Central Piedmont Early College, 1228 Elizabeth Ave.: CMS, grades 9-13, 272 students in 2024-25 and an A (94) in the 2025-26 state grades.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Sources: the school’s website, its principal page, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ 2026-27 bell schedule, 2026-27 calendar (PDF), Student Placement and School Choice pages, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s 2025-26 accountability data and 2024-25 report card data, and the federal NCES school directory.
Central Piedmont Early College is a high school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), the countywide district, at 1228 Elizabeth Ave. It serves grades 9 to 12, with an optional fifth year (grade 13). It has no attendance zone: it is a CMS choice school under the Early College theme, and students apply through the district’s School Choice lottery. Students take college courses on Central Piedmont Community College’s campus and can earn an associate degree or up to 60 hours of transferable credit, the district’s Early College page says.
Who to call
- Front office: 980-343-0098, 1228 Elizabeth Ave.
- School website: cpechs.cmsk12.org
- Enrolling, transfers and school assignment: CMS Student Placement, 980-343-5335; Student Placement page
- Magnet and choice applications: CMS School Choice, 980-343-6246; School Choice page
- Buses: CMS Transportation call center, 980-343-6715, weekdays 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
| Address | 1228 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204 |
| Phone | 980-343-0098 |
| Grades | 9 to 13 |
| District | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
| CMS magnet theme | Early College |
| State school code | 600498 |
Principal
Principal Erik Turner, according to the school’s principal page.
Enrollment and teachers
- State count: an average daily membership of 272 students in the 2024-25 school year, according to the state’s report card data.
- Federal count: 178 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 9 full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 20 students per teacher.
State report card
North Carolina grades every public school A to F. The score is based 80% on student achievement and 20% on academic growth, the state’s 2025-26 annual testing report says. For a high school, achievement also counts end-of-course tests, the ACT or WorkKeys, NC Math 3 and the four-year graduation rate.
| School year | Grade and score | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | A (94) | Exceeded |
| 2024-25 | A (86) | Exceeded |
The 2025-26 grades come from the state’s accountability data, released in September. From the same data:
- At grade level or above, all state tests: 92.2% (CMS: 60.9%; state: 59.2%)
- College and career ready (Level 4 and above): 71.9%
- Growth: exceeded expected growth
- Four-year graduation rate: above 95% (the state masks figures above 95%)
The full report card, with attendance, teacher and course data, is on the state’s NC School Report Cards site. On Oct. 11 it still showed the 2024-25 edition.
How students get in
Early colleges have no attendance zone: students enter in ninth grade through the CMS magnet lottery, and the sibling guarantee does not apply, the district’s Early College page says. College courses and books are free, and students can stay a fifth year (grade 13) to earn up to two years of transferable college credit. They can play sports at their home high school, without transportation.
For 2027-28, the School Choice lottery application period runs Nov. 2 to Dec. 11, and results come out Jan. 5, 2027, according to the district’s key dates. Future registration opens Oct. 19.
Calendar and bell times
- School day: 7:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. in 2026-27, according to the CMS bell schedule.
- Calendar: Central Piedmont Early College follows its own calendar, not the CMS traditional calendar; the district links it from its calendar page.
More
- The school’s own website and the CMS school directory
- Every public school in Charlotte, with zones and report cards
- Our Charlotte schools guide for the school board, enrollment and the district calendar
Frequently asked questions
What grades does Central Piedmont Early College serve?
Grades 9 to 12, with an optional fifth year (grade 13), according to the state’s school data. It is a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools high school.
What is Central Piedmont Early College’s school grade?
Central Piedmont Early College earned an A, with a score of 94, in North Carolina’s 2025-26 School Performance Grades, after an A (86) in 2024-25. In 2025-26, 92.2% of its state tests were at grade level or above.
What time does Central Piedmont Early College start?
The school day runs 7:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. in 2026-27, according to the CMS bell schedule.
How do you get into Central Piedmont Early College?
Through the CMS School Choice lottery. For 2027-28, applications are open Nov. 2 to Dec. 11, 2026, and results come out Jan. 5, 2027.
Who is the principal of Central Piedmont Early College?
Principal Erik Turner, according to the school’s website.
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