CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Less than two weeks before school starts, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education members voted Tuesday night to delay a decision that impacts hundreds of students new the U.S.
PACE Academy, or Personalized Academic Command of English Academy, is CMS's specialized program for students who have been in the U.S. for less than two years and need English language learning support.
CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill recommended it be moved from E.E. Waddell High School in southwest Charlotte to Garinger High School in northeast Charlotte.
The suggestion was met with mixed reactions from both board members and parents, who were notified of the potential change on Monday.
“It was mixed feedback," Deputy CMS Superintendent Dr. Melissa Balknight said. "We had a lot of families that were interested in going to Garinger, and they were excited. A lot of families said that they would potentially go back to their home school. Some expressed concerns about we hope that it will remain."
The goal is to give more students a chance to access this program, while also giving those students access to more resources, like elective classes and extracurricular activities.
Though the district expected to have 250 students in PACE last fall, only 59 showed up on the first day. The program grew through the year, but only 89 students said they intend to return this year.
There are hundreds of incoming new CMS students eligible for PACE this fall. Garinger High School has the highest number, with 166 eligible new students.
"If they're not quite seeing the numbers they're looking for," Corrin Zumbado Campbell, program and communications manager for Circle De Luz, said. "I guarantee you 100% it's not because there's a lack of need for those programs."
Circle De Luz is a program similar to PACE that works with CMS middle schools to support Latina students.
Campbell said specialized support like this makes a huge difference.
"Lots of folks are moving here, but in particular we have a really rapidly growing population of families who are new to the United States, who are enrolling their students in school systems for the first time," Campbell said. "The more resources and support that we can provide in the city, I think the better."
While many on the school board saw the reasons for the suggestion, they voted to delay the decision to a "later date" that has not been set yet. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools returns to classes Aug. 26.
Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.