Charlotte Latin School

History

In 1969, a group of Charlotte parents decided to found a new school, modeled on New England's seventeenth century "Latin" schools. These parents wanted to make sure their children received a strong, traditional academic foundation, which they felt was being sacrificed by the public schools in favor of largely unproven teaching fads which included the 1969-1971 litigation which ultimately prompted a landmark US Supreme Court decision which resulted in court-enforced busing in 1971 to integrate the local public schools.

. In September 1970, Charlotte Latin School opened its doors for the first time with 425 students in grades one through nine. The 50-acre (200,000 m²) campus consisted of two buildings: today's Lower School Building and the Administrative Building, which is now Fennebresque Hall. The campus continued to grow with the construction of the 100/200 building, the library (which is now Founders' Hall), and Belk Gymnasium in 1972 and 1973.

Latin graduated its first senior class in 1974. During 1974–75, an addition to the Lower School was built and the football field was completed.

Latin was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in 1975, and in 1976–77, Latin was honored as the youngest school in the nation to receive a Cum Laude Society chapter. It was during the 1976–77 school year that the Middle School building also was completed.

During 1980–81, the school expanded with the addition of 42 acres (170,000 m²), which makes up the South Campus. In 1988, Latin's Upper School received the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award from the United States Department of Education.

SwimMAC Carolina, originally named the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club (MAC), opened on the Latin campus in 1990. This 22-lane natatorium is operated by SwimMAC, but also serves as Latin's pool. SwimMAC has produced several Olympians, and has enabled Latin to win numerous swimming titles.

In 1998, Charlotte Latin won the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award a second time, this time for the Lower School.

During the 1999–2000 school year, Latin purchased an additional 30 acres (120,000 m²), bringing the campus to 122 acres (0.49 km²). It is during this time that the Middle School also won the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award.

The Science, Art and Technology Building and the Beck Student Activities Center opened during the 2000–01 school year. At the conclusion of the 2000–01 school year, Dr. Edward J. Fox, Sr. retired after serving 25 years as the school's headmaster. Mr. Arch N. McIntosh, Jr. was named as Latin's new headmaster. Mr. Mark Tayloe is Head of the Lower School; Mrs. Debbie Lamm is Head of the Middle School; and Mr. Lawrence Wall is Head of the Upper School.

Academics

Charlotte Latin subscribes to an educational approach that is traditional in design yet progressive in implementation. The average pupil-teacher ratio is 10 to 1.

One hundred and fifty-six Latin students have been named National Merit Finalists since 1989.

Twenty-one Latin students have been named Morehead-Cain Scholars.

Among the prestigious scholarships Latin's students have been offered in recent years are the AXA Achievement Scholarship, the Morehead-Cain and Pogue Scholarships at UNC-Chapel Hill, the Jefferson Scholarship at the University of Virginia, the Belk and Bryan Scholarships at Davidson College, the Benjamin N. Duke Scholarship at Duke University, the Danforth, Ervin, Moog, Rodriguez, and Stamps Scholarships at Washington University in St. Louis, the Chancellor's and Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarships at Vanderbilt University, the Woodruff Scholarship at Emory University, and the Robertson Scholarship at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University.

Typically, between sixty and eighty-five percent of the seventh grade class qualifies for the Duke University Talent Identification Program on the basis of standardized test scores.

The Lower School's standardized test scores are some of the highest in the nation among both public and private schools.

Charlotte Latin maintains sister school relationships with schools in Argentina, China, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa and Spain.

The U.S. Department of Education has three times named Charlotte Latin a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. In 1977, Charlotte Latin also became the youngest school to have received a Cum Laude Society charter.

Fine and Performing Arts

Artwork by Latin students is continually exhibited throughout the school's campus, as well as in the Charlotte community, including exhibits at The Mint Museum of Art, The Children's Theatre of Charlotte, and the McColl Center. Over the past 26 years, Latin students have received more than 1,700 regional honors, 51 national medals, and three Presidential Commendations in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and Congressional Art competitions. In the last 10 years, Latin students have won 12 American Vision Awards and 27 Best in Category Awards. Seven pieces of art by Latin students have been featured in national publications.

More than 30% of the Upper School students perform with the CLS Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, or Orchestra. More than 300 students in fifth through eighth grades participate in performance-based music ensembles. Latin's ensembles regularly receive superior ratings in district festivals. Latin's music students have participated in goodwill music tours to China and Russia, performed on the Carnegie Hall stage in New York City, and represented North Carolina at the 2013 National Festival of the States in Washington, D.C.

Charlotte Latin students refine their acting and production talents by presenting plays and mid-year musicals, which feature orchestral accompaniment and professional choreography, costumes, and sets. Seniors also direct their peers in a student-produced, one-act festival.

The Friends of Music and the Friends of Theater Arts support the performing arts programs. The Latin Arts Association serves as an umbrella organization and supports the School's fine and performing arts programs.

Athletics

Charlotte Latin athletic teams have won 155 state championships and have received recognition eight times as runner-up and 16 times as winner of the Wachovia/Wells Fargo Cup.

In 2008, Latin's football team was recognized as the "Sweet 16" champions by The Charlotte Observer. The 2007 championship was the team's third consecutive state championship.

Members of Latin's Class of 2015 will participate in athletics at the following colleges and universities: Berry College, Birmingham-Southern College, Boston College, Brown University, Clemson University, College of the Holy Cross, Davidson College, Denison University, Duke University, Emory University, Franklin & Marshall College, Furman University, Lehigh University, University of Maryland, N.C. State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Sewanee: The University of the South, Stanford University, Wake Forest University, and Washington & Lee University.

Notable alumni