Original Research by School Decision on Niner University Elementary School
Niner University Elementary School was Charlotte's only laboratory school, operated by UNC Charlotte's Cato College of Education under a partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. It served kindergarten through fifth grade in the Sugar Creek and west Charlotte area. The school permanently closed at the end of the 2024-25 school year after CMS declined to renew its memorandum of understanding with the university.
The school operated at a small enrollment for its grade band, with roughly even distribution across the kindergarten through fifth grade span. The student body was predominantly Black, with a small number of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and special populations such as students with individualized education programs or English learners was not available.
Niner University Elementary functioned as an alternative pathway for families in its area. When it opened, the program was explicitly designed as an option for parents who would otherwise be assigned to a state-identified low-performing school or whose children struggle in a traditional classroom setting. The university partnership meant the school operated under a different governance model than typical CMS schools, with UNC Charlotte shaping curriculum and pedagogy. CMS provided the facility, transportation, and meals.
State assessment data was not available for this entity. Because the lab school closed at the end of the most recent school year, no forward-looking academic performance information is relevant to families considering enrollment.
The closure came after what publicly reported sources describe as declining enrollment and CMS concerns about the school's aging facility. A May 2020 agreement had anticipated the school would reach a certain enrollment threshold by the 2023-24 school year, a target the school did not meet. After several years of operation, CMS determined the partnership was not sustainable and chose not to continue it.
For families who had selected Niner University Elementary as an alternative to their assigned school, the closure required re-enrollment elsewhere within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. CMS reported working to support students and staff through the transition, offering help with re-enrollment and job placement for educators.
The school's closure removes a distinctive option from the Charlotte elementary landscape. Families now considering alternatives to their assigned school will need to explore other options within CMS, which may include magnet programs or other choice pathways available through the district.
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