Education
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is the 2nd-largest public school system in the state and the 20th-largest in the  nation. There are 161 elementary, middle and high schools in the city and a host of private schools, many of them secular and parochial. There are also many charter schools available.
 As for higher education, Charlotte  is probably most known for the University of Charlotte North Carolina in University City in the northeastern section. There are many other colleges and universities available to choose from, however. The largest community college in the Carolinas, Central Piedmont Community College, has several campuses in the Charlotte metro area. Students interested in private education have plenty of options, including Johnson & Wales University, Johnson C. Smith University, Belmont Abbey College, Queens University of Charlotte, and a campus of Pfeiffer University. Additionally, Davidson College is a 20-mile drive from Charlotte.

Recreation

Charlotte has several museums, parks and venues at which to spend free time. Additionally, there are a variety of nightclubs with different atmospheres in the uptown district.
A very popular recreation in Charlotte and the rest of the Carolinas is golf, and there are many courses and clubs in the city. Locals sometimes refer to Charlotte as "The City of Churches," being Billy Graham's birthplace. The city has more than 700 places of worship, including those belonging to various Christian denominations as well as some belonging to Jews,  Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. Charlotte residents support seven professional sports teams, including the NFL's Carolina Panthers and the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats. There are also various sites of interest in Charlotte including theatres, cultural centers, a botanical garden, and historic areas that all contribute to the proud local culture.