Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
| ''Reach further.'' |
| 'Location' | Charlotte, North Carolina | |
| 'Superintendent' | Dr. Peter C. Gorman | |
| 'Total Enrollment' | 129,011 (2006-07) | |
| 'Budget' | $1.05 billion (2006-07) | |
| 'Website' | www.cms.k12.nc.us | |
'Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' (abbreviated 'CMS') is a local education agency headquartered in
Charlotte, North Carolina. With over 129,000 students enrolled, it is the largest school district in
North Carolina. The system is best known nationally for its role as the respondent in the landmark
1971 Supreme Court decision
''Swann'' v. ''Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools''.
High schools
CMS operates 19
high schools, not including alternative schools or "schools-within-a-school". The following is a list of those high schools, divided by geographical region of Mecklenburg County, along with the year opened and mascot:
University and Northern Mecklenburg
★ Hopewell High School (2001, Titans)
★
Mallard Creek High School (2007, Mavericks)
★
North Mecklenburg High School (1951, Vikings formerly Rebels)
★ Zebulon B. Vance High School, part of the
Governors Village complex (1997, Cougars)
Mint Hill, Matthews, and Eastern Mecklenburg
★ David W. Butler High School (1997, Bulldogs)
★ East Mecklenburg High School (1950, Eagles)
★
Garinger High School (1959, Wildcats)
★
Independence High School (1967, Patriots)
★
Providence High School (1989, Panthers)
Pineville and Southern Mecklenburg
★ Ardrey Kell High School (2006, Knights)
★
Myers Park High School (1951, Mustangs)
★
Olympic High School (1966, Trojans)
★ South Mecklenburg High School (1959, Sabres)
★ E.E. Waddell High School (2001, Raiders)
Western Mecklenburg
★ Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology (2003, Cardinals)
★
Harding University High School (1935, Rams)
★ Northwest School of the Arts (1996, Dragons)
★
West Charlotte High School (1938, Lions)
★ West Mecklenburg High School (1951, Hawks formerly Indians)
Elementary and middle schools
CMS also operates 94
elementary schools and 32
middle schools.
Achievements
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.
[1]
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.
[ Facts Facts on CMS ]
Criticisms
CMS has recently been the target of calls for reform. The motives behind these calls have stemmed from frustration felt around Charlotte with overcrowding in
suburban schools, low performance in
inner-city schools, and a lack of responsiveness by the district as a whole.
In May of 2005, Wake County
Superior Court Judge Howard Manning Jr. famously accused CMS of "academic genocide" against at-risk, low-income students in low-scoring high schools.
[2] 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.
[Smolowitz, Peter and Helms, Ann. (2007, 22 July). Now, his next chapter. The Charlotte Observer.] 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 will also be included in a special Achievement Zone.
[3]
The rejection of a $427 million
bond package to improve facilities and build new schools by 56% of voters in 2005 was seen as a vote of no-confidence in the school district and its ability to spend money effectively, especially so with the school board after a number of well-publicized spats between its members.
[4] In 2006, CMS hired a new superintendent, Peter Gorman, who has been seen by many as restoring confidence, thus making the chance of a new bond passing in 2007 more likely.
Calls for decentralization also mounted in 2005, with some wanting CMS broken up into smaller school systems. One notable incarnation of this movement was called "DUMP CMS" (Don't Underestimate Mecklenburg Parents). This has largely fizzled out since the Board of Education requested and Superintendent Peter Gorman outlined a plan for decentralization with regional offices called "learning communities". The goal is to put resources and administration closer to parents and other members of the public. It will be implemented in the 2007-2008 school year.[5]
See also
★ List of school districts in North Carolina
References
1. Lyttle, Steve. (2007, 3 June). 13 high schools on best-of list. The Charlotte Observer.
2. Helms, Ann. (2005, 24 May). Judge accuses CMS of 'academic genocide'. The Charlotte Observer.
3. Helms, Ann. (2006, 19 August). Threat to close schools lifted. The Charlotte Observer.
4. Smolowitz, Peter and Helms, Ann. (2006, 29 July). Board works on avoiding squabbles. The Charlotte Observer.
5. Decentralization. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
External Links
★ CMS Official Website
★ History of CMS Page
★ Dump CMS Website
العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
Español
