PHOTO | MAYRA PARILLA GUERRERO

The new West Charlotte High School campus is anchored by a three-story building that includes 100 new classrooms, gymnasium to accommodate 1,150 students and state-of-the-art smartboards.

West Charlotte High School students will begin the school year in a new campus just a few feet from the old one.

On Friday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools unveiled the new campus, anchored by a three-story building that features a bigger gymnasium to better accommodate the incoming 1,150 students, as well as state-of-the-art smart boards and 100 new classrooms. Additionally, there’s a “history wall” that recalls the school’s legacy since its opening in 1938.

“This is one of the oldest schools in Charlotte, its alumni loyalty is outstanding, so this new building is important to our community,” CMS spokeswoman Vicki Grooms.

In 2019, a detailed analysis of needed updates in the district determined the new construction of the 338,512-square-foot-space. The new building is one of the nine buildings being constructed throughout the school district to better accommodate the needs of students. The project took $106 million to complete and construction was completed in early July.

“There’s just positive energy here,” West Charlotte assistant principal Kevin Poirier said. “We had an open house [on Aug. 25] and it was packed. People came to visit their teachers just ready for the first day of school.”

Poirier has held various positions during his 10-year stay at West Charlotte, and while being on staff, he has witnessed the importance of the new school building for not only the alumni but its current students.

“Our staff and teachers have just been incredible,” he said. “They've gone all in to make this building work. This is going to be a challenging year because everybody’s got their goals, but when you’re coming into a new school, you're excited for whatever it is and we are ready to face those challenges. We've got a motto this year, an expectation of excellence. That’s what we do, we navigate challenges, and we are optimistic and we're ready to serve students.”

However, the completion of the new building isn’t the only update that awaits West Charlotte students. On Aug. 11 Orlando Robinson was appointed principal. Robinson, a former principal at Northridge Middle and Reedy Creek Elementary, comes with 22 years of experience from various schools throughout Charlotte.

“West Charlotte High School is a very special place with a rich history,” Robinson said after his appointment. “I am so excited to be joining the Lion family and continue an expectation of excellence. Dub C!”

Not only will Robinson begin his journey as a member of the West Charlotte staff, but also as a parent.

“While making sure everything is in place for the first day of classes, I had my first official parent-teacher conference today, as my daughter will begin her sophomore year here in West Charlotte,” he said Friday.

The history of West Charlotte High is one that pioneered successful desegregation in 1970 after the U.S. Supreme Court approved the use of busing for racial parity in Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. West Charlotte has produced widely noted business leaders, athletes, and public officials, such as former Charlotte Mayor and U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

The campus’ enrollment demographic is 80% Black students and 14% Hispanic.

According to CMS, West Charlotte “has been designated an International Baccalaureate World School that offers rigorous coursework and student learning centered around global contexts.”

The old building – built in 1954 when West Charlotte moved from the site now occupied by Northwest School of the Arts – is in the process of being torn down to make way for an athletic field. In the meantime, students and teachers are ready for a new chapter.

“The future is bright for West Charlotte,” Poirier said.

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