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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Location
4421 Stuart Andrew Blvd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28217
City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
District information
EstablishedJanuary 1, 1960; 64 years ago (1960-01-01)
SuperintendentCrystal Hill
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
Schools184 [1]
Budget$1.612 billion
NCES District ID3702970
Students and staff
Students148,299
Teachers9000+
Student–teacher ratio15.31
Other information
Websitewww.cmsk12.org

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (abbreviated CMS) is a local education agency headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and is the public school system for Mecklenburg County. With over 147,000 students enrolled, it is the second-largest school district in North Carolina and the eighteenth-largest in the nation.[2] The system is best known nationally for its role as the respondent in the landmark 1971 Supreme Court decision Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

History

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In 1974, the school assignment plan was updated to include 4 “other schools” these schools were the predecessors of magnet schools. In March 1992, a school assignment plan was developed that included magnet schools.[3] In 2016 the nine board members all voted to create a magnet school program in which different socioeconomic groups would be integrated.[4]

Graduations

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The 2024 district-wide graduation rate is 84.4% and has declined 3.9 percentage points since 2015. The state’s is 87.0% and has increased 1.4 percentage points since 2015.  The symptoms of the district’s decline are four high schools that hold the state’s #1, #2, #3, and #4 worst graduation rates for traditional public schools with greater than 1000 students.  No other North Carolina school district has more than one on the list.

Governance

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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, or school board, consists of 9 members—3 at-large and 6 from districts. Before 1995, the board had been elected entirely on an at-large basis, but this was changed after it was discovered nearly all of the board members lived in the eastern part of the county. Members serve staggered four-year terms; the at-large members are elected in the year before presidential elections and the district members are elected in the year after presidential elections. Although school board elections are nonpartisan, the district members are elected from the same districts as the county commissioners.[5]

List of superintendents

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The following individuals have served as superintendents of CMS and its preceding agencies.[6]

Superintendent of Charlotte City Schools

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  • T.J. Mitchell (1882–1886)
  • John T. Corlew (1886–1888)
  • Dr. Alexander Graham (1888–1913)
  • Dr. Harry Harding (1913–1949)
  • Dr. Elmer Garinger (1949–1960)

Superintendent of Mecklenburg County Schools

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  • James W. Wilson (1944–1960)

Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

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  • Dr. Elmer Garinger (1960–1962)
  • Dr. A. Craig Phillips (1962–1967)
  • Dr. William C. Self (1967–1973)
  • Dr. Roland W. Jones (1973–1977)
  • Dr. Jay M. Robinson (1977–1987)
  • Dr. Peter Relic (1987–1991)
  • Dr. John Murphy (1991–1996)
  • Dr. Eric Smith (1996–2002)
  • Dr. James L. Pughsley (2002–2005)
    • Dr. Frances Haithcock (2005–2006, interim)
  • Dr. Peter Gorman (2006–2011)
    • Hugh Hattabaugh (2011–2012, interim)
  • Dr. Heath Morrison (2012–2014)
  • Ann Blakeney Clark (2014–2017)
  • Dr. Clayton Wilcox (2017–2019)
  • Earnest Winston (August 2019–April 2022) [7]
    • Hugh Hattabaugh (April–December 2022, interim)
    • Dr. Crystal Hill (December 2022–May 2023, interim)
  • Dr. Crystal Hill (May 2023–present)

High schools

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CMS operates 21 high schools. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools also operates the 3 largest high schools in the state of North Carolina; Myers Park High School has 3,539, Ardrey Kell High School has 3,494, and South Mecklenburg High School has 3,259 students.

University City, Huntersville and North Charlotte

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Mint Hill, Matthews, and East Charlotte

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Pineville, Ballantyne, Providence, and South Charlotte

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West Charlotte

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Uptown Charlotte

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Middle schools

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Elementary schools

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The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is offered at many schools.

  • Albemarle Road Elementary School
  • Allenbrook Elementary School
  • Ashley Park Elementary School (pre k-8)
  • Bain Elementary School
  • Ballantyne Elementary School
  • Berryhill Elementary School
  • Barnette Elementary School
  • Berewick Elementary School
  • Beverly Woods Elementary School
  • Billingsville/Cotswold Elementary School
  • Blythe Elementary School
  • Briarwood Elementary School
  • Bruns Avenue Elementary School
  • Chantilly Montessori Elementary School
  • Charles H. Parker Academic Center
  • Charlotte East Language Academy (k-8)
  • Clear Creek Elementary School
  • Collinswood Language Academy
  • Cornelius Elementary School
  • Croft Community School
  • Crown Point Elementary School
  • David Cox Road Elementary School
  • Davidson Elementary School
  • Devonshire Elementary School
  • Dilworth Elementary School
  • Druid Hills Academy (pre-k to 8)
  • Eastover Elementary School
  • Elizabeth Lane Elementary School
  • Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School
  • Elon Park Elementary School
  • Endhaven Elementary School
  • Esperanza Global Academy
  • First Ward Creative Arts Academy
  • Governors' Village STEM Academy-Lower campus grade Pre-K to 4 and Upper Campus grade 5-8
  • Grand Oak Elementary School
  • Greenway Park Elementary School
  • Joseph W. Grier Academy
  • Grove Park Elementary School
  • Hawk Ridge Elementary School
  • Hickory Grove Elementary School
  • Hidden Valley Elementary School
  • First Ward Elementary School
  • Highland Creek Elementary School
  • Highland Mill Montessori Elementary School
  • Highland Creek Elementary School
  • Hidden Valley Elementary School
  • Highland Renaissance Elementary School
  • Hornets Nest Elementary School
  • Huntersville Elementary School
  • Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School
  • Idlewild Elementary School
  • Irwin Academic Center
  • J. H. Gunn Elementary School
  • J. V. Washam Elementary School
  • Joseph W. Grier Elementary School
  • Knights View Elementary School
  • Lake Wylie Elementary School
  • Lansdowne Elementary School
  • Lebanon Road Elementary School
  • Lincoln Heights Elementary School
  • Long Creek Elementary School
  • Mallard Creek Elementary School
  • Matthews Elementary School
  • McAlpine Elementary School
  • McKee Road Elementary School
  • Merry Oaks Elementary School
  • Mint Hill Elementary School
  • Montclaire Elementary School
  • Mountain Island Lake Academy
  • Myers Park Traditional Elementary School
  • Nations Ford Elementary School
  • Newell Elementary School
  • North Academy of World Languages (k-8)
  • Oakdale Elementary School
  • Oakhurst Elementary School
  • Oaklawn Language Academy
  • Olde Providence Elementary School
  • Lawrence Orr Elementary School
  • Palisades Park Elementary
  • Parkside Elementary School
  • Paw Creek Elementary School
  • Pawtuckett Elementary School
  • Pineville Elementary School
  • Pinewood Elementary School
  • Piney Grove Elementary School
  • Polo Ridge Elementary School
  • Plaza Road Pre-K School
  • Providence Spring Elementary School
  • Rama Road Elementary School
  • Rea Farms STEAM Academy
  • Reedy Creek Elementary School
  • Reid Park Elementary School
  • Renaissance West STEAM Academy (Pre-k to 8)
  • River Gate Elementary School
  • River Oaks Academy
  • Sedgefield Elementary School
  • Selwyn Elementary School
  • Shamrock Gardens Elementary School
  • Sharon Elementary School
  • Smithfield Elementary School
  • South Academy of International Languages
  • South Pine Academy
  • Starmount Academy of Excellence
  • Statesville Road Elementary School
  • Steele Creek Elementary School
  • Sterling Elementary School
  • Stoney Creek Elementary School
  • Thomasboro Elementary School
  • Torrence Creek Elementary School
  • Tuckaseegee Elementary School
  • University Meadows Elementary School
  • University Park Elementary School
  • Dorothy J. Vaughan Academy of Technology
  • Villa Heights Elementary School
  • J.V. Washam Elementary School
  • Walter G. Byers Elementary School
  • Westerly Hills Elementary School
  • Winding Springs Elementary School
  • Windsor Park Elementary School
  • Winget Park Elementary School
  • Winterfield Elementary School
Further information: List of schools in Charlotte, North Carolina

Alternative Schools

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  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Academy
  • Metro School
  • Turning Point Academy
  • Turning Point Academy Middle School

Achievements

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Several CMS high schools have been recognized by Newsweek as being among the 100 best high schools in the United States, a statistic based on the number of advanced classes that are offered to students.[8]

During the 2006–2007 school year CMS students received $43.5 million in academic merit-based financial aid from universities and other organizations, and $12.1 million in athletic scholarships.[9]

Criticisms

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Judge Howard Manning

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In May 2005, Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning Jr. issued a ruling in which he accused CMS of "academic genocide" against at-risk, low-income students in low-scoring high schools.[10] Since the debut of its new student assignment plan in 2002, and the end of its court-ordered busing program, CMS has seen an increase in concentrations of poverty, with schools that have student-poverty rates of at least 75 percent at twice the number they were before.[11] In the same year, Judge Manning also threatened to close 4 of the lowest performing high schools, Garinger, Waddell, West Charlotte and West Mecklenburg. Many teachers and parents felt he had gone too far, and, in the end, this never occurred as the 4 high schools presented turnaround plans and their principals were deemed capable of carrying them out. The high schools are now included in a special Achievement Zone.[12]

2005 and 2007 bond packages

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56% of voters rejected a $427 million bond package in 2005 to improve facilities and build new schools for the first time in a decade. Dissenters cited spats between members of the school board and other well-publicized events that year hurting their confidence in the district's ability to spend money effectively.[13] A$516 million bond package was backed by 68% of voters in November 2007.[14]

Decentralization

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Calls for decentralization mounted in 2005 as dissatisfaction with CMS grew, with some wanting CMS broken up into smaller school systems.[15] One notable incarnation of this movement was called DUMP (Don't Underestimate Mecklenburg Parents) CMS. This effort abated when the Board of Education requested and newly hired Superintendent Peter Gorman outlined a plan for decentralization, with the stated goal of putting resources and administration closer to parents and other members of the public. Regional offices known as "learning communities", each with an area superintendent, were implemented in the 2007–2008 school year.[16]

Handling of sexual assault allegations

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Multiple students and their families have alleged reporting sexual assaults has led to dismissive responses and retributive action from CMS administrators.[17][18] The allegations span from 2014 through 2021.

A widely covered allegation is in regards to a female student who was sexually harassed from seventh grade in 2014 onward, escalating to sexual assault in her freshman year in 2016. All of the alleged harassment and the assault occurred on various CMS campuses.[19] Mark Bosco, the principal at Myers Park High School where the alleged sexual assault took place, was suspended with pay and later reassigned to an administrative position within the school district; this move was widely reported and criticized by students and their families.[20][21][22] As of June 2022, a lawsuit is currently in progress regarding CMS' handling of sexual assault allegations.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "About Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools".
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "MAGNET SCHOOLS IN CMS" (PDF). cms.k12.nc.us. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  4. ^ Kahlenberg, Richard D. (6 April 2017). "The New Champions of School Integration". The Atlantic. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  5. ^ Board of Education Archived 26 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
  6. ^ "History of CMS". Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  7. ^ "CMS names Earnest Winston permanent superintendent | Charlotte Observer". Archived from the original on 2 August 2019.
  8. ^ Lyttle, Steve. (2007, 3 June). 13 high schools on best-of list. The Charlotte Observer.
  9. ^ "Facts Facts on CMS" (PDF). Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2007.
  10. ^ Helms, Ann. (2005, 24 May). Judge accuses CMS of 'academic genocide'. The Charlotte Observer.
  11. ^ Smolowitz, Peter and Helms, Ann. (2007, 22 July). Now, his next chapter. The Charlotte Observer.
  12. ^ Helms, Ann. (2006, 19 August). Threat to close schools lifted. The Charlotte Observer.
  13. ^ Smolowitz, Peter and Helms, Ann. (2006, 29 July). Board works on avoiding squabbles. The Charlotte Observer.
  14. ^ Smolowitz, Peter and Helms, Ann. (2007, 7 November). Only 2 of 195 precincts oppose bonds for CMS. The Charlotte Observer.
  15. ^ Helms, Ann and Smolowitz, Peter. (2005, 21 August). Poll finds support for shake-up. The Charlotte Observer.
  16. ^ Decentralization Archived 24 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
  17. ^ a b Ablon, Matthew (8 June 2022). "Former Myers Park student sues CMS over handling of sex assault allegations". KHOU*11. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  18. ^ Ochsner, Nick (2 November 2021). "A CMS student reported being sexually assaulted. Then she was suspended". WBTV On Your Side. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  19. ^ Della Costa, Anna Maria (9 July 2021). "Federal Title IX investigation reveals issues with CMS response to sexual assault reports". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  20. ^ Lee, Hank (13 October 2021). "Myers Park principal reassigned after claims of sex assault cover-ups". KHOU*11. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  21. ^ WSOCTV.com News Staff (14 October 2021). "Suspended Myers Park HS principal to take on different role within CMS". WSOC-TV 9. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  22. ^ VICE News (24 June 2022). "These Students Say Their School District Ignored Rape Allegations #shorts - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
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