Cato Middle College High School
Cato Middle College High School is an honors program within the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system that provides students with the opportunity to earn transferable university credits. Located at 8120 Grier Road, Charlotte, NC 28215, the school resides along the southern edge of the Newell neighborhood in northwest Charlotte. Enrollment is not limited to the surrounding area, and students from all over the CMS system can enroll given they satisfy certain requirements. Established in 2007, it is home to 149 students and 3 faculty.
Location
As mentioned previously, Cato Middle College is located along the edge of the Newell neighborhood. This submarket is mostly residential neighborhoods that were built in the 1990s, though there are a few new subdivisions popping up as of 2023. Newell is to Back Creek and the Back Creek Greenway, along with several other small parks and recreational areas. The Baucom’s Nursery Company has its second location here, and is the only major commercial presence in the neighborhood. As of 2023, the median Household Income for the Newell Zip of 28213 was $53,837 and the median sales price for homes was $302,167 (as of 9/2023). The neighborhood is accessed primarily via E.W.T Harris Blvd, Old Concord Rd, and University City Blvd.
Academics
Cato Middle College services grades 11-13 and is an honors program within the CMS system. Students take Honors and AP classes that earn them credit towards both high school and college graduation. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI) 98% of all students graduated within 4 years compared to the NC State average of 86%. This puts Cato far above the state average for college readiness, a vital factor when considering your children’s education. As of 2023, there are 166 students at the school with 3 current instructors, resulting in the school having a Student / Teacher Ratio of 42-1. Enrollment is limited to 100 students per grade level.
Test Scores
Average SAT Test Scores: 2022-2023
Cato Middle College students were slightly underprepared for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in 2023. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI), students were outscored by their CMS and State counterparts by an average of 3.4%, most of which came in the Reading section. Cato students did however outscore the average National student by 9.8% thanks to a large advantage in the Math section. These test scores combined with the fact that Cato Middle College is geared towards providing college credit points toward the school being around average when preparing students for higher education. The SAT participation rate for the school was 22.0%.
Average ACT Test Scores: 2022-2023
Contrary to its students' performance on the SAT, Cato Middle College better prepared its students for the Aptitude and Critical Thinking Test (ACT). Average 2023 scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science were all above those of their CMS, State, and National counterparts. The largest advantage held by Cato students was in Reading, where students scored 9.0% higher than the national average.
4-Year Graduation Rate
Graduation Rate: 2018-2023
The 4-Year Graduation Rate at Cato Middle College High School has been above 95% since 2018. This is an exceptionally high graduation rate and far outpaces those of CMS and the state of North Carolina. Note that the NC DPI maxes out its graduation rate at 95% for data consistency. Graduation also remained consistent through the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The same cannot be said of the remaining CMS or public State high schools.
Food Assistance Programs
Cato Middle College, as well as all CMS schools, provides meals for underprivileged students via the CMS School Nutrition Services system. This service provides both breakfast and lunch options to students across Mecklenburg County. According to Mecklenburg County Public Health, approximately 15% of households are food insecure, so this program is a welcome addition to Cato’s cafeteria.
How to Enroll
If you are interested in enrolling at Cato Middle College High School, there are a few things you need:
Use the CMS Geoportal to confirm your place of residence is within the appropriate school district here.
Compile documents necessary for enrollment. These requirements can be found here.
Download and complete the enrollment packet. Can be found on the far right side of the page here.
Submit your application to the school. This is required to be done in person and typically by appointment.
