The future looks bright at Charlotte Latin, and we hope you will choose to be a part of our story.
We designed this planner to help illuminate the way as you navigate your journey, envision the big picture and understand our motto: Inlustrate Orbem, which means “Enlighten the World.”
To begin your child’s quest, there are two simple steps. First, visit our campus, and let us show you the opportunities that await. We give one-on-one tours daily, and host expansive Open Houses with rich programming and smaller, intimate Look@Latin sessions with specific topics designed for busy people. Next, all you have to do is apply. We’ll do the rest.
Our process is backed by science, observation and getting to know you. To evaluate your child, we review data, predict patterns and study readiness. Your visit and conference complete your child’s profile. Once we weave it all together with a keen understanding of child development, your child’s story begins at Charlotte Latin.
Consult the CAIS brochure on Latin’s website, and line up an appointment with one of our preferred providers. A licensed clinician will administer the WPPSI™, a normed cognitive assessment, and send us the results.
All applicants must be enrolled in a four-year-old preschool program to be eligible for Charlotte Latin kindergarten. In January, have your child’s current preschool teacher submit a confidential teacher recommendation. Our goal is to learn more about your child and his or her current preschool experience.
Once in application, you will be able to schedule your child’s kindergarten visit. During this day, our team will engage a small group of students in fun, play-centered activities that simulate a typical preschool morning. We base all activities on important milestone activities that predict school success. In addition, we will provide an informative morning for you. You will meet with a kindergarten teacher, hear from students, and have time to engage current Charlotte Latin parents.
After your child’s visit, we will have a detailed conference centered on your future kindergarten student. We will discuss the patterns we see, shed light on your child’s precise stage in early learning and share our observations and beliefs based on our experience. Your input is invaluable, as the child-focused journey at Latin begins with the parent partnership.
We will welcome you. We will respect your time. And we want to be a resource for you.
While the kindergarten application process often involves several trips to campus, we respect your time and have created detailed programs and tailored tours with this in mind. You customize the experience based on your needs and interests. In addition, we welcome any questions or concerns throughout the process and are here to help you every step of the way. You will be assigned a counselor for the process, and our entire staff is committed to serving your needs.
Being trained in child development, we make our recommendations based on your child’s individual readiness. Our only birthday requirement for K or TK is that your child be kindergarten-eligible in North Carolina. Our extensive review and commitment to brain research and developmental milestones enable us to place children in the appropriate grade for success at Charlotte Latin School.
Every applicant receives equal attention and “what we do for one, we do for all.” Backed by our community’s belief, we practice civility, respect and Honor Above All throughout the admissions process. We do not share details about a visit, a tour or an application with our community members. As we know parents want to hear from current Latin parents, we do populate all of our events with parent volunteers who are ready to answer questions and share experiences. We provide names and numbers of current Latin parents for you to contact if you have any questions throughout the process or after acceptance letters are e-mailed. We want you to have time and space to make the decision that is right for your child and your family.
Our students, faculty/staff and parents love our school, and they will all go out of their way to answer your questions and value your child. As you explore school options, know the reception you receive during the Admissions process will be consistent once enrolled, and know that we will provide opportunities for you to follow your child’s progress throughout the school years. It is an exciting journey, and we look forward to joining you along the way.
With multiple stops and multiple bus runs a day, our bus routes provide an incredible convenience to many different areas around town. For parents, this cuts the commute to minutes. For students, this is the start of their school day with a beloved Latin driver and neighborhood friends.
With a variety of flexible options, our extended day and enrichment programs echo our philosophies of appropriate child development. We design all activities with time to play, reflect, rest, enrich and restore from the busy academic day.
We believe in all types of nourishment at Charlotte Latin. Our freshly prepared meals keep us going!
Traditional in design, innovative in implementation is the Latin way. From our Founders’ vision in 1970 to create an inclusive school where academic excellence is encouraged, leadership is cultivated, liberal arts are valued and phonics-based reading is essential, Latin has educated thousands of students in the importance of learning, citizenship, service to others, hard work and Honor Above All.
Each student at Latin is known as an individual and as a vital member of our school family.
Relationships are key. Our faculty and staff teach, coach, encourage, support and care for our students.
Latin partners with parents to provide a developmentally appropriate education for our students.
Academic excellence and highly skilled teachers are the foundation of our school.
Admitting students of all races, Charlotte Latin was integrated the day it opened its doors in 1970 and was the first K-12 independent school in Charlotte to do so. Latin’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive community has never wavered. We embrace and celebrate differences.
We intentionally incorporate leadership, commitment to excellence, responsibility, respect and Honor Above All into our daily lives.
Charlotte Latin is an accredited, independent, coeducational, non-sectarian, college-preparatory day school serving 1,400 students in transitional kindergarten through the twelfth grade. Latin does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age or national origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid policies, employment practices or other school-administered programs.
1. Go further than teacher/student ratios. Assess faculty and staff resources. Are teachers valued, mentored and given ample support to meet the needs of each student? Are class sizes protected, or do schools overbook classes in grades with higher demand?
2. Visit during the school day. Notice the interactions, the noise level, the movement on campus and, more importantly, whether students and teachers are engaged in the lesson and with each other.
3. Ask about safety and security. Make sure your school has not only a practiced protocol but also a strategic plan to keep up with the ever-changing world. Also, make sure it is a safe place for students to take risks and experience growth-promoting opportunities.
4. Look for both planned physical activity and unstructured play.
5. If choosing an independent school, ask about the school’s sustainability and enrollment rate. Does the school meet budget year after year? Are target numbers met? Does the school align with National Association of Independent School (NAIS) guidelines and best practices and regularly participate in the accreditation process?
6. Ask about technology use and digital citizenship. Are students trained to understand the “power” in their hands? Is there an Acceptable Use Policy in place along with ongoing training and education?
7. Do teachers embrace multiple teaching strategies in the classroom?