If you are doing software development QA, I'm suprised you have not considered the Reasearch Triangle Park area located in the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill) the software industry is much more prevelant here then in Charlotte. The Triangle is the fastest growing area of North Carolina and elementary school teachers are in great demand. You can find great family oriented communities in Cary( 2004 ranked 10th in the nation as the safest place to live) and Wake Forest with easy commutes to the Park.You should check out this area as well. Best of luck.
Jay

We, too, are considering a relocation from Colorado to Charlotte. But, I need to ask a couple of pointed and frank questions.

(1) What's going on with the Charlotte-Mecklenberg school system? I'm reading some things that lead me to believe that there's some moderate resegregation going on. If so, I just want to know. It's not like I can get all indignant about it; it's happening in just about every metro area across the country. Denver included.

(2) Even if resegregation is happening, are the schools equally funded? In other words, are schools in Charlotte being funded the same as schools in Huntersville or Davidson or Mint Hill?

I'm also curious about employment and salaries. I went to one of those websites that lets you compare your current salary to where ever you want to move. In this case, if you make $55,000 in Denver, you need to make $49,800 in Charlotte to maintain the same lifestyle. Does that sound about right?

Finally ... Huntersville or Davidson?

Thanks and take care.

Hello!,
I lived in Charlotte and Huntersville for about seven years and now live in Mooresville, just across the Mecklenburg/Iredell county line, It has less crime, lower taxes, the best schools in NC with out a doubt. So that or the Triangle Area would be my bet. But if Huntersville, Davidson, Charlotte is a must, I would choose Davidson or Cornelius. Smaller without the hustle and bustle of the "Big City Life". Davidson Elementary and Davidson IB are one of the few great schools in CMS.
CMS... (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) Now that’s a subject I could write five pages on. What's to say but they [The CMS School Board] are the most dysfunctional group of people on this Earth, Galaxy, UNIVERSE! Probably the most discouraging thing about the Charlotte community next to the increasing crime and taxes are the schools. They are beyond over-crowded. North Meck High School is the largest school in NC with well over 3,000 students in a school built for 1200. Located in Huntersville. And with all those students comes with it what you expect: gangs, drugs, and fights.
Even though bussing is forbidden now; the Student Choice Plan is the equivalent of it. So no neighborhood schools down here in Charlotte.
The Schools aren’t funded the same either. Inner city schools get the most money, yet produce the least results, and schools in the South End of town also get a nice piece of change. Their building schools like crazy down there yet the northern section of the county gets short changed every year. ( The most growing section at that too) This is why the North (and other sections) wants to de-consolidate and become their own district.
So that’s what’s up with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Teachers are always needed. Charlotte is primarily a Banking Town. And the salary sounds about right for Charlotte. Charlotte is also seemingly becoming more hostile towards the middle class suburbanite. However, not the greatest city Charlotte is far by not the worst.

Thanks for your time.

Thanks for your input. Reading between the lines, I guess I understand the perception of the school situation. The Denver area schools have become resegregated after the end of bussing. So I had hoped that Charlotte-Mecklenberg would be different and possibly show some leadership; make a difference. It's a shame that people have become the same all over the country. What's worse is that they impart the same kind of thinking on their kids.

Cornelius and Davidson sound like nice places. They just sound like communities that people are seeking refuge from [whatever] instead of communities that are different but welcoming. But who knows, maybe I'm just too used to the stuck up and snobby suburbs of Denver. Maybe I'm being unfair to Charlotte and its suburbs.

We are looking at moving from Hella expensive Southen Cal to south of Charlotte - Around Mathews, Indian Trial or Monroe. We have two K-6 kids. Can anyone tell me about the Union County School district?

we too moved from Southern California and have not looked back once. As far as cities (my own personal opinion...the order that you have the three listed above would be how I would go). I have heard the schools are good in Matthews...but all areas that are in close proximity to Charlotte are feeling growing pains. You might take a look at a site called trip advisor for more information as well. If you are so inclined to take a look at South Carolina there are some great areas here too (Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Clover, Lake Wylie).

Good Luck to you!

The resegregation issue comes and goes. Parents here (for good reason) dont want their children being bused all over the city just to attend school. It made for incredibly long bus rides, ( I remember, 2 hrs to get to my stop )

People pretty much prefer sending their kids to neighborhood schools instead.

Can anyone give me their two cents worth about Mount Holly and Mooresville? How are their schools, communities, etc.
Living in Orange County, CA I know that within even a very close proximity there are cities to avoid and others that are great. Since we're moving to the Charlotte area but are unfamiliar with the area, if anyone can tell us which areas to steer clear of would be appreciated. We're looking for nice, upper-middle class neighberhoods with a family atmosphere.

Calicuffs,
I have four children and we live in Union County. There are things about Union County that I would love to tell you. Email me. The thread that contained data about what I want to tell you was shut down.
Thanks,
Peggy
Member, Board of Directors, Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education
www.nospank.net/bancp-nc.htm (broken link)