Steele Creek Preparatory Academy, 2200 Shopton Road: tuition-free public charter school, grades K-8, 293 students in 2024-25.
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.
Steele Creek Preparatory Academy is a tuition-free public charter school for kindergarten to eighth grade at 2200 Shopton 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: 980-243-5580, 2200 Shopton Road
- School website: www.steelecreekprep.org
- Applying: the school’s enrollment page
| Address | 2200 Shopton Road, Charlotte, NC 28217 |
| Phone | 980-243-5580 |
| Grades | K to 8 |
| Type | Public charter school |
| Admission | Application; lottery when oversubscribed |
| State school code | 61Y000 |
Applying
For 2027-28, open enrollment runs Nov. 3 to Dec. 4, and the lottery is Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026, with families told by 11:59 p.m. Dec. 9. After the lottery, applications are taken first come, first served, its enrollment page says.
Enrollment and teachers
- State count: an average daily membership of 293 students in the 2024-25 school year, according to the state’s report card data.
- Federal count: 407 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 17 full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 24 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) | Exceeded |
| 2024-25 | D (46) | 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: 41.3% (state: 59.2%)
- College and career ready (Level 4 and above): 20.2%
- Growth: exceeded 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
Steele Creek Preparatory Academy sets its own calendar, separate from CMS; check the school’s website for dates and bell times.
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 Steele Creek Preparatory Academy free?
Yes. Steele Creek Preparatory 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 Steele Creek Preparatory Academy serve?
Kindergarten to eighth grade, according to Mecklenburg County’s charter schools map data.
What is Steele Creek Preparatory Academy’s school grade?
Steele Creek Preparatory Academy earned a D, with a score of 51, in North Carolina’s 2025-26 School Performance Grades, after a D (46) in 2024-25.
How do you apply to Steele Creek Preparatory Academy?
For 2027-28, open enrollment runs Nov. 3 to Dec. 4, and the lottery is Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026, with families told by 11:59 p.m. Dec. 9. After the lottery, applications are taken first come, first served, its enrollment page says.
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