Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders approve new school boundaries

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Leaders with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools voted Tuesday night to approve new boundaries for the southern part of the district.

After months of drafts, feedback and marathon meetings, the board voted 7-2 to move ahead with the boundary changes.

The first will happen in the fall of 2024 when the new high school on Community House Road opens. It’s meant to relieve overcrowding at South Mecklenburg, Ardrey Kell, Providence and Myers Park high schools

The next will happen in the fall of 2025 when a new middle school opens.

Monday’s meeting began at 6 p.m., but the vote wasn’t final until after 11 p.m., as more than 70 community members signed up to speak during the public comment portion of the school board meeting. Just two weeks prior, more than 100 people spoke at a public hearing about the third and final draft.

Related: Charlotte parents push back on CMS proposal to move school boundaries

“My friends and peers could get the opportunities that I won’t have. Don’t you think it would be better to only have the burden of one new school for us?” one student who was against the change said.

“I urge you to vote yes today. I really do. The current eighth-grade students need clarity on where they’re going to go,” Harriet Hoonjan, who was in favor, said.

There were several amendments suggesting changes to the plan, but all of them were voted down. In the end, the board passed the plan

“Perfection cannot be the enemy of progress. So while things are not perfect, we cannot allow lack of perfection to move us forward. And tonight, we are moving forward,” Stephanie Sneed, who represents District 4 and is the board’s vice chairperson, said.

“All of us can win in the long run if we work together,” Lisa Cline, who represents District 5, said.

In total, between elementary, middle and high schools, 27 schools may see some changes in the years to come.

“Overcrowding is a tough problem to solve, but a good problem to have. While it is impossible to craft an assignment plan that will satisfy every single family, the plan that was voted on last night creates a better learning environment for thousands of students,” said Elyse Dashew, chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, in a press release.

Below is the latest draft that was approved on Tuesday night. It is the superintendent’s recommendation.

According to CMS, when redrawing the boundaries, its top priorities include:

• Cutting down on travel time between home and school
• Ensuring schools are socioeconomically diverse
• Getting the most out of the buildings and keeping feeder patterns from elementary, middle and high schools together

More information about the changes can be found here.

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