Garinger High School
Garinger High School, or simply Garinger, is a public high school within the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System that services the western central area of Mecklenburg County. Located at 1100 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, NC 28205, the school is fed by the surrounding neighborhoods of Plaza Midwood, NODA, Shannon Park, and Windsor Park among others. Established in 1908, it is one of the oldest schools in the CMS system and is home to 1,643 students and 102 faculty. The school’s mascot is the Wildcats.
Location
Garinger High School services several neighborhoods in the western central area of Charlotte. Among these submarkets are the up-and-coming neighborhoods of NODA and Plaza-Shamrock, as well as less appealing Shannon and Windsor Park. These neighborhoods are divided by Eastway Drive, which over time has become a large socio-economic barrier for the area. On the east side of Eastway, you have Noda and Plaza Midwood. These two neighborhoods have seen a rapid influx of younger residents and new developments over the last 10 years, and the area is geared towards entertainment and nightlife. The Charlotte Country Club is also located here, which is a top 20 private country club in the US. On the west side of Eastway, you have Shannon and Windsor Park. These neighborhoods are mostly residential suburbs and are 1950s-1960s built single-family homes. There is little to no new development in the area, and the only major attraction is Kilborne Park which does have a nice disc golf course.
As of 2023, the median Household Income for the Plaza Midwood, NODA, Shannon Park, and Windsor Park Zip of 28205 was $67,735.This is on the lower end of the city of Charlotte. The median sales price for homes in the area was $455,000 in September 2023. These neighborhoods are accessed via Eastway Drive, E Independence Fwy, and I-277. They are also home to multiple stops along the CATS Light Rail Blue Line which has multiple stations in NODA.
Academics
Garinger services grades 9-12 and is not considered a good school as far as academics go in the Charlotte area. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), 57% of all graduating students in 2023 graduated within 4 years compared to the NC State average of 86%. According to GreatSchools 79% of graduates also went on to attend public university for at least 2 years. This puts Garinger far below the state average for college readiness, a vital factor when considering your children’s education. The school also offers 15 AP courses, and an art and world language course. Garinger does not offer a STEM program. Test scores for the school are far below the average for the state of North Carolina with Math, Biology, and English all ranking well below state means. As of 2023, there are 102 teachers at Garinger, resulting in the school having a Student / Teacher Ratio of 16-1.
Test Scores
Average SAT Test Scores: 2022-2023
Garinger students were unprepared for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in 2023. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI), students underperformed against their CMS, State, and National counterparts in all exam areas except National Math where they tied the National average. This information points to the school being below average when preparing students for higher education. The SAT participation rate for the school was 4.7%, the lowest among their CMS peers.
Average ACT Test Scores: 2022-2023
Garinger students were also not well prepared for the Aptitude and Critical Thinking test (ACT). Average 2023 scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science were all well below those of their CMS, State, and National counterparts. The largest gap was in the English section where Garinger students scored 69.1% below the national average.
4-Graduation Rate
Graduation Rate: 2018-2023
The 4-Year Graduation Rate at Garinger High School has been below 70% since 2018. This is a meager graduation rate and is by far the lowest in the CMS system. Graduation has fallen consistently since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, though it is clear that this is not out of the ordinary for the school. Even before the pandemic, the 4-year graduation rate for Garinger hovered in the mid-60s.
Food Assistance Programs
Garinger High School, 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 Garinger’s cafeteria.
How to Enroll
If you are interested in enrolling at Garinger 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.
