CHARLOTTE — The opening of a new Charlotte-Mecklenburg school meant to ease overcrowding has been delayed, the district said.
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The 45-classroom relief school across from Ardery Kell High School in southeast Charlotte was scheduled to open for the 2023-24 school year. The new school is supposed to relieve overcrowding at Hawk Ridge, Elon Park, and Polo Ridge elementary schools.
It was delayed until the 2024-25 school year due to construction and permit issues, the district announced Friday.
The decision was made “to ensure continuity of the school and minimal disruption to learning,” CMS district leaders said in a news release.
There is a plan to accommodate students, the district said.
“We understand that this news may come as a disappointment to our students and families, but we want to assure them that our top priority is to ensure continuity and minimize disruptions to learning,” said Brian Schultz, chief operations officer. “We have worked with district leaders to develop a plan to accommodate students during the 2023-24 school year, and we are committed to keeping our students and families informed as we work towards the opening of our new school in 2024.”
Students who were assigned to the new school for the 2023-24 school year will remain at their current school. Officials said that there will not be an impact on student assignments for the 2023-24 school year.
“We are committed to providing our students with the best possible education, and we believe that delaying the opening of the new school until the 2024-25 school year is the best decision for our students and families,” said Interim Superintendent, Dr. Crystal Hill, Ed.D.
The district will continue to provide updates to students and families as the construction and permitting process progresses.
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