What grades does Cannon School serve?
Cannon School serves grades JK–12 within Independent. Grade configurations and programs are published by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Independent
Cannon School
An independent school north of the city in Concord.
Type
Independent
Grades
JK–12
District
Independent
Area
Plaza Midwood orbit
About Cannon School
Included for completeness; the commute is significant from Plaza Midwood.
The Poplar Tent Road campus in Concord
Cannon School publishes its address as 5801 Poplar Tent Road in Concord. Relative to Plaza Midwood, it is a northeastern regional school option outside Charlotte’s immediate in-town school geography. Poplar Tent Road is the verified destination road, and Concord is the municipality to retain when searching for directions. This school must not be confused with Charlotte Country Day’s Cannon Campus on Carmel Road; the similar wording refers to different institutions and very different destinations. Ask Cannon School for the visitor entrance and the location of the relevant division before a campus appointment. For a Plaza Midwood family, assess the actual Concord destination rather than relying on a generic north Charlotte label. The published address does not establish a commute duration, a bus route serving the neighborhood, or a transportation entitlement. Those practical questions should be answered before treating a possible admission as a workable daily plan. Sources: [1](https://www.cannonschool.org/admission/application-procedures), [2](https://www.charlottecountryday.org/admissions/our-campuses).
Independent college preparation with making and design opportunities
Cannon’s application page describes an accredited, coeducational, independent school serving junior kindergarten through twelfth grade in a college-preparatory environment. Its admissions overview gives concrete examples of learning spaces and activities, including a makerspace used for fabrication, digital design, and audio/video production, along with an audio lab connected to sound engineering and music production. These examples show how technology and the arts can enter the school experience, but they do not establish a required technical pathway for every student or access to every facility at every age. Ask the entering division for its curriculum guide and examples of how students use these spaces within courses. The school also emphasizes character development and core values in its admissions description. A useful visit would connect those broad goals with actual classroom expectations, student support, and opportunities that are available to the child’s grade rather than with campus facilities alone. Sources: [1](https://www.cannonschool.org/admission/application-procedures), [3](https://www.cannonschool.org/admission).
A completed applicant file precedes committee review
Cannon’s published procedure explains that an applicant receives a customized checklist after the initial application is processed. Depending on the applicant, the checklist may involve school records, recommendations, evaluations, a visit, a questionnaire, a writing sample, or a meeting. The page says the admission committee reviews the file when the application process is complete, and describes decisions in terms of readiness for a challenging, supportive college-preparatory environment. Confirm the current cycle’s deadlines and space availability directly, especially if applying after the main round. Ask which requirements apply to the entering grade instead of assembling every item on the general list. For school comparison, request current academic documentation and school-published outcome definitions rather than looking for a CMS assignment or a public-school report-card grade. Cannon’s FAQ includes transportation and academic-support topics; use those questions to request family-specific answers without assuming a particular Plaza Midwood service exists. Sources: [1](https://www.cannonschool.org/admission/application-procedures), [4](https://www.cannonschool.org/admission/admission-faqs).
How families here decide
Plaza Midwood families typically evaluate the assigned home school alongside magnet lottery options and independent schools, and many combine them across grade levels. Visit during a school day, speak with currently enrolled families, and read growth data alongside proficiency rather than relying on a single aggregate rating.
Where the official data lives
Enrollment, grade configuration, and program offerings for Cannon School are published by Independent. Statewide accountability results — proficiency, growth, graduation where applicable, and the school performance grade — are published annually in the North Carolina School Report Cards maintained by the Department of Public Instruction. Federal enrollment and demographic counts appear in the National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data. Those three sources, read together, are more reliable than any single aggregate score.
Transport and the daily routine
Most of Plaza Midwood is close enough to its assigned schools that morning routines are short, but bus eligibility is set by distance and hazard criteria published by Independent rather than by neighborhood boundaries. Magnet placement generally shifts transportation responsibility toward the family. Corridor traffic on Central Avenue and The Plaza peaks against the school schedule, which is worth a trial run before committing to a specific address.
Verify before you buy
School assignment is one of the few housing variables that can change without any change to the house. If assignment matters to your decision, confirm it for the exact address at the time you are deciding, and check whether boundary review is underway for that area.
Around the school
Closest parks to Cannon School
Straight-line approximations from published locations, for orientation only.
Recreation center
Eastway Park & Regional Recreation Center
An indoor recreation facility on the neighborhood's eastern shoulder.
about 15.1 mi — a short drive
Neighborhood park
Shamrock Park
A small park serving the Plaza Shamrock district north of the core.
about 15.5 mi — a short drive
Neighborhood park
Cordelia Park
A large park northwest of the neighborhood serving Villa Heights and Optimist Park.
about 16.0 mi — a short drive
Nearby
Places families use around drop-off
Restaurant · $$
Soul Gastrolounge
The small-plates and sushi restaurant that began in Plaza Midwood, now in NoDa.
about 14.8 mi — a short drive
Restaurant · $$
Haberdish
Southern mill-town cooking and cocktails at 3106 North Davidson Street in NoDa.
about 15.1 mi — a short drive
Restaurant · $$
Cabo Fish Taco
The original Cabo Fish Taco at 3201 North Davidson Street, known for seafood tacos.
about 15.1 mi — a short drive
Coffee · $
Smelly Cat Coffeehouse
A coffeehouse and roastery at 514 East 36th Street in NoDa.
about 15.1 mi — a short drive
Bar · $$
Growlers Pourhouse
A craft-beer pub with oysters, burgers, and sandwiches at 3120 North Davidson Street.
about 15.2 mi — a short drive
Bakery · $
Amélie's French Bakery
The NoDa location of Amélie's French Bakery at 136 East 36th Street.
about 15.3 mi — a short drive
Compare
Other independent options
TK–12
Charlotte Country Day School
A large independent day school in south Charlotte.
Independent
TK–12
Charlotte Latin School
An independent college-preparatory school southeast of the city.
Independent
K–8
Trinity Episcopal School
An independent K–8 school in Uptown, a short drive from the neighborhood.
Independent
Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Is Cannon School the assigned school for Plaza Midwood?
Assignment is set by address and can differ block to block, and boundaries are reviewed periodically. Confirm the current assignment for a specific address with the CMS school locator.
How does Cannon School perform?
Official performance, growth, and accountability data for every North Carolina public school is published in the NC School Report Cards rather than by private sites.
Sources & verification
Figures and descriptions on this page are compiled from the public sources listed above and reviewed periodically. Conditions change; verify anything you plan to rely on with the responsible authority before acting.
Publisher-associated businesses
Related Peters businesses
These businesses are associated with this guide's publisher, Nicholas and Miriam Peters — not independent recommendations. The full list is in the Business Services menu.
Custom builder & renovator
Peters Custom Homes
Infill construction, whole-house renovation, and additions on Charlotte's historic in-town lots.
Real estate advisory
Peters & Associates
Buyer and seller representation across Plaza Midwood, Charlotte, and the Carolinas.
Interior design
Emerald & Oak
Interior architecture and furnishings for historic and newly built Charlotte homes.
Smart home & AV integration
Peters Audio Video
Networking, lighting control, media, and security systems designed for older houses.
Related
Continue through the guide
Plaza Midwood Schools
CMS assignment, magnets, and the independent options nearby.
Moving to Charlotte
Relocation logistics, taxes, employers, and where to land in-town.
Homes for Sale in Plaza Midwood
Price bands, inventory reality, and how the 28205 market actually trades.
Plaza Midwood Sub-Neighborhoods
Chantilly, Commonwealth Park, Midwood, Oakhurst and the pockets between them.