Articles about Education

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As charters and choice expand, so does segregation

January 5, 2017
Amy Hawn Nelson

As charter school enrollment expands, statistics show they are more segregated than traditional public schools. Are they more effective? Research is inconclusive. A look at charter schools in the Charlotte region and their relationship to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Read more

School choice: Many options but conclusions elusive

September 7, 2016
Amy Hawn Nelson

Around 80,000 students in Mecklenburg County choose to attend a school other than their neighborhood public school. But what might that mean for the caliber of education the students receive? Read more

Institute study finds positives for McPIE initiative

October 1, 2015

A year-long institute study of a McClintock Middle School public-private partnership known as McPIE found a higher proportion of the students taking part in the group’s activities passed eighth- and ninth-grade Common Core math and science exams, and they averaged fewer days absent. Read more

Report finds strengths, challenges in United Way’s Collective Impact initiative

September 30, 2015

Research by the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute for United Way of Central Carolinas has found that almost 90 percent of at-risk Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students who took part in programs from 14 local United Way-funded agencies over three or more years graduated from high school. Read more

Charter, private, home school or CMS? Is enrollment shifting?

September 2, 2015
Amy Hawn Nelson, Justin Lane

Are more Mecklenburg County parents these days opting for private school over public, or for charters or home schools? With the 2015-16 school year underway, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute researchers looked at how enrollment choices have changed for Mecklenburg families in the past 20 years.

The animated graphic below shows how Mecklenburg County public, private, charter and home...

Confessions from the cul-de-sac

August 5, 2015

A dedicated Charlotte urbanist confronts a choice when house-hunting: Walkable urbanity in the heart of town, or affordable homes with the assurance of good schools in an auto-dependent suburban area? Commentary. Read more