Eligible for Free Lunch
12%
52%

Eligible for Reduced Lunch
4%
4%

School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: 2017-2018 (latest school year available) NCES, NC Dept. of Education
School Reviews
1 4/21/2020
I'm not sure what you have to do to be included in the school community, but we were never made to feel like part of anything. Minimal academic progress - we are actually seeing better progress since school closed due to the virus shutdown. Our child doesn't miss school at all. The most communication we ever received was related to (very mild) behaviors. I guess if you're part of the right crowd, this is a tight-knit community, but we can barely get straight answers regarding the dates of school events.
5 1/20/2020
We have been so happy at this school. Every single staff member and teacher I have encountered has been kind, caring and creative- and passionate about their job at CIS! Our daughter is thriving and we love being a part of this school family.
5 8/1/2019
This school has really made great progress over the years, improving their system, their teachers and programs. They seem to have a great team and everyone strives hard to accomplish the goal of providing an education to all students.
2 10/11/2010
My child has been enrolled at this school since Kindergarten. Besides the issues of embezzlement which led to severe financial difficulties, I have not found that this school has performed according to the standards that were presented at open house. My child is very bright but has had difficulties with behavior. He has mild ADHD. Neither his teachers nor administration has met his needs despite our efforts to assist them in doing so. There is a definite club-like atmosphere here . . . the parents run the school. My desire is for my child to have the best educational experience he can get and quite frankly, CIS HAS NOT met that expectation. Our neighborhood school has a better report card than CIS. We plan to go there.
5 7/19/2010
I have 2 children and have been a part of the school since it started. As a school we have had many wounderful times as well as many rough times. My oldest child is in 5th grade and has had a pretty good experience. Although we had a teacher who was not the greatest continue to move up as our children did, she has done very well and loves the school. Our son who has learning problems, did not fare as well, but loved the school. I would not hesitate to send a child to this school and we are looking forward to a new chapter as the school get a new director and principal. The previous made many parents feel put off and they did not seem to want parents at school. I will continue to support the school and be involved.
2 11/24/2008
As a teacher from both private and public schools in this area, I would beg parents to not put their child/children in this school. It is a joke academically and quite frankly, the cult like followers paint a wonderful, but (unfortunately for students and parents) an entirely fictitious picture of this so called charter school. I have found that most children in these classrooms are behind their public school peers in most academic areas. In fact, I have tutored many of these children. There is no evidence to back up the claims that this school is better academically than others in the area. In fact, if you do your research, you will find the opposite to be true. People and some of the parents in this school have the misconception that because it is a charter school, it must stand up to more rigorous standards. This is entirely false. Call the NC of Public Instruction and find out for yourself the complaints against Carolina International School before you even think about placing your child here. It is very sad that new comers are deceived into believing that their child will grow more in this school than in their neighborhood schools. Do your research people. You might also find it interesting that every year, more than 1/2 of the staff leave this school. That says more than anything.
2 11/4/2007
Not worth all of the trouble once you get in. Test scores are so-so. Nothing there for Advanced/Gifted students. Teachers are pretty good, but held back by a messed up Administration.
Review Carolina International School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Nearby Homes for Sale
-
4877 HORSEBACK LN
HARRISBURG, NC$555,000- 5 Beds | 4.5 Baths
- (0.97 miles from school)
-
5313 LAREWOOD DR
HARRISBURG, NC$322,500- 4 Beds | 1.5 Baths
- (1.73 miles from school)
-
10335 ATKINS RIDGE DR
CHARLOTTE, NC$440,000- 4 Beds | 3 Baths
- (2.21 miles from school)
-
10020 PORTA FERRY DR
CHARLOTTE, NC$417,500- 3 Beds | 2.5 Baths
- (2.43 miles from school)
Recent Articles

Life Beyond High School: The Innovative Frontier
Exploring post graduation options for high school students.

New Study Confirms That Private Schools Are No Better Than Public Schools
The results of a new study show that private school education may be no better than public school education. Keep reading to learn more about this study and to learn how to make the right choice between private and public school education for your child.

Parents Refuse Common Core Testing
Parents nationwide are opting out of state testing. Hoping to send a message to lawmakers, they are refusing to allow their children to take standardized tests.