Charlotte Latin School

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.

• Latin is a safe place for children to express themselves and learn. Each students at Latin is known as an individual and as a 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 moral community that counter-balances contemporary culture. We believe in keeping children appropriately young.
• Academic excellence and highly-skilled teachers are the foundation of our school.
• We value diversity and inclusion. Latin was the first independent TK-12 school in Charlotte to open integrated.

Our mission is to encourage individual development and civility in our students by inspiring them to learn, by encouraging them to serve others and by offering them many growth-promoting opportunities. Charlotte Latin embraces the development of personal honor as a lifelong pursuit in the building of character and adherence to the Honor Code is required from all members of the School community. We honor one another and our personal gifts and accomplishments.

The quest for excellence that has characterized Charlotte Latin since its founding extends to all aspects of school life, and is viewed as the effort to do one’s best and to seek to improve continually. This quest embodies the boundless spirit that characterizes our school community, and it is grounded in our commitment to create an exceptional environment for teaching and learning.

Charlotte Latin encourages the development of leadership as a lifelong characteristic of our students and adheres to the concept of service to others (servant leadership) as the ideal model that best meets the needs of our school community, our nation and the world. Respect is the foundation of the Charlotte Latin School community. We celebrate differences that include diverse people, cultures and perspectives.

Each person at Charlotte Latin is accountable for his or her actions. We all share responsibility for the welfare of the greater School community. Charlotte Latin leads by example and our members are willing to do what is right and true through the courage of their convictions in spite of possible consequences or the opinions of others. Morally courageous people are willing to admit their mistakes, to address injustice and to uphold the principle of “Honor Above All.”

The School’s culture of inclusive excellence is shaped by our dedication to providing each student a culturally responsive education. Culturally responsive teaching begins with skilled educators. The School is especially proud of its demonstrated emphasis on attracting the most talented professionals to nurture the next generation of gifted scholars, community servants and global leaders. This includes experienced educators as well as our Latin Fellows. The Latin Fellows program is a new and exciting diversity initiative which transitions aspiring educators from underrepresented groups into the classroom through a co-teaching experience.

Teaching critical thinking skills and culturally responsive education are inextricably linked. We view culture as a strength that is useful for increasing self-awareness and consciousness of others. What’s more, we recognize that culturally responsive education – with its emphasis on learning partnerships, deep reflection, and increased opportunities for analyzing issues within the sociopolitical framework – is a perfect mechanism for promoting critical thinking.

At Charlotte Latin, we trust development and believe it is our privilege to engage both the head and the heart of every child. Every day. Set on 128 rolling, wooded acres, Latin’s environment is an idyllic backdrop for children of all ages to develop into lifelong learners and thoughtful citizens who uphold our motto, Inlustrate Orbem, enlighten the world.

Highly-skilled teachers, outstanding facilities and a supportive school community are all focused on the success of each child’s educational journey. Through coordination among the Lower, Middle, and Upper School divisions, Latin's curriculum is designed so that each successive grade adds to our students’ mastery of skills. While Latin has high expectations for our students, we believe in educating the whole child and in providing a balanced learning environment that promotes the growth of each student's mind, body and spirit.

Throughout the school we encourage learning through problem-solving and project-based learning. Life skills such as time management, teamwork and resilience are woven throughout the curriculum and specifically reinforced through Middle School's Emotional Intelligence curriculum and Latin Leads with Honor, our school-wide leadership develop program.

Latin's flexible curriculum and expert teachers work together, allowing each child to be appropriately challenged and supported. Our academic program prepares our students to succeed in college by providing growth-promoting opportunities that foster a lifelong love of learning while our social/emotional curriculum, with a focus on service, prepares students to become active and engaged participants in life.