Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is considering a plan to reopen E.E. Waddell High School in southwest Charlotte as a comprehensive high school, which would necessitate the revision of existing school attendance boundaries in the region. During a recent school board retreat, CMS Deputy Superintendent Melissa Balknight informed board members that converting Waddell back into a traditional high school is being explored as a solution to alleviate overcrowding at nearby institutions.
Waddell High School has operated as a magnet school for the past 15 years, and the proposed change aims to establish designated attendance zones that would better distribute student populations among local high schools. Balknight emphasized that the reopening of Waddell would enable the district to draw clear attendance lines to the school.
Situated on Nations Ford Road and west of I-77, E.E. Waddell is currently part of the Olympic attendance zone but is in proximity to several other high school zones, including Myers Park, South Mecklenburg, Palisades, Ballantyne Ridge, and Harding. This strategic move could have significant implications for the school district, benefiting students by potentially reducing overcrowding while also enhancing educational resources and opportunities within the area.
This initiative reflects CMS’s ongoing commitment to addressing capacity challenges and ensuring that educational needs are met as the community continues to grow. The school district is tasked with carefully considering the impacts of such changes to maximize benefits for students and families.