CMS employs more than 7,700 full-time teachers, 6,495 student support staff, and approximately 900 administrative staff. Over 2,300 of the system’s certified teachers have advanced degrees. North Carolina is #1 in the country in terms of number of National Board Certified (NBC) teachers and #1 in number of newly certified teachers. CMS ranks in the top five school districts nationally for number of NBC teachers. In 2004 alone, 175 CMS teachers became nationally certified, making CMS one of the top five districts in the nation for number of teachers who have achieved this distinguished honor. Equivalent to the CPA exam for accountants or the bar exam for lawyers, the National Board Certification documents a teacher’s skills.

CMS sets high expectations for students and challenges them to reach their fullest potential. Thus, academic rigor and access to challenging courses are top priorities in CMS. Enrollment in AP courses increased by 6% in 2003-2004, when 5,275 CMS students took AP exams. That’s up from 4,966 in 2002-03. As a result of the system’s commitment to academic excellence, CMS was selected as one of 28 school systems across the country to award the first AP diplomas. Since 1991-92, AP enrollment has increased over 250%, up from more than 1,300 students to 5,275. Last year, 11,500 AP exams were taken as compared to 6,000 in 2000-01 and 2,220 in 1994-95. Fifty-eight percent of CMS graduating seniors successfully completed at least one AP or IB course. Of the 161 seniors who took the IB exam, 124 students earned the IB diploma, a 77% success rate.