CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Students in CMS' PACE Academy no longer have to question if they will be relocating before the start of the school year.
PACE Academy, or Personalized Academic Command of English Academy, is the specialized program for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students who have been in the U.S. for less than two years and need English language learning support. CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill had recommended it be moved from E.E. Waddell High School in southwest Charlotte to Garinger High School in northeast Charlotte.
Tuesday, Hill confirmed to WCNC Charlotte the district won't be moving these students this close to the start of the new school year.
“We had a lot of families that were interested in going to Garinger, and they were excited," Deputy CMS Superintendent Dr. Melissa Balknight said last week. "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."
While it's not clear when the move would happen, the goal is to give more students a chance to access the PACE 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 this kind of specialized support 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."
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools returns to classes Aug. 26. It's not yet clear when a future relocation for PACE Academy would be announced.
Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.