CMS Magnet Lottery Opening Early This Year

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is adding more programs, and more seats, in magnet schools for the 2018-19 school year in phase one of the controversial student assignment plan.

And the district is opening the lottery process for students earlier this year. But some say the district is doing so without giving families some vital information.

“The challenge that we’ve heard from many families is just being aware of what’s out there,” says Akeshia Craven-Howell, CMS Associate Superintendent.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is increasing options, offering more educational choices to families, trying to stem the tide of students leaving the district for charter schools or homeschooling.

Phase one of the new student assignment plan created more seats in more programs at CMS magnet schools. Seats that will be filled through a lottery process.

“We’ve moved up the timeline quite a bit,” says Howell. “And that really is so that families can get their decisions a lot earlier.”

The lottery application period is moving up from January to November 13th, before the district has released school diversity data for the current school year.

That data dictates which students will make the lottery cut in the various magnet programs across CMS.

Jess Miller is running for the District One seat on the Board of Education. She says it hurts parents who are searching for the best odds to get the best education for their children.

Current District One board member Rhonda Lennon disagrees.

“There’s definitely a level of frustration, which you can understand,” says Miller. “And having data, which shows us where openings might be, which schools they may have a better chance of getting into, can help us have good conversations parents. So that they can make an informed decision.”

“I think parents really make their decisions about magnet schools based on the program, and what really fits the gifts and talents of their child,” says Lennon. “At least from the parents I talk to, that’s how they select a magnet.”

CMS will have a second lottery for any seats that are still open after the first round. Applications for that will be taken in January and March.