First Ward Creative Arts Academy

www.cmsk12.org/firstwardES

421 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

First Ward Creative Arts Academy, located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, serves as a unique magnet school within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district. The institution is defined by its specialized focus on integrating the arts into every facet of the core academic curriculum. By utilizing a "creative arts" instructional model, the school aims to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and cultural awareness, encouraging students to express their learning through various artistic disciplines including music, visual arts, dance, and theater.

Beyond its artistic programming, First Ward is deeply embedded in the local community, benefiting from its proximity to Charlotte’s cultural and business hubs. The school provides a diverse, inclusive environment that emphasizes both rigorous academic achievement and personal character development. With its emphasis on inquiry-based learning and creative expression, First Ward Creative Arts Academy seeks to provide a well-rounded educational experience that prepares elementary-aged students for long-term success in an increasingly complex and innovation-driven world.

421

Total Students

28.7

Full-Time Teachers

14.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

99.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for First Ward Creative Arts Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	12
Hispanic	54
Black	321
Asian	4
Two or More	28
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	1

Black
321 (76.2%)
Hispanic
54 (12.8%)
Two or More
28 (6.7%)
White
12 (2.9%)
Asian
4 (1.0%)
American Indian
1 (0.2%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Phone:	(980)343-5485
Website:	http://www.cmsk12.org/firstwardES
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	421
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	28.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	418
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 53

Grade 1 61

Grade 2 61

Grade 3 67

Grade 4 84

Grade 5 95

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for First Ward Creative Arts Academy
Grade	Student Count
Kindergarten	53
Grade 1	61
Grade 2	61
Grade 3	67
Grade 4	84
Grade 5	95

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for First Ward Creative Arts Academy
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	210	49.9%
Male	211	50.1%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)