2024 Best Schools with Gifted and Talented Programs in the Charlotte Area

• Gaston County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Senior: In terms of academics and teachers, this school is great. It is a difficult school with many projects and focus on teamwork, but it definitely prepares you for college. Having college classes along high school classes allows us to get an idea of what university will be like. I wish there was more diversity in my grade, but underclassmen seem to be more diverse. I wish we had more music and art classes as electives, but we can take them as college classes. Overall, it is a hard school, but you get used to it.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 238

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Union County Public Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  466 reviews

Senior: Marvin ridge high is a great school. There is many options for classes that help students to explore different interests. It is a very safe campus that has 24/7 protection. Marvin has helped me make friends with some amazing people and has helped me become more involved in things i’m passionate about. There are so many clubs and sports to try out that really help to get you involved with the school. As someone who has been to multiple schools, Marvin really stands out to me academically and socially!... Read 466 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,032

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  720 reviews

Senior: I loved the experience of being a student at Ardrey Kell high school. The staff- consisting of administrators, educators, counselors, and the janitorial team all work hard to provide the best experience to the school. Great quality education is offered to students who want to achieve not only their high school diploma, but challenge themselves and enrich their minds through honors and AP ( Advanced Placement) programs/classes. We have teachers willing to give time to help students through tutoring and extra practice with additional help in the mornings before school starts. We have a creative and talented student body government that also helps in creating a fun time for students through organized fundraisers, athletic games, school themes for spirit week and pep rallys. Ardrey Kell Highscool is known for its top education offers here in NC and definitely lives up to its name!... Read 720 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,494

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Charlotte, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  16 reviews

Parent: Having been at the school since its inception and assisting in many ways from start-up fundraising, marketing, assisting in the classroom and coaching, I can tell you that the Scholars’ Academy is a gifted school like no other. With my three children attending (one having had AWEFUL experiences in public school before being identified as twice gifted), they were able to freely explore their intellectual abilities and create solid lifelong friendships. All organizations have growing pains and our school may not be perfect for your student… that is an opportunity for the parent to find the right place where their student flourishes! The Scholars’ Academy lets kids be kids, have fun and learn at their speed. Being at SA is like a trip to the United Nations of Children. Our diversity is broad. Moving into high school is always an adjustment, but for 9 years my children were able to feel good in their skin and have fun learning!... Read 16 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 398

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Middle School Student: Hi! My name is Jia and I’m an 8th grader at Pleasant Knoll Middle School. I think my school is wonderful for the most part. We have a really great staff as well as facilities such as the computer lab and the library! However, I wish there was more diversity. As you can probably imagine, there also is very little culture and I can’t really express mine. As a South Asian, I think diversity is really important and should be valued. Additionally, our school puts most of its emphasis on sports. The academic as well as the theater, music and art programs don’t get as much funding or materials. I feel as though athletics, academics, and the arts are all equally important and should be treated that way! I do believe Pleasant Knoll Middle is an engaging environment and I am truly lucky to have an opportunity to go to a great school, but there are certainly just a few things I would change.... Read 1 review

• grade A+

• Students 932

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Gaston County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  241 reviews

Junior: Highland School of Technology is a great STEM school, with pathway-specific courses. For instance, those who apply and are accepted into the Dental pathway will take several specialized dental courses throughout their time at Highland. The teachers are always ready to give extra time to help students understand a tough subject, and the students are intelligent and driven. There are many clubs, sports, and other extracurriculars that students can participate in outside of the classroom, and students are given a voice. Highland could improve the cafeteria food quality, the dress code stringency (focused almost entirely on only girls, despite many male dress code violations), and sports funding.... Read 241 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 533

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

• grade A+

• Students 894

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Middle School Student: It is a very clean and organized school. Amazing teachers and wonderful staff. Everyone is nice and is happy to help.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 695

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Union County Public Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  414 reviews

Senior: The four years I've spent at Weddington High School have been exciting, rewarding, inspiring, and fulfilling. The school environment is inviting and safe, which has become one of my greatest priorities over the past few years. I have found teachers that actively motivate me to improve and friends that allow me to be the best version of myself. Like many big schools, however, it is easy to feel small or unseen, especially in social contexts. I feel that Weddington could improve by integrating more team-building and social activities/events into the extracurricular schedule to build a closer bond between all types of students. From here, students can be more eager to attend school, allowing them to perform better academically, socially, and mentally.... Read 414 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,844

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Union County Public Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  177 reviews

Junior: I’ve been attending CATA for three years now and I’ve never been happier at a school before! The teachers are all amazing; they’re all so supportive, engaging, and teach incredibly well. On top of that, the environment itself is very comfortable. It’s a very diverse school where everyone can express themselves freely without judgment and I really appreciate the open atmosphere at CATA. Though we may not have the best athletics (which I personally don’t have much interest in as it is), our school is very competitive in terms of academics. I feel like I’m actually somewhat challenged here which I’m personally very grateful for. CATA definitely isn’t your typical public school and I’d recommend it to anybody who has interest in going.... Read 177 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 809

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: The teachers and staff at PKES are very welcoming and always make time to talk to us about our kid's progress in school! They have pushed my kids to become critical thinkers and risk takers by providing STEM lessons with opportunities to collaborate and explore the world around them. The teachers at PKES truly love what they do!... Read 1 review

• grade A+

• Students 810

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• 6-8

• grade A+

• Students 839

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• K-5

• grade A+

• Students 735

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.54 out of 5  26 reviews

Senior: I want to start off by saying that Charlotte Engineering Early College, also known as CEEC, has given me an amazing opportunity that I will forever cherish. The teachers and faculty are all so invested in the students. CEEC has allowed many students, such as myself, to earn various kinds of college credits through UNC Charlotte. That being said, I would love for the CEEC teachers to have a more thorough conversation about potential pathways. One such example would be informing students that many engineering classes will not be offered until they actually enroll in UNC Charlotte. Being more realistic with students would help them immensely in the long run. Even though CEEC could better prepare students, the opportunity handed to them is such a blessing. Students who go there with the intention to succeed will be given such an opportunity. CEEC is not your typical high school experience, but it offers an opportunity like no other.... Read 26 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 299

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 717

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  9 reviews

• grade A

• Students 677

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: It’s a great school! Teachers are friendly and active in child’s learning. There are lots of community activities.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 705

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• PK, K-5

• grade A

• Students 745

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Matthews, NC•

• Public School•

• K-9

• •
  Rating 3.42 out of 5  19 reviews

Middle School Student: After reading some of these reviews it is absolutely absurd that you would think this isn't the best school you could send your kid to. Not only is it academically the best school I've ever seen, not only does it have the best teacher student relationships I've seen but it also has the least amount of bullying in maybe every school in the nation. Bullying is far from tolerated and the most I've seen is name calling. With that to quote another review I saw that said teacher leave so often be cause it's terrible, they actually leave often because most Greek teachers on are visa's to teach in the United States they're not leaving because they hate it they're leaving because they legally are required to. I've never seen a school that consistently graduates kids smarter than you can imagine. To even think that this school isn't a too school is the nation is blasphemy. The only thing that isn't top notch in the school is the sports probably because they're too busy making your kids smarter... Read 19 reviews

• grade A

• Students 824

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade A

• Students 776

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  548 reviews

Senior: My freshman year started as a blast as I met all sorts of people and began exploring what interested me. I conditioned with the girl's basketball team and while I didn't continue my journey with the team, it taught me the value of having routine. I initially joined the school's Mock Trial team as well but I wanted to pursue other interests and quit. I came back my senior year and so far it's been exciting! We progressed to states and hope to make it further this year. While I do not currently partake in the school's athletics anymore, it is very competitive and well-standing. My classes challenge me and allow me to reach beyond my understanding inside the classroom. The reason the school is not 5/5 is because it is a little dirty and there is starting to be a shortage of teachers.... Read 548 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,813

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Cabarrus County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  106 reviews

Junior: I had applied and made the decision to come to Early College due to the education opportunities that came with it. No doubt, having the opportunity to achieve an associate degree by the time I graduate high school is phenomenal. On the down side, I had to work through the most academic-related stress I have ever been through (and hopefully ever will). I endured dark thoughts and poor mental health for the sake of my school. In turn, I received outstanding opportunities and a lack of student loans. Now that I moved past my sophomore year (the most challenging bit), I think that every tear, every ounce of frustration I had was completely worth it. Early College is not for everybody but if you are up for the challenge, I urge anyone to give it their best shot!... Read 106 reviews

• grade A

• Students 240

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  523 reviews

Senior: Overall, Fort Mill High School has allowed me to pursue my future interests help me succeed, and prepare me for my future academic and professional career. With the wide variety of classes that you can take at the school, I have been able to find subjects/ future majors I am interested in along with other extracurriculars. I discovered my interest in the business field at Fort Mill, and I have also been able to be a role model to others here as well. Being a woman who is interested in the business field, can take hard work and determination. I have become President of my DECA Chapter ( a competitive business club), joined a financial literacy club for women, and have won Homecoming Queen! Fort Mill is an older school, so there are some issues with the bathrooms and other aspects of the school that can cause a negative experience, but overall it has prepared me for my near academic future outside of Fort Mill!... Read 523 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,012

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Fort Mill School District, SC•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: Our children love coming to school. They are constantly challenged. Very impressed with teachers and administration.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 601

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Union County Public Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

• grade A

• Students 747

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1