| Educating Our Children |  |
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 The quality of education is one of the most important considerations when moving to a new area. In recent years, North Carolina has been a pioneer in educational reform, accountability standards and school choice. Since 1996, public schools in North Carolina have been evaluated by the ABCs of Public Education and tested in core subject areas at different grade levels. This program has resulted in significant improvement in schools throughout the state.Among some of the strongest public school districts in North Carolina are the five that serve the Lake Norman area: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Iredell-Statesville Schools, Mooresville Graded School District, Lincoln County Schools and Catawba County Schools. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools The largest public school system in the Carolinas, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is also the 24th largest in the country. With 121,640 students in 148 schools, CMS is growing rapidly. North Mecklenburg in particular is one of the fastest-growing areas, and school officials are continually adding new schools to accommodate the growth. CMS offers a range of academic programs, including magnet schools, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, technical and professional studies as well as an outstanding arts curriculum. In 2004, the top 10 percent of CMS graduates scored 1,186 on the SAT, surpassing the top 10 percent of their peers statewide, who scored 1,175. In 2004, CMS seniors earned a total of more than $46 million in academic and athletic scholarships. In 2002, CMS adopted the student assignment plan, which gives parents the opportunity to choose their child’s school from within a specified zone. Lake Norman-area communities fall into the Green Zone, which covers northern Mecklenburg County, including Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville and northwest Charlotte. Hopewell High School opened in 2001 to ease crowding at North Mecklenburg High School. The $34 million facility off Beatties Ford Road in Huntersville features state-of-the-art technology and a strong academic curriculum. In fact, more than half of Hopewell seniors have taken at least one Advanced Placement course. Hopewell also has programs in visual and performing arts, 27 different varsity and junior varsity sports, and a wide range of clubs and activities. Just up the road from Hopewell is Bradley Middle School, named a 2004-2005 School of Excellence. With a strong band program, Bradley Middle promotes education for the whole child. Elementary schools in the Lake Norman area include Huntersville Elementary, Cornelius Elementary and Davidson Elementary. All three encourage parental involvement, with active PTAs and a strong volunteer program. Cornelius Elementary was even named an Honor School of Excellence, the highest status in North Carolina, for the 2004-2005 school year. As growth in the area continues, Charlotte-Mecklenburg officials plan to build new elementary and middle schools and expand Hopewell High School within the next few years. CMS has already added four new schools for the 2005-2006 school year. In 2004, CMS created the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation, a non-profit organization which funds programs that promote excellence in teaching and student performance through teacher incentives, development programs and volunteer opportunities. Iredell-Statesville Schools With nearly 20,000 students and over 1,000 teachers and faculty members, Iredell-Statesville Schools (ISS) is another exceptional, fast-growing school district. The district includes 20 elementary, nine middle, five high schools, two alternative schools, and Early College High School (ECHS). ECHS, a collaboration of ISS, Mooresville Graded School District and Mitchell Community College, provides students with the opportunity to earn their high school diploma and a two-year college associates degree at the same time. Each school offers programs for academically gifted children, including Advanced Placement coursework in high schools, advanced courses in middle schools and enrichment programs in each elementary school. In the 2005 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Report, a part of the “No Child Left Behind” Act, 24 schools in the ISS system made AYP. This means that all subgroup categories met the grade level standards based on student scores from the North Carolina End-of-Grade testing and other similar performance measures. Iredell-Statesville schools in the Lake Norman area boast some of the best testing results in the state. Lake Norman Elementary School in Mooresville has been named a North Carolina School of Excellence for the past six years, which means that 90 percent or more of students have achieved grade level or higher. In 2004, Lake Norman Elementary students achieved higher than 95 percent proficiency in every category. Also in Mooresville, Lakeshore and Mount Mourne elementary schools are designated Schools of Excellence. Brawley and Lakeshore middle schools have both been recognized as Schools of Excellence for the past two years. In 2004-2005, 89% of Lake Norman High students scored at or above grade level on their End-of-Course Tests, and students scored an average of 1,042 on the SAT, which exceeds the state average of 1,006. In all, Iredell-Statesville boasts six Schools of Excellence and 11 Schools of Distinction, with no low performing schools. Mooresville Graded School District In 1905, Mooresville established its own school district, which remains separate from Iredell-Statesville Schools. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Mooresville Graded School District (MGSD) now operates one K-2 and one K-3 elementary school, two 3-6 intermediate schools, one 7-8 middle school and a 9-12 high school. Park View Elementary, a K-3 School of Excellence, serves northern Mooresville. Constructed in 1926, Park View has seen considerable additions and renovations in the past few decades. The school features a nature trail, an outdoor classroom and a fully equipped library. South Elementary (K-2), which serves southern Mooresville, added a five-classroom unit in 2003 to serve its growing population. Mooresville Intermediate offers a wealth of technology that includes two computer labs with Internet access on every computer, LCD projectors and digital cameras. The school also has a computerized Accelerated Reader program, which motivates students to improve their reading skills. MGSD recently opened an additional intermediate level school, East Mooresville Intermediate, for the 2005-2006 school year. In addition to its strong academic programs, Mooresville High School offers its students the N.F. Woods Advanced Technology and Arts Center, a former elementary and high school that reopened in 1993 as a facility for vocational education. Students can take courses in health and human services, arts, communications, business, marketing, engineering/construction technology, computer repair and information technology. The center encourages and guides students in obtaining apprenticeships and internships. The N.F. Woods campus also operates an alternative program for grades 7-12. Lincoln County Schools Like many school districts around Lake Norman, Lincoln County Schools has seen considerable growth in recent years – growth that is expected to continue. In fact, an increase of 1,200 new students is predicted in the next five years. Lincoln County Schools include 11 elementary, five middle and four high schools. The school system boasts nine Schools of Excellence, three high schools named Schools of Distinction, and more than 80 percent proficiency on high school End-of-Course tests. Schools that have recently opened have been constructed to adjust to the burgeoning population. In 2003, the St. James Elementary and North Lincoln High School were opened. The system has plans for a new elementary, middle and intermediate school as well as renovations and additions to area high schools. On their End-of-Grade tests, Lincoln County elementary schools attained 85.4 percent proficiency in reading and 92.4 percent proficiency in math. In a partnership with area high schools, the Lincoln School of Technology provides technical training for high school students. In addition to funds distributed by the district, Lincoln School of Technology also receives grant money from local businesses and industries to promote technical training. Catawba County Schools Similar to Lincoln County, Catawba County has seen a significant surge in student growth, particularly in the Sherrills Ford area. With nearly 17,000 students in 25 schools, the district is investing in new and improved schools. In 2003, a $4.9 million classroom addition opened at Fred T. Foard High School. A $26 million high school will replace Maiden High School in 2006. The existing Maiden High School will undergo renovations to serve students who attend Tuttle Middle School, and the middle school will serve elementary students. The renovated campuses, which will be named Maiden Middle School and Tuttle Elementary School, will open in 2006. Catawba County Schools had eight Honor Schools of Excellence and 10 Schools of Distinction for the 2004-2005 school year. The district scored higher than 87 percent proficiency on End-of-Grade tests in 2005, up from 66.3 percent in 1998. Clyde Campbell Elementary attained 92.6 percent proficiency on verbal and over 95 percent proficiency on math in 2004 and is recognized at a North Carolina School of Excellence. Moving into the future, the district has implemented a Technology Plan for 2000-2005 which emphasizes a comprehensive curriculum in computer skills and technology education.
Charlotte Christian School Charlotte Latin School Chesterbrook Academy Davidson Day School Huntersville Christian Academy Christian Montessori School at Lake Norman Providence Day School Saint Mark Catholic School Southview Christian School Statesville Montessori School Woodlawn School American Renaissance Middle School Children’s Community School The Community Charter School Crossroads Charter High School Kennedy School Lake Norman Charter School Lincoln Charter School Socrates Academy Success Institute Sugar Creek Charter School
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Iredell-Statesville Schools Lincoln County Schools Mooresville Graded School District |
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