Greetings, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Families!

Congratulations to our 2024-25 Principal of the Year – Dr. Tracey Harrill of Providence High School. We surprised Dr. Harrill with the news of her selection at a pep rally at her school on Oct. 24.  Dr. Harrill has worked in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for 32 years – 16 of those years as principal at Providence High School. Under her leadership, the school has met or surpassed local, state and national benchmarks each year. And, for the last two years, Providence has held the title of the highest performing comprehensive high school in North Carolina based on growth metrics. Dr. Harrill now moves on to compete for the title of Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year 2025.

We recently held the official dedication and ribbon cutting ceremonies for Knights View Elementary School and Ballantyne Ridge High School. District and school leaders, students, school staff, parents, and community members attended the celebrations to commemorate the new school communities being created. We will dedicate Bruns Avenue Elementary School’s new building later this month.

I am excited to share that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools 2023-2024 Year in Review is now available. This report features Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students, staff, and partners and highlights the progress we’ve made in academic achievement, physical facilities, and programs we offer students. It also puts the spotlight on our work with community partners and how they are helping our district. Our new strategic plan, goals and guardrails also are included in the report. I encourage you to download a copy of the report to learn more about how we are creating endless possibilities for our students.

November is National Native American Heritage Month. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools celebrates the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities, ensuring their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive.

There are several important dates impacting the school calendar this month. Please remember:

• Nov. 4 – Schools closed for Teacher Workday
• Nov. 5 – Schools closed Teacher Workday
• Nov. 11 – Veterans Day Holiday (schools and district offices closed)
•  Nov. 18 – School Choice Lottery opens (closes on Dec. 20)
• Nov. 27-29 – Thanksgiving Holiday (schools and district offices closed)

Looking ahead, plans are under way for the Endless Possibilities: Exploring Education Options at CMS fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Park Expo Center. This one-day fair is designed to help you make choices about your child’s future. You will have opportunities to meet with professionals who are dedicated to helping you make educated decisions about learning in the elementary, middle, and high school years and beyond. School staff from grades PreK-12, partners in education, career and technical educators, military recruiters and many more will be available to answer your questions. Mark your calendars and make plans to come and see all that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has to offer.  

As we prepare to celebrate all that we are thankful for, allow me to express my thanks for you – our wonderful families and students, our amazing community and our outstanding employees. I am grateful for each of you and am honored to serve as your superintendent. Thank you for choosing and supporting Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Sincerely,

Crystal

Crystal L. Hill, Ed.D.
Superintendent