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Charlotte Lab School
Charlotte Lab School, nominated by Digital Learning Institute, NewSchools Venture Fund, A Revolution in Education, and an anonymous organization, is an elementary/middle/high school in Charlotte, North Carolina, that describes itself as a public charter school serving learners from a primarily urban area.
Location Charlotte, North Carolina
Governance Public Charter School
Grades Elementary, Middle, High
Students 900
Locale Urban
Executive Director Mary Moss
Demographics
Percentage of students*
6%
English Learners
55%
Free/Reduced Lunch
17%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black 40%
American Indian/Alaska Native 1%
Asian 5%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —
Hispanic or Latino 15%
White 25%
2+ Races —
Why Charlotte Lab School was nominated
Since our founding in 2015, Charlotte Lab School has been committed to adopting and modeling a habit of innovation - keeping the changing needs of our students at the forefront of all decisions related to curriculum, programs, and policies. Grounded in this student-centered approach are the principles that guide how we approach our work and each other. We call it The Lab Way., The school is committed to adopting and modeling a habit of innovation, keeping the changing needs of students at the forefront of all decisions related to curriculum, programs, and policies. It has a student-centered focus on the whole child, with learning personalized to each student's needs and opportunities for real-world experiences. One of their signature practices are Quests, which challenge-based courses and projects, which are interdisciplinary and enable students to discuss and collaboratively develop solutions for real-world challenges. These Quests provide students with exposure to current events, history, science content, math, literacy skills, and valuable life skills. Their high school is also creating professional learning opportunities through internships and client projects. The school's program is highly individualized, allowing students to pursue their interests., Charlotte lab school implements an innovative learning model, Quests, which is an interdisciplinary, challenge-based opportunity for students to research, investigate, and solve real-world problems and create authentic deliverables while building 21st-century skills.
Student experience design
Founded in 2015 with students in grades K-4, Charlotte Lab school has grown to now serve 1000 students in grades K-11. Charlotte Lab School uses the community as a classroom to provide personalized, engaging, and authentic learning experiences designed to prepare students for lifelong wellness and success in college and a global workplace. Guided by its core values, known as the Lab Way, the school creates unique and engaging learning experiences for its students.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Student Advisories |
5+ years
|
|
Community And Workforce Partnerships |
5+ years
|
|
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics |
3-4 years
|
|
Project-based Learning |
5+ years
|
|
Restorative Practices |
5+ years
|
All Practices
AI For Teacher Productivity
Assessments For Social-emotional Skills
Career Exploration
College Advising & Support
Disaggregated Data On Student Participation
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles
Higher Education Partnerships
Internships
Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies
Mental Health Services
High Quality Instructional Materials
SEL Curriculum
SEL Integration School-wide
Service Learning
Student-led Conferences
Students Access Their Own Data
Student-led Goal Setting
Students Develop Projects
Trauma-informed Practices
Tutoring
Career Prep
key reasons for innovating
Address systemic inequities
Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools
Increase student agency
Date Updated: 4/1/2026
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.