Charlotte, North Carolina, August 27, 2025
News Summary
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) has announced modest improvements in early literacy achievement, with 72% of K-2 students meeting benchmark levels. Despite a 5 percentage point increase, CMS fell short of its literacy goals, underscoring the ongoing challenge of chronic absenteeism. In response, CMS is implementing early intervention strategies, including the opening of a new literacy lab designed to support under-resourced schools and address attendance issues. While progress has been made, significant achievement gaps remain between different ethnic groups within the district.
Charlotte, North Carolina – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) has reported modest gains in early literacy achievement for the 2023-24 school year, with 72% of students in kindergarten through second grade scoring at or above benchmark levels. This marks an increase of 5 percentage points from the previous school year and 2 percentage points from the year before that. Despite this progress, CMS fell short of its annual literacy goals across all three examined grade levels, indicating that significant challenges remain.
The target for second-grade performance was set at 70%, but the district only achieved a score of 69%, which Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill noted as a minor shortfall. Chronic absenteeism has emerged as a significant barrier negatively impacting student success and literacy development. School Board Vice Chair Dee Rankin recognized the advances made but underscored the urgent need to improve student attendance across the district.
In response to these challenges, CMS officials are implementing various early intervention strategies aimed at addressing attendance issues. These include home visits intended to identify students who are at risk of chronic absenteeism. These proactive measures are part of a broader initiative to ensure that more students can benefit from the literacy programs being offered.
Furthermore, a new literacy lab opened in west Charlotte by A Better World Center for Academic Achievement and Wellness aims to support under-resourced schools. This facility, which became operational on January 10, is equipped with 60 new computers and currently serves 42 students. It offers a free literacy program utilizing i-Ready software, which is also used by CMS. The lab operates at least four days a week, catering to kindergarten through seventh-grade students from surrounding schools.
Despite these efforts, recent statistics reveal that less than 50% of CMS students in grades three through eight demonstrated reading proficiency during the 2022-23 school year, highlighting ongoing literacy challenges. The i-Ready software is designed to help raise students’ reading levels significantly through regular use, offering a potential lifeline for those struggling to keep pace with their peers.
Renovations to the literacy lab have created a functional and clean environment that can accommodate up to 60 students, which also opens the door for community access to the space for adult literacy programs in the future.
Persistent achievement gaps remain a critical issue within CMS. Approximately 38% of Hispanic students and 41% of Black students are testing at or above grade level, compared to 81% of White students. However, there is some positive news regarding equity: the achievement gap between Black and White students has narrowed by 9 percentage points from 2022 to 2024.
CMS has prioritized early literacy efforts since the introduction of a new curriculum in 2019, emphasizing the continuity of learning through the pandemic. However, graduation rates still reveal discrepancies, with rates of 83% for Black students and 75% for Hispanic students compared to 93% for White students.
On a broader scale, North Carolina ranks 26th in math recovery and 43rd in reading recovery since the onset of the pandemic, with overall student performance still lagging behind pre-pandemic achievement levels. Chronic absenteeism in the state has jumped from 16% to 27% since 2019, indicating ongoing educational challenges. Concerns have arisen regarding the future of recovery efforts as federal pandemic relief funding comes to an end, leaving potential gaps in support for struggling students.
FAQ
What percentage of CMS students scored at or above literacy benchmarks?
72% of students in kindergarten through second grade scored at or above benchmark levels for the 2023-24 school year.
What is being done to address chronic absenteeism in CMS?
CMS officials are implementing early intervention strategies, including home visits, to identify and support students at risk of chronic absenteeism.
What facilities were opened to support literacy among under-resourced schools?
A new literacy lab opened by A Better World Center for Academic Achievement and Wellness in west Charlotte, equipped with 60 new computers and serving students with a free literacy program using i-Ready software.
How is the achievement gap between different ethnic groups in CMS?
There is an achievement gap where approximately 38% of Hispanic students and 41% of Black students test at or above grade level, compared to 81% of White students.
Key Features Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Early Literacy Achievement | 72% of K-2 students at or above benchmark levels |
| Chronic Absenteeism | Identified as a barrier to literacy development |
| New Literacy Lab | Opened in January 2024, serving 42 students with i-Ready software |
| Achievement Gaps | 38% of Hispanic and 41% of Black students at grade level; 81% for White students |
| Graduation Rates | 83% for Black, 75% for Hispanic, 93% for White students |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Challenges for Public Education in North Carolina Highlighted
New Statue Honoring Robert Smalls to be Unveiled in South Carolina
Charlotte Faces Education Funding Freeze Impacting Programs
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Celebrate Academic Growth
Additional Resources
- WCNC: CMS Literacy Gains and Absenteeism Concerns
- Charlotte Observer: CMS Literacy and Recovery Efforts
- Discovery Education: Hockinson School District Initiative
- WCNC: CMS Student State Testing Metrics
- News Observer: Literacy Programs and Challenges
- Wikipedia: Literacy
- Google Search: Literacy Education
- Google Scholar: Literacy Programs
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Literacy
- Google News: Literacy in Education
Author: HERE Charlotte
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