charter · K–8 (varies)

Queen City STEM School

A STEM-focused public charter school sometimes considered by South End families as an alternative to CMS assignment.

Type: charter
Grades: K–8 (varies)
Location: Charlotte, drive time varies from South End

Queen City STEM is a public charter school with a STEM-oriented curriculum focus. Like all North Carolina charter schools, it operates independently of CMS's traditional boundary system, with enrollment determined through an application and lottery process open to families across the broader area.

South End families interested in a charter option with a STEM focus should confirm current enrollment windows, lottery odds, and transportation availability directly with the school, since these details are updated annually and vary by location.

Under North Carolina charter law, a school that receives more applications than it has seats must hold a lottery, and siblings of enrolled students typically receive enrollment priority. That makes the first application year the hardest; families sometimes apply to several charters at once while keeping their CMS assignment and magnet options open. Annual results, enrollment figures, and school-level accountability data are published on NC School Report Cards.

Before you rely on this

What to verify

Public charter school — enrollment via lottery/application, independent of home address
Confirm current drive time and any transportation options from South End directly with the school
Charter lottery timelines vary by year — check current application windows
Tuition-free, but seat availability is not guaranteed

Also consider

Comparable options

K–12

Queens Grant Community School

A public charter school option sometimes considered by South End families willing to commute.

Infant–Pre-K

Little Scholars of Carolina

One of several private early-childhood programs serving South End-area families; representative of the preschool options nearby.

Graduate and professional programs

UNC Charlotte Center City

UNC Charlotte's Uptown campus, offering graduate and professional programs a short trip from South End.

Associate degree and continuing education programs

CPCC Central Campus

Central Piedmont Community College's original campus, a short trip from South End via car or transit connection.

K–2 (varies by campus configuration)

Dilworth Elementary — Latta Campus

One of two campuses making up Dilworth Elementary, a longstanding CMS school serving Dilworth and parts of South End.

3–5 (varies by campus configuration)

Dilworth Elementary — Sedgefield Campus

The second campus of Dilworth Elementary, located in the Sedgefield neighborhood south of South End's core.

Primary Sources

Figures are compiled from public records and primary sources and are reviewed periodically. Conditions in South End change quickly — verify anything you intend to rely on.

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