Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools fights to keep teachers amid ongoing vacancy challenges
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools held an end-of-year press conference on Monday. Photo: Alexandria Sands/Axios
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools reports 97% of its teacher positions are filled ahead of the upcoming school year, citing progress in recruitment and retention efforts.
Why it matters: North Carolina public school teachers are leaving the profession at an alarming and rising rate, threatening student performance.
By the numbers: CMS began the 2024-25 school year with 276 vacancies, down from 516 the year prior, district leaders said at an end-of-year press conference on Monday.
- CMS maintained a 99% fill rate in eight of the nine months of the past school year, they added.
Yes, but: There are still 414 teacher vacancies, as of Monday's press conference.
- In the past, CMS has compensated for vacancies by asking teachers to cover classes during their planning periods and offering substitutes bonuses.
What they did: CMS leaders point to several steps taken to improve teacher recruitment and retention:
- Launched a "total rewards" website where current and prospective staff can find the potential benefits of being employed by CMS.
- Secured funding from Mecklenburg County for 3% raises for staff.
- Held an annual career fair with 1,300 attendees — among the highest turnout since before the pandemic.
- Enrolled hundreds of second-career adults in the Teaching Residency Program, which provides a pathway to becoming a licensed teacher.
- Cut the beginning teacher turnover rate to 8%, down from over 20% in 2023-24. CMS partly credits its new teacher training through the Crown Academy, the district's onboarding experience for new teachers.
- Introduced At Home in CMS, an initiative that helps employees find housing stability.
Reality check: With an average salary of $58,292, North Carolina ranks 43rd in the nation for teacher pay, according to the National Education Association.
- The state's average teacher salary rose by only about 3% last year, behind the national average of 3.8%. Meanwhile, the cost of housing is on the rise.
- Last year, CMS urged state lawmakers to "Stop the NC Teacher Pay Cut," arguing that the state's average 3% raise wasn't enough to keep up with inflation. The state's pay is below the minimum living wage of $58,411, NEA reports.
- The most recent state budget talks, which include teacher raises, have stalled in the North Carolina General Assembly.