CMS Outlines New Middle School Boundary Lines in Cornelius

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is preparing to redraw middle school boundary lines in Cornelius, presenting two options that would send students living west of Interstate 77 to a new middle school under construction at 13832 Stumptown Road in Huntersville. The proposed changes would also affect some students living near Sam Furr Road.

According to the presentation, the new lines would not impact current high school boundary lines.

The presentation was made to the Board of Education on Nov. 10 and is available online. It emphasized that “no final decisions have been made.” The new school is slated to open in the fall of 2028.

Two options are under consideration.

Under both options every Cornelius home west of I-77 would be assigned to the new middle school. School assignment would also be impacted in some areas south of Sam Furr, as well as north of Sam Furr near Northcross Shopping Center. (see detailed maps below).

Overcrowding

According to the presentation, Bailey Middle School is designed to accommodate 1,050 students but currently enrolls 1,703, or 162.2% of capacity, making it the most over-capacity school in CMS.

Francis Bradley Middle School, on Beatties Ford Road in Huntersville, has a capacity of 1,075 students and currently enrolls 1,091, or 101.5% of capacity.

The proposed boundary changes would affect roughly 1,000 students at the two existing schools and bring enrollment at each of them below capacity. Under either option, the new middle school would be at 77% of capacity, leaving room for additional growth in Huntersville.

Feedback sessions

CMS has a number of listening sessions scheduled over the coming weeks as it works to finalize the plan.

“CMS is gathering feedback from families, staff and community members to better understand potential impacts, address questions and concerns, and inform final recommendations to the Board of Education,” the presentation states.

CMS outlined a series of virtual and in-person feedback sessions on the proposed reassignment:

• Nov. 30: Cornelius Elementary School
• Dec. 2: J.V. Washam Elementary School
• Dec. 3: Bailey Middle School
• Dec. 15 and 16: Virtual sessions

The presentation did not provide times for the sessions.

Under the timeline presented at the board meeting, a new draft of the proposed plan will be presented at the Jan. 12 board meeting, a final plan will be presented Jan. 26, with a public hearing Jan. 26 and proposed vote on Feb. 9.

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