Themes & Schools

In addition to home schools, CMS offers a number of school options, each with a signature theme or program that provides unique educational opportunities designed to engage students’ interests and talents. CMS school options include magnet programs, career academies, early and middle colleges, and other distinctive school models. Each option focuses on ensuring students are prepared for college and a career while exposing students to different learning approaches, leadership preparation, and engaging curriculum.

Students have priority for school options and magnet programs in their transportation zone. 

Click here to view the 2023-2024 Transportation Zones Map.

Use our themes one-pager to learn about all 12 themes!

Elementary School Level
Pre-Kindergarten Options: Park Road, Chantilly, Highland Mill, Trillium Springs

Middle School Level

High School Level

NOTES FOR TRANSPORTATION ZONE CHARTS

(1) Wilson Middle serves the Blue Zone and the Violet portion of the West Mecklenburg High feeder pattern.

(2) Students from the home high school boundaries of Ardrey Kell, Harding, Hopewell, Myers Park*, Olympic, South Mecklenburg, West Charlotte and West Mecklenburg will receive transportation to Myers Park Traditional and Quail Hollow.

Students from the home high school boundaries of Butler, Hough, East Mecklenburg, Garinger, Independence, Mallard Creek, Rocky River, Myers Park*, North Mecklenburg, Providence, and Chambers  will receive transportation to Elizabeth Traditional and Eastway.

*Myers Park High attendance area and Center City magnet feeder residents may apply to either Elizabeth Traditional or Myers Park Traditional.

(3) Coulwood serves the Violet Zone students living in the Hopewell, West Charlotte and the Blue portion of the West Mecklenburg High feeder pattern.

(4) Dorothy J. Vaughan serves the Violet Zone and the Green portions of the Garinger and Rocky River High feeder patterns.

(5) LI/TD magnet students have continuation guarantee into middle school IB.

(6) The program is not offered at this level within the applicable transportation zone.

(7) Paw Creek serves the Violet Zone and the West Mecklenburg High feeder pattern portion of the Blue Zone.

(8) Secondary Montessori begins at 7th grade and continues through 12th grade.

(9) Tuckaseegee serves the West Mecklenburg High School feeder pattern portion of the Blue Zone.

(10) Governors Village serves all Violet Zone students in grades K-5. In grades 6-8, transportation is provided to students living in the Hough, Mallard Creek, North Mecklenburg, and Chambers High.

(11) East Mecklenburg is the IB high school for students whose home high school is Ardrey Kell, Olympic, Palisades, and South Mecklenburg.

(12) Barringer TD and Irwin TD—guarantee to Randolph or Piedmont, based on students residence magnet transportation zone.

(13) Whitewater Middle serves the Violet Zone and the Blue portion of the West Mecklenburg High feeder pattern.

(14) Northeast Middle serves the Butler, East Mecklenburg, Independence, and Providence High feeder patterns.

(15) Northridge Middle serves the Violet Zone and the Green portions of Garinger and Rocky River High feeder patterns.

(16) Language Immersion schools require a Late Entry Assessment after 1st grade.

(17) Long Creek Elementary serves the Violet Zone and the Blue portion of the West Mecklenburg High feeder pattern.

(18) Rising 2-5 graders in language immersion at SAIL (Waddell) may continue at SAIL with transportation.

(19) iMeck serves the Green Zone and the Chambers part of the Violet Zone.

(20) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the Trillium Springs Montessori program will move to Lincoln Heights.