CMS Releases New Student Assignment Recommendations

CHARLOTTE, NC — It was the first time the recommendations were being presented, and board members themselves expressed frustration over just getting the 42 page project packet last night.

The plan breaks down 132 schools home boundaries, and it affects 75 of those schools.

On the list of criteria used for changes, Superintendent Ann Clark says the district looked at improving diversity, which would happen in 21 schools would under these recommendations. Also, by keeping the feeder schools from elementary to middle and high school intact, Clark says these plans improve 13 schools in that area.

Building utilization would improve in 32 schools with this plan.

Clark says that is a major issue because right now many schools are over-used and at or over capacity, while others close by were under-used.

This proposal would shift students for that reason.

Several new schools, like the Albemarle K-8 relief school on the site of Eastland Mall, were mentioned that will be a Spanish language theme school.

One major addition is more partial and magnet schools, which is something that board members questioned considering. Two years ago a magnet study warned CMS of too many partial magnet schools.

Implementation of recommended changes would not take effect until the 2018-2019 school year.

The next step is information sessions with the community scheduled from May 1-23.