Davidson K-8 School

635 South Street

School District

Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 24, 2024

Davidson is a fabulous place to learn. My husband and I are both educators (we've taught all the way from elementary classrooms to graduate school courses) and are blown away by the teachers here. We pinch ourselves that we get to send our kids to a place where they are loved, challenged, and accepted. The classroom teachers are exceptional, the connect team (music, art, PE, dance, etc.) really goes the extra mile with special clubs/activities, and the new principal is really, really strong. She leads by example, knows every kid, and is loved by the staff. Lots of parents support, and no kids get left behind. It's a rare place where kids of every SES, race, background, and learning ability make incredible academic progress AND are known and loved. Very proud to be part of this community! Thank you teachers & staff for your tireless efforts and loving our kids like they are your own!
Submitted by parent on April 14, 2021

Davidson Elementary attracts and retains the best instructors - a great mix of male and female experienced teachers. The parent support is very strong. Davidson College students come to tutor and support events like their fitness program. Within Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Schools (and I taught in CMS) this is one of the best elementary schools you can find.
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2020

So far, it has been an OK day to day experience and a disappointing experience for interacting with the school representatives for a special needs kid. I have had my kids at a variety of elementary schools in another state, 4 private, 1 charter and 2 public. One school was a Title 1, school, too. So far, this one appears to be the most inflexible and impersonal. There’s some good things but definitely room for improvement. They do not seem to do as well with more challenging populations. Their test scores for non-ELP or low income students, for example, are abysmal. That seems to extend to kids with special needs, based on my experience. Public schools like DK8 should work for all students, arguably, even more for those at a disadvantage.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2019

Excellent experience through the first 2 years. They have a good mix of traditional and progressive approaches to learning.
Submitted by other on March 12, 2017

Davidson Elementary is an awesome school. The principal and his team are always friendly, caring, and quick to respond to the needs of their students. Our organization enjoys partnering with DES and look forward to coming on campus to see what amazing things Principal J's scholars are accomplishing. Great Job DES!
Submitted by parent on April 13, 2016

I have had at least one child at DES since 2006. We have had an amazing experience and I cannot express enough gratitude to the caring, capable teachers and involved parents. There will always be people who like to complain, no matter where their child(ren) attend school (and no school is perfect), so please keep this in consideration when reading any overly negative comments. Just about every parent at DES would recommend our school as one of the best for sure.
Submitted by parent on November 19, 2015

Davidson is thought to be a forward-thinking and cohesive town and the expectation is a wonderful town elementary school. Any given day, as you enter the school, the parent involvement is impressive (at times overwhelming bordering on irritating) and welcoming but it bolsters this school far too much giving a false-sense of quality and belonging. Contingents of parents exist that are chronically inside the classrooms 'volunteer teaching' every day of the week without degrees only to turn around and discuss other children's issues with other parents. I think having parental involvement is wonderful but this set-up presents privacy issues there should be more appropriate ways to engage parents and it shouldn't replace teaching. Leadership here espouses an 'us against them' mentality pitting teachers/staff against parents in the face of issues that could be resolved with simple and professional communications. Students are treated like prisoners in the cafeteria and lunch is overseen by cafeteria staff untrained in childhood development; children being yelled at (including by the principal) for simply talking in this overcrowded lunch space and not permitted to use the restroom in a timely manner resulting in children who are too old to be having accidents, wetting their pants. Conversation over a meal is a basic human instinct and a wonderful way to build community and friendships; disallowing conversations between classmates and friends is more damaging than DES realizes. Testing here (even in k-2) is the priority, teachers fail to discuss the whole-child, which misses the mark big time and doesn't prepare our children for success outside of school in social situations (and we wonder why the next generation is turning out social failures at a higher rate than boomer generation). Recesses, in some cases, are scheduled at the very end of the day (probably due to overcrowding) and sometimes is revoked if the class is 'unruly' which I find grossly counterproductive for young minds. Each week, I am saddened to learn of another parent who is dissatisfied with the way things are being run here and deciding to explore other options. Davidson deserves a better elementary school and real-deal leadership. Unfortunately, a split from the CMS machine doesn't sound possible so do your homework before enrolling and attempt to really understand what you are committing to.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2015

I have had 3 kids go all the way through CMS from DES to DIB (now gone) to North and Hough. There are no such thing as perfect schools, and to those of you looking, good luck. I have found happiness and success working with my kids teachers and the school administration. There have been weak spots, but they were always addressed when appropriately discussed.My only issue with CMS has to do with the NC legislature that ties the hands of our schools and does not respect/pay our teachers well. They cut funds, return a portion and claim to be "in support of public education.To focus on the schools, however, I would like to say thank you to the great staff of DES. I will particularly call out Ms. Walker, Mr Underhill, Ms. Underhill, Ms. Ford (gone), Mr Smith and Mr. Rabb. Please know you have been instrumental in the lives of my kids. I will continue to fight for you and public education in NC. You are all amazing.The custodial staff and cafeteria workers and all support staff are special as well. Thank you.
Submitted by parent on May 19, 2015

Entirely too focused on testing, to the point that teachers and administrators can focus on nothing else. An extremely mixed bag of teachers and extremely poor leadership. It's a shame that a school with such potential is not coming close to meeting it.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2015

Very disappointing sums it up. We had a great year in 1st grade so we were hopeful for 2nd grade. Everything is about the test score here, which I know is the standard for most schools. I agree with previous posts, something needs to be done about the disruptive kids in the classroom that make the learning environment a negative one for those that actually listen to the teacher. The teacher can't do anything about it, although I could tell she wanted to. That is not the learning environment I want for my kids. I took my boys out of DES before the holidays and are happy at a charter. I wanted to give 1 star, but since 1st grade we had a wonderful class with an amazing teacher I gave 2.
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2014

We moved to this school after many issues at another school. The teachers and students welcomed my children. The teachers go beyond the classroom often meeting outside hours and also just checking in on a child. The school promotes diversity. The school is also great at providing unique opportunities: science lab, stability balls instead if chairs, art shows, clubs with experts, a daily running fitness program, etc. the PTO is also a breath of fresh air, no selling magazines or candy here. It is a community, where parents, teachers, and community members serve the children.
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2014

Very mixed calibre of teachers coupled with poor leadership; disappointing result for what should be a great school in a great town!
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2014

The families, Davidson College student volunteers and community make DES better than the average CMS school. We have 2 children here and have had a pretty good experience. Most of the teachers are wonderful but a few seem to hate their job and it shows through to the kids. One particular teacher does not have the patience required to be teaching young children and has a reputation of screaming at the kids. It's unfortunate that the administration allows this to continue. This school has a long-standing reputation for being one of the better elementary schools in the CMS system but I fear the current leadership isn't strong enough to sustain the quality.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2014

DES is a great school but is unfortunately burdened by ridiculous state and county bureaucratic requirements. Unfortunately the name of the game for public schools is testing and that is the focus of DES as well. The principal does a great job and does what he can to make necessary changes, but at the end of the day he is still subject to the confines of a dysfunctional state political system that keeps dropping in the national rankings. The majority of teachers are caring, motivated and communicate well with the parents. The parental involvement is fantastic.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2014

This school is incredible. I have two daughters that have attended and currently attending this school. One is in middle school and the other is in 4th grade. We have had nothing but positive results from this school. Good grades, teachers with a passion, and an excellent learning environment are SOME things this school offers. A good special needs program is at place, and they even have it set up so that some fifth graders can volunteer to do activities with kids that have autism. They also have clubs that inspire such as clubs of community service, art, computer skills, yearbook, chess, Spanish, and more!
Submitted by parent on June 20, 2013

We had one good out of three. Equally, one good teacher out of three. The first 2 years my son was at this school it took staff 2-3 days to respond to emails. I never got feedback on my son's performance until we got his report and noticed A's dropping to B's. The teachers for the most part are very clique-ish. They show obvious preferential treatment to the children whose parents are class parents or are on the PTO. Girls are treated better and boys are treated as nuisances because they are more active. The only time my son thrived at this snobbish school was when he had a male teacher. I was given the impression that academically this school was like a private school - wrong. We had an entire year of one teacher incorrectly grading homework and passing out misspelled assignments in between making the kids write love letters to Obama during the election year.
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2013

By the great schools rating requirements, DES falls short. They have a mixed bag of teachers, the principal is inaccessible which shows a lack of committment/leadership (or a sens of entitlement which is worse?!?), and the academic programs are not particularly challenging. These statements are supported by the sheer number of parents who are waiting on the lottery results so that they can ultimately enroll their kids elsewhere. The waiting list for a local charter school(s) are extremely long...everyone seemingly wants out of the CMS system. One troubling attribute of this school is that no one seems to be able to address poor & disruptive behavior in the classroom. Seemingly, they allow a few kids to disrupt entire classrooms, this should not be the case. We bought our house in the school zone based solely on the school ratings....unfortunately, our experience has not been good. My advice is to try like crazy to get in a charter school.
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2013

The means in which teachers meet the needs of all students is commendable. The parental involvement in this idyllic town is amazing. A strong sense of community is felt throughout the school and town. One of the greatest things we can give our children is a sense of self and belonging...it can be found at DES.
Submitted by parent on December 16, 2012

We are happy with this school. We just shifted our son from North West since last 1 month and found it is better than his previous school. As of now we have no issue. My son is enjoying. Parents are greatly involved in the school.
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2012

After 3 months, we have decided to remove our child from DES. The curriculum is a year (or more) behind what our children had in their previous school (northeastern US). I have found that meeting with the teachers and administrator has resulted in questions about my parenting. The feeling is that you should be happy that there is some learning taking place. Ditto sheets, busy work and crowded classrooms with little communication is the norm. Socially, my child has friends and enjoys school but academically, this place is subpar. I feel it's important to recognize that although Davidson Elem seems to be a small town school with a child-centered educational program, it is not. Davidson is one of 200+ schools in the CMS district. Parents wistfully talk of one day getting into a charter school or biting the bullet and paying for private. It is important if you are considering schools as a newcomer to North Carolina that CMS is a factory and their schools reflect that.