Charlotte Private Schools: A Guide for Relocating Families

Charlotte's public school landscape — particularly Union County Public Schools and the top-performing CMS schools — is strong enough that many relocating families don't need to look at private options. But for families who prefer private education, or who are moving to areas where the public school options are less compelling, Charlotte has a solid private school landscape worth understanding.

The Major Private Schools

Charlotte Latin School (south Charlotte) is one of the most academically rigorous private schools in the region. It's a PreK–12 college preparatory school with strong academics, athletics, and arts programs. Admissions is competitive, and the waitlist for popular grades can be long. Families considering Charlotte Latin should start the process early — ideally before the move.

Charlotte Country Day School (south Charlotte) is another leading college preparatory school, PreK–12. It has a strong reputation for academics and a robust extracurricular program. Like Latin, it's competitive and has a waitlist for many grades.

Providence Day School (south Charlotte) rounds out the "big three" of Charlotte's elite private schools. It's known for strong academics, a diverse student body, and excellent college placement.

Cannon School (Concord) is a strong option for families in the Cabarrus County area or those willing to commute. It's a PreK–12 school with a reputation for academics and a more accessible admissions process than the Charlotte schools.

Charlotte Christian School offers a faith-based college preparatory education and is well-regarded in the community.

Covenant Day School (Matthews) is a Christian school with strong academics and a good reputation in the southeast Charlotte suburbs.

Religious and Faith-Based Options

Charlotte has a wide range of faith-based private schools across Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and other traditions. Charlotte Catholic High School is one of the most prominent, with a strong academic and athletic program. Metrolina Christian Academy and Carmel Christian School are other well-regarded options.

Montessori and Alternative Schools

For families interested in alternative educational approaches, Charlotte has several Montessori schools (including Charlotte Montessori School and Dilworth Montessori) and progressive schools like Community School of Davidson.

Admissions Timing for Relocating Families

This is critical: Charlotte's top private schools have competitive admissions, and many grades fill quickly. If you're planning a move to Charlotte and private school is a priority, you should begin the admissions process as early as possible — ideally 12–18 months before your intended enrollment date.

Most schools have application deadlines in January or February for the following fall. If you're moving mid-year, contact schools directly about mid-year enrollment availability.

Balancing Public and Private

Many families I work with start the process thinking they'll need private school, then discover that the public school options in their target neighborhood are excellent. Union County Public Schools, in particular, has a depth of highly-rated schools that surprises many out-of-state families.

My recommendation: research both simultaneously. Don't rule out public schools before you've looked at the specific schools in your target neighborhoods.

For more on Charlotte's schools and communities, visit charlottearearelocation.com or schedule a consultation.