Ardrey Kell High School: Top High School in Charlotte, NC (2026 List)

About Ardrey Kell High School

Ardrey Kell High School, located at 10220 Ardrey Kell Rd., Charlotte, NC 28277, serves students in grades 9 through 12 as a public high school within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Around 3,605 students attend the campus, where student-teacher ratios average near 21:1. Female students comprise about 48% of enrollment, while male students make up about 52% of the student body. Academic proficiency data indicates that roughly 59% of students are proficient in math and about 88% meet reading proficiency standards. The school is known for its academic teams, competitive athletics, and large AP program. About 75% of students participate in AP coursework, and the graduation rate exceeds 95%. The curriculum includes pathways in engineering, computer science, healthcare, business, and biotechnology. Located in Charlotte's Ballantyne area, the school serves one of South Charlotte's most sought-after residential districts, where nearby home values commonly range from the upper-$500,000s to well over $1 million. Ardrey Kell High School is widely regarded among top high schools in North Carolina for its academic achievement, college readiness, and consistently strong student outcomes.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 59%

Reading 88%

State average proficiency is 59% in Math and 88% in Reading.

172

Full-time Teachers

21 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

4

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

3605

Total Students

$60104

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 43.16%

Asian 30.37%

Hispanic 11.84%

Black 11.43%

Two+ Races 2.75%

Native Am. 0.14%

White

43.16%

Asian

30.37%

Hispanic

11.84%

Black

11.43%

Two+ Races

2.75%

Native Am.

0.14%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 3605

49.13%

1771 Female

50.87%

1834 Male

Student Population

3605 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 21 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

327 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Ardrey Kell High School Contact Information

Address

10220 Ardrey Kell Road, Charlotte, NC, 28277

View on Map

Phone

(980) 343-0860

Call Now

Website

http://ardreykellhighschool.wearecms.com

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 7:15 AM - 2:15 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:00 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Ardrey Kell women’s basketball finished as the NCHSAA 8A West Regional runner-up in 2026. The team had a strong postseason run in the western bracket against tough competition and advanced to the regional final. Their play helped the program make one of its deepest playoff runs of the season. Finishing as a regional runner-up in North Carolina high school basketball is a big deal and shows a continued stretch of competitive excellence.

FAQ

Q1. Why is Ardrey Kell High School one of Charlotte's most sought-after high schools?

Ans. Ardrey Kell High School is known for its strong academics, extensive AP program and strong participation in athletics and fine arts.

Q2. Which student activities stand out at Ardrey Kell High School?

Ans. Students participate in nationally recognized academic teams, championship athletics, orchestra, theater productions and music programs.

Q3. How do students interested in STEM challenge themselves at Ardrey Kell?

Ans. Advanced mathematics, computer science, engineering-related coursework, and science competitions attract many students with STEM interests.

Q4. What role do extracurriculars play at Ardrey Kell High School?

Ans. Clubs, service organizations, athletic teams, and arts programs are a major part of student life both during and after school hours.

Q5. What is the atmosphere like at Ardrey Kell High School?

Ans. The school combines a highly academic culture with strong school spirit and broad student involvement.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say