C
Below Average
52/100

First Ward Creative Arts Academy

📚 K – 05 🏫 Elementary
📍 715 N. Caldwell St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Overall
C
52/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
C+
0.6 grade levels below the U.S. average · 49th percentile in North Carolina
Growth
D
Students gain 0.53 grade levels a year (U.S. average 1.0) · 18th percentile
Resources
A
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against North Carolina schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

52
Repit Score
out of 100
447
Students
enrolled
12.7:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$16K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Achievement (reading & math, grades 3–8)40%49/1000.6 grade levels below the national average, 2022–25 (Stanford SEDA)
📈 Growth (how fast students learn)45%18/100Students gain 0.53 grade levels per school year in 2022–25 (national average ≈ 1.0) and gained 0.95 in 2009–19; 5th percentile in North Carolina (recent period weighted 70%)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)15%87/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 99% students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Compared with North Carolina schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are +10 points better than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in North Carolina. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency38% (−8 pts vs. state avg 46%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2020–21
➗ Math proficiency27% (−15 pts vs. state avg 42%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2020–21

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the North Carolina state test (2020–21), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
Black32%22%reading +6 pts, math +3 pts65th percentile (list)
Hispanic55%45%reading +26 pts, math +15 pts88th percentile (list)
Low-income32%17%reading +4 pts, math -8 pts42nd percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 715 N. Caldwell St
City Charlotte
ZIP Code 28202
District 3702970
NCES School ID 370297001211
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 28202

Understanding the community around First Ward Creative Arts Academy helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $95,273
Per Capita Income $77,781
Poverty Rate 9.3%
Households Earning $100K+ 47.7%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 60.9%
High School or Higher 94.8%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $392,300
Median Rent $1,765
Owner-Occupied 26.8%
Renter-Occupied 73.2%
View full data for ZIP 28202 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 28202 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 28202 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for First Ward Creative Arts Academy.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 47.4%
Female 52.6%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

Black 73.4%
Hispanic/Latino 14.3%
Two or More Races 6.5%
White 3.8%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian 0.5%
Pacific Islander 0.2%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 447
Teachers (FTE) 35.2
Student:Teacher Ratio 12.7:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for First Ward Creative Arts Academy?
First Ward Creative Arts Academy has a Repit School Score of 52 out of 100, earning a grade of C. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend First Ward Creative Arts Academy?
First Ward Creative Arts Academy has 447 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1.
What grades does First Ward Creative Arts Academy serve?
First Ward Creative Arts Academy serves grades K – 05 and is classified as a Elementary. This is a public school.
How much funding does First Ward Creative Arts Academy receive per student?
First Ward Creative Arts Academy receives $15,997 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is above the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around First Ward Creative Arts Academy in 28202 ▼
Avg Home Value
$411,546
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,890
1-Year Change
-1.4%
% Renters
73.2%

Other Schools in 28202

View all schools and real estate data for 28202 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026