Mallard Creek High School
Mallard Creek High School, or simply Mallard Creek, is a public high school within the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System that services the northeastern area of Mecklenburg County. Located at 3825 Johnston Oehler Road, Charlotte, NC 28269, the school is fed by the surrounding neighborhoods of Highland and Mallard Creek. Established in 2007, it is home to 2,281 students and 120 faculty. The school’s mascot is Mavericks.
Location
As mentioned previously, Mallard Creek High School services the neighborhoods of Highland and Mallard Creek as well as the University area. These submarkets are located in the northeast region of Mecklenburg County and border the county line with Cabarrus County. Within this pocket of the county sits one of the largest master-planned subdivisions in all of Charlotte: Highland Creek. As of 2023, the median Household Income for the Highland / Mallard Creek Zip of 28269 was $75,946. The median sales price for homes was $369,833 in September 2023. This is slightly below the average for the city of Charlotte. The neighborhood has a large country club and is close to Concord Mills, a large shopping center. Access to this area is provided via I-485, I-85, and Mallard Creek Rd which traverses the neighborhood from North to South.
Academics
Mallard Creek services grades 9-12 and is generally considered an average school for academics in the Charlotte area. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI), 84.60% of all students graduated within 4 years compared to the NC State average of 86%. Greatschools also records that 92% of graduates also went on to attend public university for at least 2 years. This puts Mallard Creek slightly below the state average for college readiness, a vital factor when considering your children’s education. The school also offers 26 AP courses, 2 STEM programs, 12 art and music courses, and 3 world language options. This amount of higher education opportunities is higher than many other schools within the CMS system. Test scores for Mallard Creek are below the average for the state of North Carolina with Math, Biology, and English all ranking at least 2% below state means. The largest deficit is in Biology with an average score of -15% compared to the state. As of 2023, there are 166 teachers at Ardrey Kell, resulting in a Student / Teacher Ratio of 19-1.
Test Scores
Average SAT Test Scores: 2022-2023
Mallard Creek students were not as prepared as their counterparts for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in 2023. According to the NC DPI, students were outscored by their CMS and State counterparts by an average of 8.4%. Mallard Creek did outscore the National average however by about 1.6%. This information points to the school being below average for the Charlotte area but above the National average when preparing students for higher education. The SAT participation rate for the school was 17.90% which was on the lower end for the CMS system.
Average ACT Test Scores: 2022-2023
Mallard Creek High School prepared its students poorly for the Aptitude and Critical Thinking test (ACT). Average 2023 scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science were all below those of their CMS, State, and National counterparts. The largest deficit held was in English which scored 32% lower than the national average.
4-Graduation Rate
Graduation Rate: 2018-2023
The 4-Year Graduation Rate at Mallard Creek High School has been on a downward trajectory since 2018. The school was performing well before the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, scoring consistently in the low 90s for graduation rate. However, since 2020 there has been a significant dropoff in the 4-year graduation rate, hitting its low point in 2022 at 83%.
Food Assistance Programs
Mallard Creek 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 Mallard Creek’s cafeteria.
How to Enroll
If you are interested in enrolling at Mallard Creek 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.
