Mallard Creek STEM Academy, 9142 Browne Road: tuition-free public charter school, grades K-8, 944 students in 2024-25.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Sources: the school’s website, its enrollment page, leadership 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.
Mallard Creek STEM Academy is a tuition-free public charter school for kindergarten to eighth grade at 9142 Browne Road. 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: 980-288-4811, 9142 Browne Road
- School website: www.mcstemacademy.org
- Applying: the school’s enrollment page
| Address | 9142 Browne Road, Charlotte, NC 28269 |
| Phone | 980-288-4811 |
| Grades | K to 8 |
| Type | Public charter school |
| Admission | Application; lottery when oversubscribed |
| State school code | 61Q000 |
Leadership
Executive Director Deanna Smith, with Krystle Mcknight as middle school principal, according to the school’s administration team page.
Applying
The school uses a lottery when applications exceed seats, and students not picked go on a waitlist in lottery order, its guide to the charter school lottery says.
Enrollment and teachers
- State count: an average daily membership of 944 students in the 2024-25 school year, according to the state’s report card data.
- Federal count: 952 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 67 full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 14 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 (52) | Not met |
| 2024-25 | C (56) | 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: 50.5% (state: 59.2%)
- College and career ready (Level 4 and above): 25.7%
- Growth: did not meet expected growth
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
Mallard Creek STEM Academy 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 Mallard Creek STEM Academy free?
Yes. Mallard Creek STEM Academy 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 Mallard Creek STEM Academy serve?
Kindergarten to eighth grade, according to Mecklenburg County’s charter schools map data.
What is Mallard Creek STEM Academy’s school grade?
Mallard Creek STEM Academy earned a D, with a score of 52, in North Carolina’s 2025-26 School Performance Grades, after a C (56) in 2024-25.
How do you apply to Mallard Creek STEM Academy?
The school uses a lottery when applications exceed seats, and students not picked go on a waitlist in lottery order, its guide to the charter school lottery says.
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