MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Wednesday night, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools hosted another information session on its proposed boundary changes to make room for the new high school and middle school being built in south Mecklenburg County.
The meeting started at 6:30 p.m. at South Mecklenburg High School.
The new high school is expected to open for the 2024-25 school year. CMS says it'll help address overcrowding and overutilization of teachers at Myers Park, Ardrey Kell, and South Mecklenburg high schools.
The proposed new middle school aims to relieve overcrowding at Community House, Jay M. Robinson, and Rea Farms middle schools, according to CMS.
The earliest the new middle school would open is the 2025-26 school year.
The proposed boundary changes will also impact several middle and elementary schools in south Mecklenburg County, as well as Providence High School.
In other words, many households will be rezoned for different schools. Plus, feeder patterns of elementary into middle schools, and middle into high schools will also change.
The number one concern repeated in Wednesday night's meeting was parents think CMS's latest proposal unfairly groups low-income households into some schools and boosts high-income populations in other schools.
For example, the plan puts Ardrey Kell’s low-income population at less than 1% but South Mecklenburg’s would be 50%.
Parent Kristen Conway worried the plan will further stretch South Mecklenburg High School’s resources to focus more on meeting students’ basic needs over their education.
“We’re talking about needs for food, we're talking about needs for clothing, we're talking about needs for backpacks to go home so they can eat on the weekends," Conway said. "And that's something that when you have a greater concentration, you have the inability to provide for all.”
Many parents would like to instead see a balance of socioeconomic statuses in the schools to provide equitable opportunities for all students.
CMS staff explained they have to consider several factors when zoning neighborhoods for schools like home-to-school distance and overcrowding, but will try to make changes based on the feedback.
The district is currently getting feedback from the community on its first draft of boundary changes. In April, it will release a second draft based on that feedback, and in May the school board will vote on a final map.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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