CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Registration for the 2025-2026 school year at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools starts Monday, Nov. 18 and families are invited to a special kick-off event.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., families can stop by Berewick Recreation Center for assistance with registration, to explore different programs and apply to the school choice lottery.
CMS staff members will be there to answer any questions about registration and to inform families about magnet, dual language and Montessori programs.
Danielle Belton, principal at Paw Creek Elementary School, spoke with WCNC Charlotte in 2023 during enrollment season about the benefits of students having diverse learning options.
"The teacher talking at kids is not going to grow them at high levels. When kids are forced to problem solve with each other, they’re forced to touch, feel, see and do, that’s where the magic happens," Belton said in an October 2023 interview. "My child is in a Montessori program and he’ll tell you 'I’m a Montessorian' because that’s the way he learns best.”
In addition to helping fill out registration forms, CMS staff will also be available to help families with the school choice lottery application.
A student's ID number and PIN are both needed for school registration and the lottery. These and application forms will be provided at Monday's event at Berewick Recreation Center.
Families only need to bring the following documentation:
- Child's proof of name and date of birth (birth certificate, passport, refugee settlement letter, etc.)
- Two proofs of residency in Mecklenburg County (mortgage, deed or lease agreement, utility bill)
Registration for the new school year closes on Dec. 20 and the school lottery application closes on Jan. 3. For more information, see this webpage on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools website.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.