All the signs are there. Store aisles are filled with backpacks, pencils and glue sticks. Camps are ending. Vacations we planned for months are behind us. Back to School is upon us (parents cheer, kids sneer).
Whether or not you have children, owning a home zoned for desirable schools is always a good investment. But you don’t have to move far from uptown or into the burbs. Who says you can’t live in funky, cool areas AND have great schools?
We’d like to point out a few exceptional CMS schools and their amazing neighborhoods.
First, let’s give a big shout-out to Charlotte Mecklenburg School teachers and staff who have been the glue that held our kids together during two very difficult years.
SHAMROCK GARDENS ELEMENTARY
Shamrock Gardens is a Learning Immersion and Talent Development (LI/TD) Magnet, as well as a thriving neighborhood K-5 school. The school serves about 500 students and has a stellar reputation in the community. “It’s such a bright and happy fixture in our neighborhood,” says Melissa, a neighbor who walks her dogs each day by the happy noises of this bustling school.
Shamrock Gardens is on the border of two of our favorite Charlotte neighborhoods: Plaza Shamrock and Country Club Heights. So many families live here and walk their little ones to school.
Plaza Shamrock is a neighborhood of homes built in the late 50s-60s with a lot of new construction peppered in. Although by today’s standards the homes are on the small side, this neighborhood has always been a great place to get into a centrally-located neighborhood close to NODA and Plaza Midwood.
Country Club Heights is also a combination of mid-century and new construction, but it will cost you more per square foot. It’s a wonderful and well-loved neighborhood with a robust neighborhood association.
If you have interest in learning more about the Country Club and/or Plaza Shamrock neighborhoods give April Crigger-Hudson a call.
OAKHURST STEM ACADEMY
This partial magnet K-5 school was the first to focus on science, technology, engineering art and math. Since it opened in 2015, its impact has been nothing less than astonishing.
Oakhurst is south east of uptown off of Monroe Road, between Eastway and Sharon Amity. In the past six years, the neighborhood has completely transformed. It’s now home to some of our favorite locally-owned businesses, including NoDa Yoga and The Common Market Oakwold.
Our own Charlie Miller is one of the many builders who has done amazing work alongside Oakhurst’s 1940s bungalows.
If you have interest in learning more about listings in Oakhurst give Liz Millsaps-Haigler a call.
PIEDMONT IB MIDDLE SCHOOL
This school gets high marks, not through a survey or a report, but through the community. Parents and neighbors say Piedmont is an exceptional learning environment. During the school year we often run into the principal at Central Coffee.
Located on the edge of Villa Heights, Belmont and Elizabeth, this school is in the shadow of uptown. There is so much diversity of housing and price points between these three neighborhoods it’s hard to encapsulate in a few sentences. These are urban, vibrant, young, fun areas that have a lot going on. To learn more about this area give Cassee Cunningham a call.
HELP STRUGGLING FAMILIES GET READY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
As more than 140,000 Charlotte Mecklenburg School students get ready to start the new year, many of their families are struggling to pay for the necessary supplies. Due to inflation, the National Retail Federation estimates the average family will pay $864 for school necessities. Read more about it here.
Here are some locations and events where school supplies can be dropped off:
- Classroom Central 2116 Wilkinson Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28208
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Thursday - Second Annual Queen City School Supply Drive; Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts. 1030 Woodward Ave, Charlotte, NC 28206 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 21