Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools absences nearly tripled after Border Patrol came to NC
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools records show over 27,000 students were absent Monday, the first school day since U.S. Border Patrol agents descended upon the city.
It was nearly three times the number of absences from one week earlier on Nov. 10, when there were around 9,600 absences, according to CMS records.
In district records, more than 30,000 students were recorded as absent on Monday, but that number includes students who are technically still enrolled but do not consistently attend CMS. That could include students who may have transferred to another district or school but who remain listed as inactive until fully enrolled elsewhere.
CMS had 145,030 students enrolled Monday, but 141,684 students who are enrolled and consistently attend school in the district. Of those, 114,631 attended school on Monday.
The total absences Monday accounted for 21% of the total enrolled CMS student population. However, the numbers reflect all absences in the district in total Monday, not exclusively those due to fear of Border Patrol activity. The previous Monday, Nov. 10, the total percentage of students absent was 8.9%.
Charlotte news outlets Monday evening reported nearly 21,000 students were absent Monday, but CMS Assistant Communications Officer Tom Miner said that was based on unofficial data, which has since been updated.
The Charlotte Observer obtained the updated numbers Tuesday morning via a public records request.
CMS campuses with the highest proportions of students absent Monday were mostly elementary schools, along with some middle schools, according to district records.
Fear of Border Patrol
The high absences may be the first signs of many teachers’ and advocates’ fears materializing. Many were concerned that immigration enforcement anxiety would impact school attendance before Border Patrol’s arrival.
“We know that there are going to be many families that don’t send their kids to school for weeks or for days because of everything,” Daniela Andrade, communication lead for immigrant advocacy group Carolina Migrant Network, told The Charlotte Observer Friday. “We know for sure that this will dramatically change and impact Charlotte families, many of whom grew up here, have been here for years, contributed to the city, have created a big part of the city.”
While agents were active in Chicago, attendance in the city’s schools dropped by 1.25 percentage points — more than double the attendance drop during the first two months of the previous two school years, according to data from Chalkbeat.
Parents around CMS stood watch at pick-up and drop-off at various schools on Monday, aiming to keep an eye out for potential immigration enforcement officers. Many said attendance seemed lower than usual.
Adam McBroom, a parent of a child at Charlotte East Language Academy, watched the intersection leading to the school for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during morning drop off. He wore a highlighter yellow vest and a black whistle.
“We’re just trying to keep an envelope around the school so that we know if ICE agents come,” McBroom told The Charlotte Observer. “We’re just here to observe and make sure everybody is informed and safe.”
At 8:45 am, there are usually cars wrapped around the block to drop kids off for school at CELA, McBroom said. But on Monday, the block was empty.
Parents Laura Blum and Patricia Hoke stood outside Shamrock Gardens Elementary School at pick-up time. They said they’ve heard from teachers that some families were worried about bringing their children to school.
“I’ve had two teachers reach out to me and tell me that families reached out to them about this, so there are definitely people not coming to school because of this,” Blum said.
Both said they wanted to do what they could to protect immigrant children and families in their community, whether by carpooling or keeping watch outside the campus.
“This is our neighborhood school, and part of the reason we value the school is because it’s got kids from lots of different backgrounds who are a part of this community,” Hoke said. “There is some sense of responsibility that even though they may not be the kids that live in our house, they’re still our kids.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 1:32 PM.
