First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Summary:

First Ward Creative Arts Academy is a public magnet elementary school in Charlotte, North Carolina, serving 495 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school has a diverse student population, with a majority of African American and Hispanic students.

First Ward Creative Arts Academy has demonstrated strong academic performance in mathematics and science, particularly among its African American and Hispanic student subgroups, ranking in the top 25% of North Carolina elementary schools for these subgroups. However, the school's reading proficiency has generally been lower than the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district and the state of North Carolina, with the exception of 4th grade. The school's performance for students with disabilities has also been relatively low, ranking in the bottom 30% of North Carolina elementary schools.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Dilworth Elementary School Latta Campus and Oaklawn Language Academy, First Ward Creative Arts Academy's performance is generally lower, particularly in the areas of mathematics and reading proficiency. The school's high percentage of economically disadvantaged students and higher-than-average spending per student suggest that it may be facing unique challenges related to poverty and resource allocation, which could inform strategies to better support the school's population.


Detail:

Public, Magnet K-5

 715 N. Caldwell St
       Charlotte, NC  28202-2547


(980) 343-5485

District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
751st of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,544 Help


Students who attend First Ward Creative Arts Academy usually attend:

Middle:    Sedgefield Middle
High:    Myers Park High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.8 Help
Number of students:  495

Racial breakdown:

African American:
74.5%
Hispanic:
14.9%
Two or more races:
5.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.4% Help


 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare First Ward Creative Arts Academy to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details First Ward Creative Arts Academy ranks better than 50.1% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 50th among 109 ranked elementary schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 49.67. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (74.5%), Hispanic (14.9%), two or more races (5.7%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 99.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at First Ward Creative Arts Academy is 13.8, which is the 16th best among 109 elementary schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare First Ward Creative Arts Academy employs 35.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at First Ward Creative Arts Academy is $10,544, which is the 37th highest among 109 elementary schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

First Ward Creative Arts Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks First Ward Creative Arts Academy 751st of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See First Ward Creative Arts Academy in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:


Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools 140th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for First Ward Creative Arts Academy?

Rank History for First Ward Creative Arts Academy

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Compare

Rank History for all students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 32.82 968th 1276 24.1%
2007 23.87 1102nd 1293 14.8%
2008 29.72 1011th 1324 23.6%
2009 38.78 932nd 1354 31.2%
2010 41.61 907th 1363 33.5%
2011 29.79 1074th 1381 22.2%
2012 39.42 952nd 1388 31.4%
2013 30.83 1023rd 1403 27.1%
2014 26.16 1066th 1390 23.3%
2015 42.69 861st 1440 40.2%
2016 51.19 706th 1425 50.5%
2017 49.91 748th 1429 47.7%
2018 49.98 750th 1434 47.7%
2019 54.37 687th 1473 53.4%
2021 33.04 976th 1489 34.5%
2022 47.32 789th 1514 47.9%
2023 49.29 781st 1502 48.0%
2024 49.67 751st 1505 50.1%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.75 191st 421 54.6%
2019 68.87 87th 497 82.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.31 630th 1332 52.7%
2019 53.90 602nd 1361 55.8%
2021 37.73 822nd 1329 38.1%
2022 55.86 548th 1366 59.9%
2023 64.92 415th 1437 71.1%
2024 63.82 423rd 1450 70.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 54.62 671st 1405 52.2%
2019 55.46 648th 1424 54.5%
2021 33.84 930th 1440 35.4%
2022 44.65 805th 1458 44.8%
2023 46.08 802nd 1459 45.0%
2024 44.79 806th 1455 44.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.96 720th 897 19.7%
2019 19.76 809th 878 7.9%
2022 31.44 439th 634 30.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.55 908th 1413 35.7%
2019 49.43 752nd 1430 47.4%
2021 32.19 952nd 1444 34.1%
2022 49.50 730th 1464 50.1%
2023 53.06 692nd 1461 52.6%
2024 55.21 646th 1464 55.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 74.80 141st 927 84.8%
2019 79.56 103rd 949 89.1%
2021 55.98 284th 896 68.3%
2022 66.64 223rd 927 75.9%
2023 70.07 205th 933 78.0%
2024 70.84 182nd 924 80.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 80.62 100th 851 88.2%
2019 76.00 132nd 865 84.7%
2021 79.95 100th 843 88.1%
2022 84.99 72nd 893 91.9%
2023 84.19 80th 915 91.3%
2024 67.51 233rd 951 75.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

First Ward Creative Arts Academy Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.7)
67%

0%

0%

0%

33%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Open Quote Amazing school💖💖💖 Close Quote


by a citizen
Sunday, September 25, 2011

Open Quote in 1954 i was in the 1st grade at dilworth elementry... i remember a great first year in school... we had a class pet.... a rabbit Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, September 11, 2011

Open Quote We recently moved from small town mount pleasant nc. my child now goes to the new dilworth elementary. the reason i rate this school so poor is because i feel diconnected from the teacher of my child and my childs learning. i have not seen any of the school supplies that i have bought. i dont have a clue what my child is learning. i cant even get a morning and afternoon bus for my child because they do not have a bus stop at my home. so i just take him and get him everyday. i also believe that my child is learning the same thing this year in second as he learned last year in first grade at MPES. I have serious thoughts of taking him back. i have never had the problems at MPES as i do here at dilworth. i am very unhappy about the entire situation. Close Quote



Enrollment information for First Ward Creative Arts Academy

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 330 285 1 2 1 n/a n/a 0 619
1989 354 277 0 1 2 n/a n/a -2 632
1990 354 272 0 2 1 n/a n/a 0 629
1991 353 280 0 2 6 n/a n/a 0 641
1992 379 279 5 1 4 n/a n/a 0 668
1993 313 243 4 1 6 n/a n/a 0 567
1994 306 231 5 1 0 n/a n/a 0 543
1995 256 227 2 2 2 n/a n/a 0 489
1996 256 227 2 2 2 n/a n/a 0 489
1997 256 239 3 2 3 n/a n/a 0 503
1998 252 250 2 0 5 n/a n/a 0 509
1999 215 268 5 3 8 n/a n/a 0 499
2000 177 273 5 2 4 n/a n/a 0 461
2001 141 240 4 3 5 n/a n/a 0 393
2002 161 269 7 6 11 n/a n/a 0 454
2003 161 269 7 6 11 n/a n/a 0 454
2004 127 258 4 7 11 n/a n/a 0 407
2005 87 270 2 9 7 n/a n/a 0 375
2006 52 303 2 9 3 n/a n/a 0 369
2007 67 273 2 15 3 n/a n/a 23 383
2008 81 286 1 33 4 n/a n/a 20 425
2009 105 372 5 45 2 n/a n/a 0 529
2010 94 382 6 54 2 n/a n/a 0 538
2011 58 413 5 71 2 0 42 0 591
2012 36 402 0 76 3 0 16 0 533
2013 38 393 0 92 4 0 21 0 548
2014 38 387 1 99 3 0 20 0 548
2015 31 366 3 112 3 0 16 0 531
2016 34 384 3 110 4 0 13 0 548
2017 30 387 2 127 4 0 22 0 572
2018 30 389 2 132 1 0 23 0 577
2019 31 470 4 118 1 0 26 0 650
2020 31 436 6 106 1 0 23 0 603
2021 30 423 4 94 2 0 28 0 581
2022 26 386 3 86 3 0 24 0 528
2023 15 369 5 74 4 0 28 0 495

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at First Ward Creative Arts Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 619 27.0 22.9 34.1
1989 632 29.0 21.7 38.4
1990 629 32.0 19.6 39.9
1991 641 32.0 20.0 39.2
1992 668 32.0 20.8 28.3
1993 567 27.0 21.0 41.1
1994 543 28.0 19.4 37.2
1995 489 27.0 18.1 35.2
1996 489 27.0 18.1 35.2
1997 503 30.0 16.8 41
1998 509 33.0 15.4 42
1999 499 33.0 15.1 50.1
2000 461 33.0 14.0 56.2
2001 393 33.0 11.9 60.8
2002 454 33.0 13.8 53.1
2003 454 33.0 13.8 53.1
2004 407 33.0 12.3 58.5
2005 375 33.0 11.4 58.1
2006 369 33.0 11.2 61.5
2007 383 n/a n/a 63.9
2008 425 30.6 13.9 61.2
2009 529 36.6 14.5 60.9
2010 538 34.1 15.7 63.8
2011 591 39.9 14.7 71.7
2012 533 37.0 14.3 78.2
2013 548 35.8 15.2 78.3
2014 548 38.3 14.2 79.6
2015 531 37.0 14.3 98.3
2016 548 37.0 14.8 96.2
2017 572 39.8 14.3 97.2
2018 577 39.6 14.5 99.3
2019 650 44.3 14.6 99.4
2020 603 43.8 13.7 99.5
2021 581 43.1 13.4 99.5
2022 528 40.1 13.1 99.4
2023 495 35.6 13.8 99.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio First Ward Creative Arts Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 619 27.0 22.9 34.1
1989 632 29.0 21.7 38.4
1990 629 32.0 19.6 39.9
1991 641 32.0 20.0 39.2
1992 668 32.0 20.8 28.3
1993 567 27.0 21.0 41.1
1994 543 28.0 19.4 37.2
1995 489 27.0 18.1 35.2
1996 489 27.0 18.1 35.2
1997 503 30.0 16.8 41
1998 509 33.0 15.4 42
1999 499 33.0 15.1 50.1
2000 461 33.0 14.0 56.2
2001 393 33.0 11.9 60.8
2002 454 33.0 13.8 53.1
2003 454 33.0 13.8 53.1
2004 407 33.0 12.3 58.5
2005 375 33.0 11.4 58.1
2006 369 33.0 11.2 61.5
2007 383 n/a n/a 63.9
2008 425 30.6 13.9 61.2
2009 529 36.6 14.5 60.9
2010 538 34.1 15.7 63.8
2011 591 39.9 14.7 71.7
2012 533 37.0 14.3 78.2
2013 548 35.8 15.2 78.3
2014 548 38.3 14.2 79.6
2015 531 37.0 14.3 98.3
2016 548 37.0 14.8 96.2
2017 572 39.8 14.3 97.2
2018 577 39.6 14.5 99.3
2019 650 44.3 14.6 99.4
2020 603 43.8 13.7 99.5
2021 581 43.1 13.4 99.5
2022 528 40.1 13.1 99.4
2023 495 35.6 13.8 99.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,199 (11.4%) $9,345 (88.6%) $10,544

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on First Ward Creative Arts Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 687th of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 781st of 1502 Elementary schools
 5.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (First Ward Creative Arts Academy)77.170.1
 7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)69.661.3
 8.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (First Ward Creative Arts Academy)61.939.2
 22.7%
   3rd Grade Reading (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)57.346.4
 10.9%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (First Ward Creative Arts Academy)63.250
 13.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)63.255.2
 8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (First Ward Creative Arts Academy)55.356.1
 0.8%
   4th Grade Reading (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)52.551.5
 1%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (First Ward Creative Arts Academy)59.262.8
 3.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)65.457.9
 7.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (First Ward Creative Arts Academy)43.435.1
 8.3%
   5th Grade Reading (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)5045.8
 4.2%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (First Ward Creative Arts Academy)68.762.8
 5.9%
   5th Grade Science (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)72.862.2
 10.6%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students650495
 23.8%
African American470369
 21.5%
American Indian14
 300%
Asian45
 25%
Hispanic11874
 37.3%
Pacific Islander00
White3115
 51.6%
Two or More Races2628
 7.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.4%99.4%
 0%


Schools Near First Ward Creative Arts Academy









Frequently Asked Questions about First Ward Creative Arts Academy

Students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy are 75% African American, 15% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% White, 1% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 495 students attended First Ward Creative Arts Academy.

Students who attend First Ward Creative Arts Academy usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sedgefield Middle
High : Myers Park High School

First Ward Creative Arts Academy ranks 751st of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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