Foundations Pledge $55-Million to Struggling Charlotte Schools

A group of Charlotte foundations and corporate charities on Monday announced a five-year, $55-million project to increase graduation rates and close performance gaps at a struggling group of schools in the city’s west side, reports The Charlotte Observer.

The effort, dubbed Project LIFT, focuses on West Charlotte High, which has district’s lowest diploma rate, and the seven elementary and middle schools that feed its student body.

Among other donors are the Leon Levine Foundation, the C.D. Spangler Foundation, and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, which have each committed $10-million.

Backers said the project would help the network of schools attract and keep quality teachers, support summer classes and early-education programs, and press for other changes, such as longer school days and flexibility on spending.

The Levine Foundation has been a major source of support to Charlotte charities during the downturn. Read a profile of the grant maker from The Chronicle’s archive.