Ardrey Kell High in Charlotte | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	9/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 North Carolina End-of-Course Tests data from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and using 2025 North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests data from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
College Readiness	9/10	The College Readiness Rating uses this high school's graduation rates, college entrance exam participation and performance, or AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment participation to determine how well schools are preparing students for success in college and beyond. The College Readiness Rating was created using the following data from the 2021 Civil Rights Data Collection: percentage of students enrolled in IB, AP or Dual Enrollment classes in grades 9-12, using 2025 4-year high school graduation rate data from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, using 2025 Average ACT score data from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, using 2025 ACT percent college ready data from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and using 2025 demographic data from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Student Growth	10/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2024 Student growth data from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Posted: January 29, 2026

I enroll my daughter for more that 3 weeks and this school is a the more worried experience she still not start the class why take too long not recommend for not body

Posted: January 26, 2024

My child is a senior and has loved being part of such a diverse community. The curriculum and standards for learning are exceptional and prepare students perfectly for their next chapter (whether that is college or otherwise). For a school of this size, it has always felt like a family to my family.

You can be involved a lot and there will be a place for you as a parent but you will be treated the same whether you have the ability to volunteer or not. Somehow, Mrs. brooks seems to know all 3400 students names and recognizes the families out and about in the community.

People seem to push back on admin if they see her as developing strict rules or guidelines for how the school is run

.. however, two thoughts I often wonder:

#1 If a man said the same thing she says, why would a man not be questioned or called demeaning names. This is not a liberal agenda this is the truth. I think Mrs. Brooks handles the amount of pushback and unwarranted anger with grace and understanding in the best way she knows how.

And #2 Do people have no idea what it is like to staff and lead a school in 2024? Teachers are leaving the state in droves and enrollments in teacher training programs are drastically dwindling. Empathy goes a long way rather than ranting when something silly happens (my child could not get door dash delivered! Is something I heard a parent ranting about at Target for the 15 mins we were in line).

Posted: January 26, 2024

Posted: August 3, 2023

This school is run like a factory with an administration that is all talk and little to no action. There is a serious shortage of qualified teachers and not to mention a morale issue. If you have a student in the exceptional child program, its a disaster - severely understaffed and teachers are not educated on various common learning disabilities. Lack of counseling and poor to no family engagement. High stress environment with core focus on standardized test scores rather than producing a well rounded individual. Major disappointment.

Posted: August 3, 2023

Posted: August 29, 2022

Over 4 years at this high school, 2 different principals, a pandemic, and seeing how things are run.

-Admin punishing teacher if they dont do exactly as they say, even then its a constant fight to figure out what they want
-Teachers are leaving in mass, those that stay dont have a lot of better options
-Students are pushed academically to do great, its hard to stand out or be seen in that field. However Ive seen the mental well being deteriorate because of the stress that comes with the reputation (including teachers!). If you have less than about 8 APs its unusual, but Ive gotten more scholarships by taking the APs Im interested in and areas I want to major in. Its not the way to go to take as many as you can, take honors, but lots of AP will quickly stress you out along with the expectation of making an A
-High stress, no time to explore interests before college
-Councilors, theres a lot of kids for each and get limited time for them to know your kid. I had 3 meeting in total and had my councilor changed in Junior year.
-Personally, my councilor was extremely unhelpful and would have hurt my chances. She had told me I didnt need a math Senior year (had all my math credits)and should do early release. When I visit schools that summer I was told that would probably be a deal breaker. Struggled to get my councilor to respond and change my schedule. By the time I had a senior appointment in October I had all my applications in because of rolling admissions but my councilors suggestion was to START working on apps. If I had I wouldnt be getting the accepts that I did. December comes and asks me basically to give my research on colleges to another student looking to study the same major. While I probably shouldnt have agreed, I said send me an email and Ill help some. Never saw her as I walked by student services every day nor ever got the email.
-drugs are a decent issue, vaping is rampant
-art departments arent as funded, but throws money at football.
-favoritism sport students
-attempts at helping a broader discrimination was crushed over the black vs white when theres a LOT more inequalities going on than that.
-lgbtq+ club struggled to become approved and after teacher quits made it difficult to continue with many teachers that stayed not supporting. Eventually had to have a temporary teacher for the remainder of the year who already had a club. ICC continued to not support clubs.

Overall: Decent Academic image, but at what cost?

Posted: August 29, 2022

Posted: December 16, 2021

just entered the school from a state, ive been doing choir for about 10 years and of course i applied to the choir program. i wasnt informed of the different choirs available, even though i informed my councilor of my years in choir and such i was still put in the beginners choir( mainly freshman while i am a junior). i was also not informed of the schedule switching process, and was clueless on how to access my email. since it is the beginning of the semester i thought i would be able to change choirs after auditioning. however, the choir teacher, who at the beginning of the year said i was eligible for other higher choirs, said i did not have the etiquette to join other choirs even though another girl who just moved into the school was now in the higher choir. she was uncooperative, did not give me other options, and did not communicate. the councilors were also not good at communicating and gave me the same answer for every single question that i asked. just 5 months into this school and i hate it, it is an unwelcoming and uncomfortable atmosphere for me.

Posted: January 31, 2021

We are glad to have 5 of our kids graduate from AK to great universities in the Carolinas, they were well prepared for high achievements. They were issues here and there and the school helped us deal with these issues the best we possible. Thank you AK staff for your efforts.

Posted: January 31, 2021

Posted: February 26, 2020

with my oldest not that great. He struggled in school and is definitely not that ready for college. I know school is what you make of it but no motivation to excell was given during the 4 years . if you are not well liked or in a click you generally just exist at this school

Posted: February 26, 2020

definitely not, if they do not learn it from home they are definitely not going to learn it from here.

Posted: February 26, 2020

it mostly depends on who you know or are.

Posted: February 26, 2020

had an issue at school and the principal said my son should handle it "like they do in West Virginia" . That was pretty much the help we received.

Posted: March 28, 2018

This school is a mixed bag. You can either experience an incredible or devastating experience at Ardrey Kell depending on the courses you take, teachers you have, and effort you put into your high school experience (both academically and extra-curricular). The rumors are true- AK is a highly competitive school. The academic success of most students is unreal, the musical and artistic groups consistently win highest levels of praise, and the athletic teams are some of the best in the state. This is both a good and bad thing; if you aren't already very talented at an extra-curricular, don't expect to find yourself representing Ardrey Kell in that field. Academically, AK has some very gifted students who will succeed regardless of the competence of their teachers, but for those students who require excellence in teaching will struggle. There are some incredible teachers at Ardrey Kell who really do care about the success of their students and who will do anything to help them succeed. There are also some adults who work at AK under the role of "teacher" but that is where their teaching credibility ends. They are unprofessional, not understanding, and overall bad at what they do. Due to the strict environment of this school, creativity is squashed in the classroom. Active and excited personalities are demanded to sit and wait for instruction. The only creative outlet you will find at this school is in the underfunded arts hall. Depending on how you interpret the competitive nature of this school and what you are willing to sacrifice as a high school student, you will either love or despise Ardrey Kell-- there is no in between.

Posted: March 28, 2018

Posted: January 25, 2018

We chose this neighborhood because of the ratings for Ardrey Kell, and we have never been disappointed. Our boys have done well, have been well-prepared for college, and have had excellent high school experiences.

Posted: September 23, 2017

Very good. I've had a few issues with teachers but overall my kids are academically benefiting from this school everything else I can guide them myself!

Posted: September 23, 2017

Posted: September 19, 2017

If you agree with the principal that the individual should not be held accountable for his or her actions but rather the community at large then boy oh boy is this school for you. Otherwise keep looking. Wish I had. Grades are adjusted to accommodate kids that don't do their work? Who is in charge admin or parents who can't deal with their kids not making an A? Doing the kids and the nation a great disservice.

Posted: September 19, 2017

Overall, the school is safe and the facilities are great. Teachers are mostly fine, several have been fantastic, but not all activities are given equal treatment. Orchestra is not given as much support as band for example. Again, problem with admin.

Posted: April 26, 2017

My son is a victim of bullying, and has went to the counselors, but they don't do anything about it. He has also seen other get bullied too.

Posted: April 26, 2017

Horrible. My son went through a lot of torture. I have never seen a school that has been so careless and disrespectful. My son works hard, and does his best to get good grades, but it is so difficult since the teachers don't do their job right. His GPA has dropped by coming here. Do not send your child to this school, if you are planning to. It is one of the worst decisions I have ever made.

Posted: April 26, 2017

The homework is so much, my son stays up all night everyday, and the teachers are too stressful and mean.

Posted: April 26, 2017

Everyone here is very disrespectful, the students, staff, teachers, everyone.

Posted: April 26, 2017

Principal Switzer is very strict and is one of the most impolite people I have ever seen, and does not protect students in any way.

Posted: January 25, 2017

Some really good teachers and some really bad teachers. The Principal can be a bully and rants and raves at assemblies. He punishes the whole student body for the actions of a few. He needs to stop talking about his nephew at UNC. No one cares.

Posted: May 26, 2016

Principal David Switzer is a misogynist. He thinks that he can bully and intimidate parents like he does with the students at AK. If you question his school policies, i.e. no outside food and allowing AK staff to search your child's lunch for fast food content, he becomes belligerent and unhinged. Clearly, he has some psychological issues or perhaps years of steroid use is taking effect. Now, I understand why most of the students at AK dislike him and why there is such a high turnover of teachers at AK--- some only lasting for one semester.

Posted: May 26, 2016

Posted: November 17, 2015

Principal Switzer runs this large high school phenomenally! He is very transparent about what goes on and extremely accessible to parents and students. He hosts morning and evening parent meetings with him so that they fit in with most people's schedules. He is on top of any problem and works quickly towards a resolution.
Our twins transitioned easily to high school and enjoy this school and what it offers.
Kudos to Principal Switzer!

Posted: May 18, 2015

Both of my children graduated from AK ...although it has been a few years now, I just had to add my comments - especially after reading some of the negative reviews! My kids were in athletics and art - there are many opportunities to get involved. My son was not the "academic type" - with few AP courses, but when he went to college I remember him telling me how grateful he was to AK teachers, who "pushed" him....he realized how well prepared he was compared to other students from around the state! And he has successfully completed his Degree! My daughter, who had a lot of AP credits, hit the ground running and she will graduate from UNCW soon - she was just awarded an internship in NYC and I'm sure faced a lot of competition from highly acclaimed schools like NYU. My point is that AK provided my children with the foundation for success on the next step of their journey ....this is what I want in a high school! It's a challenging time for all students, socially and academically, but the staff and curriculum at AK helped my children compete at a high level and I am grateful that they received such a top notch education at Ardrey Kell HS!

Posted: February 21, 2015

I came to this school because I had heard that it is a wonderful place to teach. What I have found is that it IS a wonderful place to teach IF you do exactly as the administration says and do not deviate from what the believe is 'effectiveness'. Mr. Switzer is a nice enough fellow, but there are those of us at the school that think the press clippings and accolades have gone to his head. He says he believes in his staff, but seems not to respect us enough as educators to give us a sense of autonomy in our classrooms. I don't feel trusted to deliver results. Instead, I am made to feel like I am not intelligent or experienced enough, to trust what works in my classroom. Doing things the 'AK WAY' here seems to mean doing things EXACTLY the way they want you to do them. On the plus side, this school has done a fantastic job with involving the community. You won't find many schools that have the wonderful relationship between the community and the administrators. This can be a GREAT SCHOOL, but the administration must start to trust and respect us as educators, even if it doesn't square with their views on what makes for effective instruction.

Posted: October 23, 2014

Audrey Kell is fine if your child is a high achiever or an athlete. If a student is average or below, its a constant struggle where no one cares or helps. The EC coordinator should have retired a long time ago, she is no advocate for the children. AK is more interested in their image than with the students. There were many bullying issues that were never addressed although they profess to be diligent. Much of the student body is pretentious and self centered. Thank goodness we left and found a smaller, loving HS environment.

Posted: July 27, 2014

We moved from NY to Charlotte last year and my daughter completed 10th grade @ Ardrey Kell. We are very impressed with this school. The academics are rigorous but my daughter was able to maintain excellent grades while working part time and staying active in athletics. I concur with other reviews that the principal, Mr. Switzer, is amazing and I hope he stays @ Ardrey Kell until my other children graduate. You won't find a better High school in the CMS system. PS....I do see why people call it a jail though. It could use some paint/landscaping/architectural enhancements??

Posted: June 20, 2014

I can't say enough good things about AKHS. We love, love, love this school. Mr. Switzer, the principal, is amazing. This school has something for everyone: academics, athletes, artists, musicians, etc. Your child will be so glad to be at this school! Even the kids here have a ton of school spirit. It's unlike anything I've ever seen!

Posted: May 17, 2014

To some, this school appears to be great. It'd diverse and the teachers are young and great. However, the way this school is run makes the learning environment impossible to learn in. The administrators seem to care more about girls' yoga pants and butts than academics and student satisfaction. The drug and cheating problems at this school are unbelievable and the rules are ridiculous. If you care at all about your child's education, don't send them hear! This was my first year at AK and after my experience it is also my last. The learning environment and the ridiculous rules may work for some people whom I have met, but for most students I have talked to, this school is exactly what it looks like...a prison.

Posted: April 27, 2014

Ardey Kell is a great high school, filled with lots of diversity. Since day one, the staff and faculty has been very welcoming and inclusive. My children have received an excellent education, as well as being involved in a great athletic community.

Posted: December 17, 2013

Both of our children attended AK and they loved it. In addition we as parents enjoyed the experience WITH our children as they were very involved.

Posted: December 16, 2013

Principal Switzer and school staff do an excellent job in motivating and educating all students in this phenomenally growing district. Their care to encourage and incorporate every family to enhance a student's growth is second to none.

Posted: December 9, 2013

As a parent of a current student and AK graduate, I am extremely pleased with the leadership of Principal Switzer and his top notch teaching staff. The curriculum is challenging and there are extensive opportunities for students to get involved in extra curricular activities (sports, clubs, community service). The student body is diverse and includes a large Exceptional Children's program. Teachers go out of their way to assist students achieve their academic goals. The school is extremely safe. Parent involvement is encouraged. Communication between the school and parents is excellent.

Posted: December 5, 2013

I just moved here and attended as a new student at Ardrey Kell last week. Honestly, everyone is so unwelcoming, the classes are too long, and the whole school looks and feels like a prison. Sure, the staff may be nice but the kids are so judgemental and materialistic and it's difficult to make friends since everyone's already in their cliques. The homeroom schedule is extremely confusing and they don't have many elective classes to offer. I can't stand the thought of attending school here for 3 more years, I have no idea how this is the "Best School" in all of Charlotte. You're better off homeschooling or moving back to where you came from.

Posted: November 18, 2013

Ardrey Kell High School is without a doubt the best school in Charlotte Mecklenburg. The school is always in the lead in academics and test scores. We have a diverse and confident student body. The athletics at Ardrey Kell are OUTSTANDING. The school has won the Wachovia Cup Conference (now the Wells Fargo Conference) 4 years in a row! This is an award for the All Around Best Athletics. The actual school is wonderful, it is one of the newest in the county. The Exceptional Needs program at the school is fantastic also. I have experience with this area and it is really hands down the best. The principal and staff at Ardrey Kell are unsurpassed. This is sometimes stressful to the staff due to expectations but they do deliver. Earlier principals did not achieve these high results/scores as the current principal. He is demanding of the students and staff. He accomplishes this thru strength of belief in a great education, fairness and compassion. He also shares a love and enjoyment of his students and they of him. There is a lot of team spirit and closeness amongst the students, parents and staff. I couldn't be happier with the education my 2 kids rec'd from Ardrey Kell.

Posted: September 25, 2013

My school is best because... # any and every teacher sends reply to all our questions even when it is midnight, they send us from documents to suggestions at that time of day. # school has very active clubs to keep the students from pursuing their interests. # our music and band teacher Mr. Butler is so excellent that he takes time and helps us play every note for various instruments per kid very patiently. # debate team is another great area a student can excel, and football team is perfect to play and enjoy a game own Friday night. # my counselor is too good that I shoot him a mail and he gives a detailed reply to that, I am only a freshman and am surprised to find teachers and staff this dedicated to improvement of the student that not even a elementary or middle school has done so far. # we do have something called Knights program in which the student can take time with a teacher and revise any topic that they need or be in the class in which you are weak yet. Therefore my school is the best!

Posted: September 19, 2013

I'd rather my two kids attend AK than nearly any other CMS school (and they, in the main, like it). The vast majority of my kids' teachers have been caring professionals. That said, some aspects of its culture are bothersome: a huge push to take AP/Honors courses that may not fit everyone's needs/abilities (and a tendency of many students to be judgmental of those not taking AP Everything); excessive homework; a principal who purports an open-door policy but is often inflexible and oversensitive even to constructive criticism; exorbitant fees for many extracurriculars (an assumption exists that every AK family has deep pockets); a growing drug/drink problem; lack of response from administrators/counselors when you contact them with an issue (but who interrupt dinnertime at least twice a week with ConnectEd calls); overloaded special-ed case managers/general counselors who often do not respond to multiple emails. As for its size, my kids' point of view is that this actually discourages cliquishness, but they've also complained that it can be difficult to get to know people, particularly since homework makes socializing outside of school difficult.

Posted: August 20, 2013

This school is very concerned with how it looks on the outside, and very UNconcerned with its students. The principal outright favors wealthy families, and lets kids with money get away with a lot more than the kids without. For example, when dealing with the issue of drugs and drug using students, the student with the parents who are willing to pay to keep their child from getting in trouble is quickly reprimanded and brushed under the rug. Whereas the student with parents who aren't able to make a big donation to the school is suspended. This year, they have introduced the "name tag". Although pictures of professional IDs come to mind, the true picture is a childish plastic sheet with a paper inside with the student's name on it. This is deemed a factor of safety, and if the student refuses to BUY it, along with a yearly agenda, they are at risk of suspension. Although the school looks were polished and wealthy on the outside, I am telling you from the inside: not all is as it seems. The money is leeched from the students and parents, and the teachers care more about their tenure and paycheck than they do about a student's success. Also, scheduling keeps kids from taking APs.

Posted: August 19, 2013

Found Principal to be condescending, aggressive, unprofessional, emotional when trying to solve simple issue. Very type A. Disappointed.

Posted: August 10, 2013

Not helpful, careless management! There is a lot of bullying in this school. Teachers are good, but environment is not.

Posted: July 5, 2013

I have been attending this school since I was in 9th grade and am now going to be a senior after summer. Overall, AK is a great school that gives students a competitive atmosphere so students will keep trying and strive to do better. There are drugs and partying within the school among students just like any other high school however most kids put up a really great facade and if you don't want to be involved in this scene, then you really don't have to because this school is so big, there is always somewhere you can fit in. Although AK is not very 'clique-y', it's very easy to be lost at the school. Not just physically because of the size of the school but also because of the number of kids. More than half of the 2000 kids who attend this school take AP courses and score well on ACT and SAT, it is just very hard to stand out. Many times people don't remember you or many times even teachers don't remember you. AK has a good academic atmosphere and is overall a good place to attend school but a lot of kids are overlooked by teachers due to how smart all the kids are at this school.

Posted: May 8, 2013

I am a parent at AK and know that high school is never an easy experience. I believe that a great majority of the administration and staff at AK have what's best for the students in mind. The High school can be the best years of your life or end up not living up to what you always hoped it would be. There are health conditions and issues that can affect attendance and in some situations, the students feel, not necessarily at AK, that they are being blamed for being sick, and they get frustrated. Knowing that there are people at the school who are there to support them is key. The nurse at AK is incredible and is always looking out for the kids specific conditions and/or needs. The attendance/office staff in my experience has been there to listen and help out when they can. The kids just need to know they are being treated for their individual situations whatever the case might be and they can feel more at ease.

Ardrey Kell High

Charlotte, NC 28277

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Ardrey Kell High

Charlotte, NC 28277

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