Charlotte Lab, 2045 Suttle Ave.: tuition-free public charter school, grades K-12, 792 students in 2024-25 and a D (51) in 2025-26 state grades.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Sources: the school’s website, its enrollment page, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s 2025-26 accountability data and 2024-25 report card data, the federal NCES school directory, and Mecklenburg County’s charter schools map layer.
Charlotte Lab School is a tuition-free public charter school for kindergarten to 12th grade at 2045 Suttle Ave. Charter schools are public schools approved by the state but run by their own boards: it is not part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, has no attendance zone and takes students from anywhere in North Carolina, filling seats by lottery when more students apply than it has room for, as state law requires.
Who to call
- Main office: 704-464-3830, 2045 Suttle Ave.
- School website: www.charlottelabschool.org
- Applying: the school’s enrollment page
| Address | 2045 Suttle Ave., Charlotte, NC 28208 |
| Phone | 704-464-3830 |
| Grades | K to 12 |
| Type | Public charter school |
| Admission | Application; lottery when oversubscribed |
| State school code | 61M000 |
Applying
Charlotte Lab admits students through an open lottery. For 2027-28, applications open at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, and close at 2 p.m. March 9, 2027; the lottery is at 11 a.m. March 16, and families hear by 4 p.m. March 19. Applicants must live in North Carolina, its enrollment page says.
Enrollment and teachers
- State count: an average daily membership of 792 students in the 2024-25 school year, according to the state’s report card data.
- Federal count: 1,002 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 67 full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 15 students per teacher.
State report card
North Carolina grades every public school, charter schools included, 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.
| School year | Grade and score | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | D (51) | Met |
| 2024-25 | D (45) | Not met |
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: 40.2% (state: 59.2%)
- College and career ready (Level 4 and above): 20.9%
- Growth: met expected growth
- Four-year graduation rate: above 95% (the state masks figures above 95%)
The full report card is on the state’s NC School Report Cards site. On Oct. 11 it still showed the 2024-25 edition.
Calendar
Charlotte Lab sets its own calendar, separate from CMS. Its 2026-27 calendar is on the school’s website.
More
- The school’s own website
- Every public school in Charlotte, with zones and report cards
- Our Charlotte schools guide for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools enrollment and calendars
Frequently asked questions
Is Charlotte Lab free?
Yes. Charlotte Lab is a tuition-free public charter school, open to North Carolina students. It fills seats by lottery when more students apply than it has room for, as state law requires.
What grades does Charlotte Lab serve?
Kindergarten to 12th grade, according to Mecklenburg County’s charter schools map data.
What is Charlotte Lab’s school grade?
Charlotte Lab earned a D, with a score of 51, in North Carolina’s 2025-26 School Performance Grades, after a D (45) in 2024-25.
How do you apply to Charlotte Lab?
Charlotte Lab admits students through an open lottery. For 2027-28, applications open at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, and close at 2 p.m. March 9, 2027; the lottery is at 11 a.m. March 16, and families hear by 4 p.m. March 19. Applicants must live in North Carolina, its enrollment page says.
Have your say