Schools, Schools, Schools

Learning about schools is at the top of most newcomers’ lists. Families new to the Charlotte area will find a wealth of educational opportunities here, including public, private, parochial and charter schools.

 The Charlotte region’s public school systems offer solid, broad programs that meet the needs of a wide range of students, from special needs to academically gifted, college prep to technical. North Carolina has traditionally encouraged consolidation of public systems so that many counties have a single school system. While many systems have consolidated, some remain fiercely independent, such as Mooresville Graded School District in southern Iredell County. York County in South Carolina also has four public school systems, each with its own distinct qualities.

 The largest public school system in the Carolinas is Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). This system is ranked 23rd largest in the nation, with over 121,000 students enrolled in 152 schools.

The issue of pupil assignment is a large one in the CMS system. From the early 1970s to spring 2002, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools operated under a federal court desegregation order that placed emphasis on assigning pupils to schools to achieve a balanced racial mix. That court order has now ended and Charlotte-Mecklenburg has launched a new assignment plan that offers a K-12 feeder system, choice opportunities, stability, guaranteed school assignment and diversity through choice by letting parents decide which school is right for their child. For complete details on the current assignment plan, check the CMS website at www.cms.k12.nc.us.

 CMS will continue to provide top-rated educational opportunities such as The Bright Beginnings program. This program offers a literacy-rich curriculum to 3,000 4-year-olds who might otherwise start kindergarten already behind other students. The program has proven its worth by preparing students to be on par with or ahead of their peers as they begin elementary school.

 CMS features an innovative magnet school program that provides opportunities for students to pursue specific interests in their education. Fifteen magnet programs in 50 schools (see list) focus on such subjects as foreign language immersion; communication arts; math, science and technology; visual and performing arts; and accelerated learning.

 The CMS system is rightly proud of its steadily improving performance in such areas as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and end-of-grade tests.

  CMS participates in the state’s ABCs of Public Education Accountability Program, which establishes standards for performance and improvement for every public school and then assesses the school using results on end-of-grade tests. The program ensures that schools are meeting the educational standards set up by the state and rewards schools that exceed their goals. Check the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s website at for details on the ABCs at the schools you’re considering.

A common theme among all Charlotte-region schools is growth. The tremendous increase in population is causing a surge in school enrollment, often putting classroom space, money and resources at a premium. Throughout this area, public and private schools are studying projections for growth and considering options to meet the demand for school services. As you check out the schools you’re considering, you’ll certainly see plenty of new construction and expansion projects under way, as well as plenty of modular units (mobile classrooms).

Public School Entrance Requirements

North Carolina
A child entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before Oct. 16.
A child entering the first grade must be 6 years old on or before the same date.
A copy of the child’s birth certificate and proof of residency must be taken to the school in order to register the child.
The following basic immunizations are required by state law:

• DTP - 4 or more doses (the last must be on or after the 4th birthday.)
• Polio - 3 or more doses (the last must be on or after the 4th birthday.)
• Measles - one on or after the 1st birthday, a second 30 days or more after the 1st.
• Mumps - one dose on or after the 1st birthday.
• Rubella - one dose on or after the 1st birthday.
• Hepatitis B - 3 doses for children born after 7/1/94, none required for older children.
• Hib - 4 doses

A certificate of immunization must include the following:
Name and birth date of child
Name of the parent(s) or guardian
Address of the parent(s) or guardian
Sex of the child

South Carolina
S.C. law requires that children between ages 5 and 17 enroll in school. Schools operate for 180 days each year.

S.C. law requires that all children to be enrolled in kindergarten and first grade present a birth certificate issued by the state of birth and be 6 years of age by Sept. 1 of the current school year. An exception is made for children who have completed first grade in another state that has a different age requirement. To enter kindergarten, children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1.

All children entering S.C. schools for the first time must be immunized prior to enrolling and obtain an S.C. Certificate of Immunization form. Certificates may be obtained from the S.C. Health Department or other sources of medical care.

South Carolina requires the following immunizations: measles, rubella, DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) and polio.

Charlotte Area Public Schools Contact Information:
CMS (Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools) use the 980 Area Code. www.cms.k12.nc.us
For more information on N.C. public schools, check the state Department of Public Instruction’s Web site (www.ncpublicschools.org)
or call the department at 919-807-3300.

NC Public School Systems for Neighboring Counties:

South Carolina Public School Contact Information:
For more information on S.C. public schools, visit the state Department of Education’s Web site, www.myscschools.com
or call public information at 803-734-8815.

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