The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Math. The lowest is 42% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Oakhurst Steam Academy
Oakhurst STEAM Academy is a public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Charlotte, with a student body drawn almost entirely from low-income households. The school sits in a neighborhood where housing values are moderate and rental costs fit within the region's affordability range, though the surrounding Charlotte area is experiencing rapid growth that continues to reshape the local market and school enrollment patterns.
The school serves a student population that is substantially Black and Hispanic, with smaller shares of white, Asian, and multiracial students. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the neighborhood's economic profile. The enrollment is stable and distributed fairly evenly across the grade band, with roughly equal cohorts in each year from kindergarten through fifth grade.
On state testing for grades three through five in the most recent year, Oakhurst's proficiency results sit below the midpoint. In mathematics, about half the students tested reached proficiency or above on the End-of-Grade test. In English language arts, the share meeting proficiency dropped to under half, a softer result. Science proficiency, measured only in the upper grades tested, was slightly above the mathematics rate. Parents may want to ask the school directly about its plans to support students in meeting grade-level standards, particularly in reading and writing. Note that science testing at the state level changed its assessment name and scoring standards this year, so direct year-to-year comparison for that subject is not available.
The school's academic identity centers on STEAM—science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. District-wide, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has adopted a standardized elementary language arts curriculum across all grades, built around thematic nine-week modules that integrate reading, writing, discussion, and social-emotional learning. This curriculum shift, launched recently, establishes a more coherent instructional approach to early literacy than existed before. The school operates within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district, which is currently in the midst of a major transition: the district is shifting from its long-standing "School Choice" magnet system to a "Program Choice" model beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, consolidating magnet themes and organizing pathways by academic focus rather than individual school choice. Parents navigating options should clarify how Oakhurst's STEAM emphasis fits within that transition and what it will mean for program continuity and student enrollment going forward.
The district is also in an active building phase. Voters approved a record-sized school bond in 2023, funding construction and renovation work across the county, and staggered property tax increases are scheduled through 2029 to support that work. The region itself is growing rapidly—Charlotte is adding residents at one of the fastest rates among major U.S. cities—which is driving both the need for new facilities and a tightening housing market.
Staff counts, special education enrollment figures, and English learner enrollment data were not available in the school's publicly reported profile. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
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