CMS opens school to relieve overcrowding in south Charlotte

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools opened a new school in Ballantyne to relieve overcrowding in time for classes starting Aug. 26.

Students from South Mecklenburg, Ardrey Kell, and Myers Park high schools were reassigned to Ballantyne Ridge High School in south Charlotte.

“This was really to relieve what were the three largest student populations in the state of North Carolina,” said Dennis LaCaria, the executive director for Facilities Management at CMS.

It was one of the projects from a bond voters approved in 2017.

Channel 9 education reporter Jonathan Lowe was invited to check out the 100-classroom school.

It will start with grades ninth through 11th so rising seniors at other schools don’t have to transfer before their final year.

The first graduating class of Ballantyne Ridge Wolves will be in 2026.

“We want to be very intentional about linking kids together, so we’ve created some systematic processes to ensure that kids from different schools in September will get to work with each other, will get to know each other through common experiences like clubs,” said Principal Michael Miliote, Ballantyne Ridge High Schools Wolves.

The inaugural student body is estimated to be around 1,700, although Ballantyne Ridge can hold up to 2,500.

Ballantyne Ridge doesn’t yet have any programming, such as career and technical education classes, or even the drama club.

It’s a blank slate and the principal said he wanted it like that.

“Our goal was to be sure that the kids drive what we offer, not the staff decide what we offer,” said Miliote. “Based on their course requests, it gave me an idea of, if we need an art, we need drama.”

Miliote, a 22-year CMS veteran, said the idea is for students and staff to create the Wolves’ identity however they see fit.

“I think it’s about culture and climate in the building, making sure kids feel welcome,” the principal said. “We want to be very intentional about linking kids together.”

Final enrollment numbers will be available about two weeks into the school year.

The district is also opening the new 45-classroom Knights View Elementary School across the street from Ardrey Kell High School.

Also, the new Bruns Avenue Elementary School near Uptown Charlotte replaces the old school built in 1969.

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