North Carolina has traditionally encouraged consolidation of public systems so that many counties have a single school system. While many systems have consolidated, some remain fiercely independent, such as Mooresville Graded School District in southern Iredell County.
The largest public school system in the Carolinas is Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). This system was ranked 23rd largest in the nation in 2002-2003, with over 112,000 students enrolled in 145 schools.
The issue of pupil assignment is a large one in the CMS system. From the early 1970s to spring 2002, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools operated under a federal court desegregation order that placed emphasis on assigning pupils to schools to achieve a balanced racial mix. That court order has now ended and Charlotte-Mecklenburg has launched a new assignment plan that offers a K-12 feeder system, choice opportunities, stability, guaranteed school assignment, and diversity through choice by letting parents decide which school is right for their child. For complete details on the current assignment plan, check the CMS website.
CMS will continue to provide top-rated educational opportunities, such as The Bright Beginnings program. This program offers a literacy-rich curriculum to 3,000 four-year-olds who might otherwise start kindergarten already behind other students. Only a few years old, the program has already proven its worth by preparing students to be on par with or ahead of their peers as they begin elementary school.
CMS features an innovative magnet school program that provides opportunities for students to pursue specific interests in their education. Fourteen magnet programs in 51 schools (see list) focus on such subjects as foreign language immersion; finance and banking; communication arts; math, science and technology; visual and performing arts; and global studies.
The CMS system is rightly proud of its steadily improving performance in such areas as Advanced Placement enrollment and results, International Baccalaureate, and end-of-grade tests. In 200 1-2002, the top 10k of CMS graduates outperformed their peers statewide and nationally, scoring 1208 on the SAT, compared to 1182 for the top 10k in North Carolina and 1192 for the top 10% in the U.S.
CMS participates in the state's ABCs of Public Education Accountability Program, which establishes standards for performance and improvement for every public school and then assesses the school using results on end-of-grade tests. In the first year that all CMS high schools were included in the ABCs, 12 of 14 achieved Exemplary Growth. Check the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's website at www.dpi.statc.nc.us for details on the ABCs at the schools you're considering.
A common theme among all Charlotte-region schools is growth. The tremendous increase in population is causing a surge in school enrollment, often putting classroom space, money, and resources at a premium. Throughout this area, public and private schools are studying projections for growth and considering options to meet the demand for school services. As you check out the schools you're considering, you'll certainly see plenty of new construction and expansion projects under way, as well as plenty of modular units (mobile classrooms).
The Charlotte region also has a wealth of independent secular and religious private schools. Some large, well-established schools have huge campuses; others are small and new. There's even a parochial school system, Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools, which encompasses the county's seven parochial schools (hut not the Catholic schools in Gastonia and Rock Hill). You'll find a range of educational offerings, including innovative programs, special classes for students with learning disabilities, religious training, and character-building. Because each private school has its own distinct philosophy and approach to learning, you'll want to research schools, talk to parents, and take a tour.
Charter schools are another education option in the Charlotte region. Charter schools, which originated in Minnesota in the early l990s, are independently operated public schools designed to serve as laboratories for innovation in education. Created and run by parents, teachers and/or community leaders, charter schools receive the same per-pupil funding as other public schools. However, they can spend the money and operate with fewer restrictions and government rules.
The N.C. Board of Education must approve charter schools before they can begin operation. In addition, these schools must undergo periodic reviews to determine that they're meeting regulations and standards. There are seven charter schools in Mecklenhurg County, two in Gaston County, three in Iredell County, two in Lincoln County and one in Union County
