MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is ending the school year by working on how to best serve students in the next one -- and each school year through 2029.
CMS district leaders unveiled the district's goals for the next five years in the CMS Strategic Plan 2024-2029.
The main priorities focus on the district's pillars of excellence: Academic excellence, people excellence, operational excellence and engagement excellence.
Academic excellence in particular is related to boosting reading efficiency among the youngest learners and improving math scores for all ages. People excellence pertains to hiring and retention as well as retaining students. Operational excellence is focused on the efficiency and effectiveness of district operations. Finally, engagement excellence relates to how families and the community at large play a role in the district.
The plan is based on the Board of Education's goals, and is informed by community input, data analysis and more.
"Completing the strategies within the four pillars of excellence over the next five years are required to achieve our goals and our guard rails," Hill said.
In early literacy, CMS is striving to have 91% of kindergarten through second graders scoring at or above benchmark. In third grade through eighth grade, the goal is for 50% of students to be at college and career ready level in reading and in 57% in math.
As for the guardrails, CMS wants to prioritize equity over equality by reducing achievement gaps, ensuring safety for all students, attending to students wellbeing, and working on teacher recruitment, retention and engagement. Hill said the school board sets the goals and guardrails as the "what," then it's up to the district to come up with the "how."
While the district acknowledges the goals as "lofty," district leaders are confident the district can reach these goals.
"The current goals that we have right now were developed right after the pandemic and it was the first time the board had engaged in that process," Hill said. "We've learned a lot along the way."
Hill said if things come together and the district works as one, it can meet these goals.
WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at WCNC Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.