New school opens with more students than expected

CHARLOTTE — Some Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools get to start the 2022-2023 school year at brand new schools.

Palisades High School in southwest Charlotte opened for the first time on Monday morning.

Tecola Callebrass’ daughter, Giorgina, is a freshman at Palisades High.

“I’m excited because their academic program is to die for, so that’s why Palisades is at the top of the list for us,” the mother told Channel 9.

There is not a senior class this year, so the 1,700 students attending are ninth, 10th and 11th graders.

That is 400 more students than what was projected.

Palisades principal Erik Olejarczyk said although the school is short five teachers, they’re still prepared.

“Every student will be in a classroom,” Olejarczyk said. “Every student will have a teacher.”

The school can have up to 2,500 students.

“This community has really been booming,” said Lenore Sipp, CMS Board of Education at-large. “They wanted their kids in CMS. They just didn’t feel like they had a viable high school to send them to. And now they do.”

Palisades High was built from money in the 2017 bond.

In 2023, CMS will look at the next bond referendum.

Mint Hill Elementary in Matthews also opened for the first time Monday.

Three existing schools -- West Charlotte High School, Shamrock Gardens Elementary and Lansdowne Elementary -- have new campuses and buildings that are debuting on the first day of school.

(WATCH BELOW: Guest, substitute teachers to fill CMS vacancies as 1st day of school approaches)

Guest, substitute teachers to fill CMS vacancies as 1st day of school approaches

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