Last verified: October 2026
Which Charlotte-area Christian schools receive the most scholarship money?
Hickory Grove Christian School ($4,013,510) and Carmel Christian School ($3,993,807) led Mecklenburg in Opportunity Scholarship funding in 2025-26, and Metrolina Christian Academy in Indian Trail ranked second statewide ($5,879,581), according to NCSEAA data reported by Axios Charlotte.
Will the scholarship cover a small church school?
It can cover most of it. A Tier 1 award of up to $7,942 or a Tier 2 award of up to $7,148 goes a long way at a small congregation school, so ask each school for its net figure after the award.
Remember the cap: the award never exceeds required tuition and fees. If a school charges less than your tier maximum, the award equals the bill and nothing is left over.
What else do Christian schools offer?
Ask about church-member pricing, sibling discounts, sponsorship funds, and if the school is one of the participating Edu Fund partner schools.
How many Christian schools are there in each county?
Christian schools in our directory, from the federal survey plus Direct Payment schools whose names identify them as Christian.
| County | Christian schools | On the 2026-27 list |
|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg | 30 | 24 |
| Union | 16 | 15 |
| Cabarrus | 13 | 12 |
| Gaston | 8 | 7 |
Which are the largest?
| School | City | Affiliation | Students | Direct Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Christian School | Charlotte | Non-denominational Christian | 1,239 | Yes |
| Metrolina Christian Academy | Indian Trail | Baptist | 1,200 | Yes |
| Carmel Christian School | Matthews | Baptist | 1,144 | Yes |
| Covenant Day School | Matthews | Presbyterian | 1,029 | Yes |
| Concord Academy | Concord | Assembly of God | 769 | Yes |
| Hickory Grove Christian School | Charlotte | Baptist | 742 | Yes |
| Southlake Christian Academy | Huntersville | Presbyterian | 611 | Yes |
| Trinity Episcopal School | Charlotte | Episcopal | 437 | Yes |
Large K-12 Christian campus vs Small church-run academy
| Large K-12 Christian campus | Small church-run academy |
|---|---|
| Award covers part of tuition; aid fills more | Award may cover most of tuition |
| Athletics, AP and wider programs | Smaller classes, often multi-grade |