Last verified: October 2026
Can a family moving to Charlotte get the Opportunity Scholarship?
Yes. Relocating families may apply if they are physically living in North Carolina when the student enrolls, and residency documents must be in by October 1 for the fall.
NCSEAA accepts proof such as a North Carolina driver's license or ID, voter registration, a state tax filing, or a current utility bill or bank statement showing a North Carolina address.
How do I choose an area?
Our eleven area pages, from Uptown to Gastonia and Waxhaw, list every school in the federal survey and the 2026-27 Direct Payment list.
The table below counts schools and Direct Payment schools in each area, so you can see where options are dense, like the Providence Road corridor, and where they are thinner.
What if we arrive mid-year?
For 2026-27, the late window for new Opportunity Scholarship students closed August 14, 2026, and ESA+ was not taking new applications. Plan for the 2027-28 priority window, which by law opens by February 1, 2027.
Meanwhile, school-based aid and, for a 4-year-old in Mecklenburg, MECK Pre-K are open to newcomers right away.
How many schools are in each part of the Charlotte region?
| Area | Schools | On the 2026-27 list | Students (federal survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uptown, South End, Dilworth & Myers Park | 10 | 8 | 2,239 |
| SouthPark, Cotswold & the Providence Road corridor | 14 | 10 | 7,951 |
| Ballantyne, Blakeney & Pineville | 11 | 6 | 2,782 |
| East Charlotte, Plaza Midwood & the Albemarle Road corridor | 10 | 8 | 1,850 |
| North Charlotte & University City | 9 | 6 | 807 |
| West Charlotte & Steele Creek | 6 | 3 | 526 |
| Matthews, Mint Hill & Stallings | 13 | 11 | 2,620 |
| Huntersville, Cornelius & Davidson | 16 | 11 | 2,684 |
| Monroe, Indian Trail, Waxhaw & Weddington | 20 | 19 | 2,703 |
| Concord, Kannapolis & Harrisburg | 19 | 17 | 2,159 |
| Gastonia, Belmont & the Gaston County towns | 14 | 13 | 2,389 |
Residency for the scholarship vs Not required
| Residency for the scholarship | Not required |
|---|---|
| Living in NC when the student enrolls | A year of prior NC residency |
| Documents accepted by October 1 (fall) | Prior NC public school enrollment |