Hello-
I'm not sure about how to find out the crime statistics - hopefully a google search will help you. As far as schools are concerned, Shamrock Gardens is our neighborhood school and is in the middle of a wonderful parent / neighborhood resurgence. Check out some other posts regarding the school in this forum. Also, NoDa has Highland Mill Montessori School, a magnet school (you enter a lottery to attend) which is considered one of the best schools in Charlotte. The CMS system / magnet program can be very, very confusing. I'd recommend visiting all of the area schools around your home, the magnet office off of Marsh Road, and researching as much as possible to find what will work for you and your family. Plaza Presbyterian pre-school on the Plaza and Mecklenburg is loaded with neighborhood families - that would be a great place to start meeting local moms and dads and figuring out your path through the school system.
Good Luck!