CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More students are set to graduate from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools this year, but the encouraging news does come with a catch.
Data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction showed CMS saw about 83% of high school seniors graduate after four years in the district, just more than 9,600 students. However, that percentage is down by almost 7% from 2016, when the graduation rate was roughly 90% and at its highest.
Since 2016, NCDPI data shows CMS has seen a steady decline in graduation rates, with 2022-23 school year rates the lowest in four years. It was low across the board for students across different demographics, especially homeless students who saw a nearly 65% graduation rate that school year. However, 2023 graduation rates were the highest for academically gifted students and those connected to the military.
Data from CMS show poverty and chronic absenteeism and both affecting student achievement.
Gregory "Dee" Rankin is a vice chair on the CMS board and says a closer review of transcripts, professional development, and getting more social workers into the community will help.
“Definitely an area that we’re looking to improve, but with our new goals and guardrails that we put in place, we know that we have the right strategy to put in place to increase that," he said. "Hopefully, with a consistent board that believes in student outcomes, a consistent superintendent that believes in achieving through improving student outcomes, I think that will only give us an opportunity to increase our graduation rate.”
CMS is the second-largest public school district in North Carolina, yet other large districts saw rates improve. Wake County Schools, the largest, saw a 90% graduation rate in 2023. Guilford County Schools, the third-largest district, had a 91% graduation rate.
“Wake County outpaces us with population. So, what are they doing right and why can’t we get it righter?" Colette Forrest, who has a son at CMS, asked.
After multiple changes in district leadership, she's hoping the current leaders can improve scores.
“We need to see numbers," Forrest said. "We’ve got to see numbers because if we don’t, why are you in the positions that you hold?”
Rankin said 2024 graduation rates are expected to be released sometime this summer.
Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.