The $2.5 billion bond referendum funds 30 high-priority projects focused on providing significant benefits for students and schools. These projects will improve educational environments, offer more academic options, alleviate overcrowding, and renovate and replace aging CMS facilities. 

Students and staff are filled with pride and excitement as they see their school transform into brighter, better learning environments- and this is why we do what we do.

Principal Heather Haas welcomes over 700 students back to Billingsville Cotswold Elementary

Principal Heather Haas welcomes over 700 students back to the combined school at Billingsville Cotswold Elementary! Kindergarten through fifth grade students are starting the year at Billingsville while the Cotswold campus is being rebuilt; it is scheduled for completion in 2027. Upon its completion, the old Billingsville Cotswold will move into the new Cotswold building, and Chantilly Montessori will make the renovated Billingsville campus its new home.

Back-to-School at Sedgefield | New gardens and campus upgrades 2025-26

Principal Jennifer Moore shared how excited families are about the fresh upgrades made possible by the 2023 Bond: beautiful new memorial and peace gardens, vibrant greenery throughout the campus, a secure vestibule with new storefronts and brand-new exterior classroom doors. Approximately 500 students from Pre-K through sixth grade now enjoy a safer, brighter place to learn and grow! 

Bruns Avenue Elementary welcomes students back with a new playground | 2025-26 school year kickoff

There were first- day vibes at Bruns Avenue Elementary where kindergarten through fifth-grade students enjoyed their brand-new playground. Principal Nicki Dudley shared that the start of 2025-26 has been smooth and fun. Here’s to an excellent year for the 570 scholars who call Bruns Avenue home, thanks to the 2017 bond!

First Ward Creative Arts Academy became a middle school in the 2025-26 school year 

First Ward Creative Arts Academy has been transformed for 2025-26.The campus has been transformed into a full-choice magnet school for grades 6-8, featuring fresh paint, new furniture, three science classrooms, a Google Station, renovated main office and brand-new dance and music studios. Carpet has been removed, sinks raised to accommodate older students, and more upgrades are on the way with Phase 2 this fall — adding renovated classrooms and an updated theatrical stage. Phase 3 next summer, which will bring a redesigned media center, cafeteria and more. 

2017 Dashboard

2023 Dashboard

Schools in the design phase to those under construction — like Cotswold Elementary, which has officially moved from design to construction — and many more are gearing up to start work, all part of the 2023 bond. Our commitment to building for excellence is in full motion. Stay tuned as we transform learning spaces across the district!

Project Status

Marie G. Davis Montessori Upfit

Progress is underway at Marie G. Davis! The building currently being demolished will make way for a new barn, part of the transformation to a 7–12 Montessori school that will replace J.T. Williams. The project is on track for students and staff to see significant changes at the school as construction continues, with completion targeted for August 2026.

New elementary school on Park Road site



Construction is making great progress at the new elementary school at the Park Road site! Roof structure and decking have recently been installed at the classroom wing, ground-level concrete floors have been poured, and both the inside and outside walls are going up. Crews have also started mechanical, electrical and plumbing while completing load-bearing walls. Fire hydrants and sewer connections are also in place. The two-story school will feature 45 classrooms and is on track to welcome students for the 2026-27 school year. Upcoming work including roofing, additional wall framing, and interior wall layout for classrooms and mechanical systems is in progress. This new school will combine the Dilworth and Park Road student enrollment.

New Middle School #1 South



Construction is moving forward at Middle School #1 South, 5400 Camp Verde Lane in Charlotte. Structural steel for the three-story classroom wing is complete, and preparations are underway for the first elevated slab. Concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls are rising, progressing into the cafeteria and administration areas, shaping a modern space that will house 54 new classrooms.The school will serve grades 6-8 and help relieve Community House Middle School, Jay M. Robinson Middle School and Rea Farms STEAM Academy (K-8). The project is on track to open for the 2026-27 school year, thanks to the 2023 bond.

Northwest School of the Arts

Summer renovations in existing buildings are complete, and work on the new Visual Arts Building G is underway. Key updates: restroom tiling, ceiling painting, and millwork and finishes in administration offices are ongoing, with sidewalks, road paving and flooring coming soon. Building G is expected to be ready for occupancy in January 2026. 

South Mecklenburg High School

Exciting progress is underway at South Mecklenburg High School! Demolition of Buildings B, D and K is complete, with Building C coming down soon. Work on the athletic facilities is also underway. The redesigned campus will reduce 14 buildings to four for better security, with Building O becoming the new cafeteria. This project is also a sustainability success — crushed concrete from demolition is being repurposed on-site for access roads and structural fill. Once complete in 2027, the campus will feature 100 classrooms and a comprehensive athletics package, creating a modern, secure and eco-friendly learning environment.

Berryhill K-8 Replacement School

Winter 2026

Beverly Wood Elementary School Replacement

Winter 2026

Dilworth Middle School Magnet Renovations

Winter 2025

Huntersville Elementary School Replacement

Winter 2026

New Middle School #2

Winter 2025

Stay tuned!

National Construction Appreciation Week

From Sept. 15-19, we celebrated National Construction Appreciation Week by thanking our construction managers and their teams for the pride and dedication they bring to the CMS 2023 bond projects. They shared how meaningful it is to work with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, knowing their efforts create safe, innovative learning spaces for students, staff and families for generations to come.

Workforce Development

Three Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools student interns have been learning about the inner workings of CMS, including facility use, design, construction, inspections and more! During summer 2025, CMS interns with the Mayor's Youth Employment Program – Varune Kulasingam, a senior from Ardrey Kell High School; Franklin Tyner, a junior from J.T. Williams Secondary Montessori; and Va'Shawn Moales, a senior from Harding University High School, visited Messer Construction’s offices and DLR Architects to learn from a 2023 bond construction manager and designer about the process of developing buildings. The interns also learned about the path to becoming an architect. They used and learned about various tools, including 3D models, drones and exploring a model of a school through virtual reality.

North Mecklenburg High School Pre-Bid and Site Walk

On Sept. 5, we hosted the North Mecklenburg High School Project Pre-Bid and Site Walk covering building packages, site concrete, fencing, athletic fields and landscaping. Approximately 55 attendees joined us on-site to learn more about the project. 

Join us at the CMS Marketplace Expo, where local businesses and school communities will come together to create meaningful partnerships! Vendors can showcase products and services directly to PTAs, PTOs and Booster Clubs, while schools discover new fundraising ideas and resources to support student success. Vendor spots are limited — become a Table Host for $250 (small businesses can share a table!) or attend for free as a school representative. Don’t miss this opportunity to Engage, Empower, Impact and Elevate our community. Get tickets: bit.ly/cmsmarketplaceexpo2025.

Doing Business with CMS!

Explore the CMS Bond Construction website! Stay informed on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools‬ bond projects, including project updates, reports, outreach events, procurement opportunities and MWSBE resources.