School Overview
Waddell Language Academy, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a unique magnet school within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) system that specializes in world language immersion and global studies. The school is highly regarded for its rigorous academic environment, which emphasizes second-language acquisition alongside a standard core curriculum. By fostering a multicultural learning community, the academy aims to prepare students to be competitive, globally-minded citizens capable of navigating an increasingly interconnected world.

The school offers programs that cater to students across a wide grade range, providing continuous language development from elementary through middle school levels. Instruction is often delivered through a partial-immersion model, allowing students to achieve high levels of proficiency in languages such as Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and Japanese. With its focus on linguistic fluency and cultural competency, Waddell Language Academy serves as a distinct educational choice for families seeking to provide their children with a specialized, language-focused foundation for future academic and professional success.
1,223
Total Students
77.7
Full-Time Teachers
15.7
Student/Teacher Ratio
35.1%
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for South Academy of International Languages
Demographic Student Count
White430
Hispanic372
Black254
Asian75
Two or More92
  • White
    430 (35.2 %)
  • Hispanic
    372 (30.4 %)
  • Black
    254 (20.8 %)
  • Two or More
    92 (7.5 %)
  • Asian
    75 (6.1 %)
School Location
School Details
Status: Open
School Level: Elementary School
School Type: Regular School
Charter Status:* Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction: No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status: No
District: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Phone: (980)343-5815
Website: http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/sailMS/Pages/Default.aspx
Grade Range: K - 8th
Total Students: 1,223
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 77.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 15.7
NSLP Participation:1 Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch: 402
Qualified Reduced Lunch: 27
Grades Taught
Kindergarten 141
Grade 1 141
Grade 2 129
Grade 3 126
Grade 4 135
Grade 5 108
Grade 6 159
Grade 7 143
Grade 8 141

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for South Academy of International Languages
Grade Student Count
Kindergarten141
Grade 1141
Grade 2129
Grade 3126
Grade 4135
Grade 5108
Grade 6159
Grade 7143
Grade 8141
Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for South Academy of International Languages
Gender Student Count Percentage
Female65153.2%
Male57246.8%
Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)