Bill and Melinda Gates and staff members from their foundation visited West Charlotte High School Sept. 23.  They observed how data is used at the district and school levels, and associated opportunities and challenges.  The foundation staff also wanted to review Gates Foundation grant projects.

In 2006, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation invested nearly $2 million in four CMS high schools—West Charlotte, West Mecklenburg, Waddell and Garinger Traditional—to transform teaching and learning. 

Of the four high schools, the biggest increase was shown at West Charlotte High School.  During the 2008-2009 school year approximately 68 percent of the students were proficient on End-of-Course tests compared to 40 percent in the 2005-2006 school year. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gates met with Superintendent Peter Gorman, West Charlotte Principal Shelton Jefferies, Area Superintendent Curtis Carroll, Chief Academic Officer Ann Clark and members of the CMS assessment team.  They discussed how school leaders use data and how teachers use data in the classroom.  They also visited classrooms and had lunch with students.

“The feedback we received from the foundation was very positive and we believe that this has been a very successful partnership between the Gates Foundation and CMS,” Dr. Gorman said.

The Gates grant funded research, professional development and new staff.  CMS partnered with the Parthenon Group, a school improvement organization to develop an improvement strategy and business plan for the schools.

The grant also paid for high school principals to attend Harvard University and learn the Data Wise process, which teaches staff to use test scores to drive instruction in all content areas and grade levels.