Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: 2026-27 runs to June 9, Thanksgiving break Nov. 26-27, winter break Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. 2027-28 enrollment opens Oct. 19.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
Every public school in Charlotte, with its zone and report card: Charlotte public schools.
Charlotte’s public schools are run by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), the countywide district for all of Mecklenburg County. CMS says it has about 140,000 students in 185 schools and facilities, with about 19,000 employees, making it the second-largest district in North Carolina. Superintendent Crystal Hill has led the district since the Board of Education chose her in July 2023.
Who to call
- District main line: 980-343-3000
- Enrollment, school assignment, transfers: Student Placement, 980-343-5335, Spaugh Administrative Center, 1901 Herbert Spaugh Lane
- Board of Education: 980-343-5139; to speak at a meeting, 980-343-5163 or boardclerk@cms.k12.nc.us
- Find your zoned school: GeoPortal school lookup
The 2026-27 calendar
Key dates from the CMS traditional calendar for 2026-27 (PDF), approved by the Board of Education:
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, Oct. 14 | Early release day |
| Friday, Oct. 30 | First quarter ends |
| Nov. 2-3 | Teacher workdays, no school for students |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Veterans Day, no school |
| Wednesday, Nov. 25 | Teacher workday |
| Nov. 26-27 | Thanksgiving break |
| Wednesday, Dec. 9 | Early release day |
| Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 | Winter break |
| Monday, Jan. 18, 2027 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| Thursday, Jan. 21 | Second quarter ends |
| Friday, Jan. 22 | Teacher workday |
| Monday, Feb. 15 | Teacher workday |
| Wednesday, Feb. 24 | Early release day |
| Friday, March 26 | Good Friday |
| March 29 to April 2 | Spring break |
| Wednesday, April 28 | Early release day |
| Monday, May 31 | Memorial Day |
| Wednesday, June 9 | Last day of school |
School started Aug. 25. If schools close for weather, the calendar lists the makeup days in order: Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 25, June 10 and June 11. State law also lets CMS use remote instruction for emergency closures. Early college, middle college and Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences follow their own calendars, linked from the CMS calendar page.
Enrolling and finding your school
- New students for this year: 2026-27 registration is open through the CMS online registration portal.
- Next year: CMS says 2027-28 enrollment opens Monday, Oct. 19.
- Pre-K: applications for Bright Beginnings and NC Pre-K open Dec. 1.
- Your zoned school: use the county GeoPortal school lookup.
- Transfers and reassignment: see the Student Placement page. You can book a virtual appointment with the placement team there.
How CMS schools are rated
North Carolina gives every public school an A to F school performance grade. The state publishes grades, test results, growth and teacher data for each school on its school report cards.
The district’s 2025-26 year-end results (PDF), released Sept. 2, 2026:
| Measure | 2025-26 |
|---|---|
| Schools graded A, B or C | 78.6% (136 schools), 12 more than in 2024-25 |
| Schools that raised their letter grade | 40 |
| Cohort graduation rate | 87.9%, up 3.3 percentage points |
| Third graders reading on grade level | 76.9%, up 11 points |
| Change in reading proficiency, grades 3-8 | Up 4 points |
| Change in math proficiency, grades 3-8 | Up 3.5 points |
Monthly enrollment counts and older results are on the CMS data page.
The Board of Education
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education has nine members elected to four-year terms: three at large and six by district. It holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m. in the Chamber Room of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 E. Fourth St., according to the board calendar. The next two are Tuesday, Oct. 13, and Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Public comment is taken at the first regular meeting of each month. Sign up by 5 p.m. the day before, online, by phone at 980-343-5163 or by email; speakers get two minutes and must attend in person.
Current members, from the board members page:
| Seat | Member |
|---|---|
| District 1 | Charlitta Hatch |
| District 2 | Shamaiye Haynes |
| District 3 | Gregory “Dee” Rankin (chair) |
| District 4 | Stephanie Sneed |
| District 5 | Cynthia Stone |
| District 6 | Anna London |
| At large | Liz Monterrey Duvall (vice chair) |
| At large | Lenora Shipp |
| At large | Monty Witherspoon |
Agendas and minutes are on the board’s Diligent Community portal.
What this means for you
- No school for students on Nov. 2-3 and Nov. 11, and only a half day on Oct. 14.
- Moving to Charlotte or changing schools for 2027-28? Enrollment opens Oct. 19.
- Check a school’s grade and growth on the state report card before you choose.
High school sports: Charlotte scoreboard and Friday night football.
Which schools serve each area, from the 2026-27 CMS zone data: our Charlotte neighborhoods guide.
Frequently asked questions
What school district is Charlotte in?
Charlotte is served by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the countywide district for Mecklenburg County. It has about 140,000 students and is the second-largest district in North Carolina.
When is the last day of school for CMS in 2027?
The last day of school on the 2026-27 traditional calendar is Wednesday, June 9, 2027.
When is winter break for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools?
Winter break on the 2026-27 traditional calendar runs Dec. 21, 2026, to Jan. 1, 2027. Thanksgiving break is Nov. 26-27, with a teacher workday Nov. 25.
How do I find which CMS school my child is zoned for?
Enter your address in the Mecklenburg County GeoPortal school lookup, which CMS links from its Student Placement page, or call Student Placement at 980-343-5335.
How are CMS schools rated?
North Carolina gives every public school an A to F performance grade on its school report card. In 2025-26, 78.6% of CMS schools, 136 in all, earned an A, B or C, according to the district.
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