Asheboro and Randolph County Schools Earn Honors for Achievement
achievement, education, honors, randolph county, school, southmont and hopewell elementary schools, worth hatley,
There’s a lot of pride in Randolph County’s two school systems – Randolph County and Asheboro City schools. With 32 schools between the two systems‚ there’s always a new accomplishment.
The Randolph County School system is adding three schools to its current 24-school inventory by August 2001 – two 750-capacity elementary schools and a 750-capacity middle school. All three schools‚ Southmont and Hopewell elementary schools and Uwharrie Middle School‚ are scheduled to open in August 2001.
“ We’re extremely excited about these projects‚” says Worth Hatley‚ county schools superintendent. “Our K-8 school system is in excellent shape. We’re getting space‚ modern facilities and better technology.”
Hatley says the past year has been a busy one with redistricting and new bus routes. Now serving about 17‚300 students‚ the county school system’s enrollment is increasing by about 400 students each year.
Last year‚ 22 county schools met expected growth‚ while 18 had exemplary growth. Three of the 24 schools have been named state Schools of Distinction‚ with one Top 10 high school and one Top 25 school for K-8.
For the third year‚ the school system’s intervention centers – one in each attendance area – are helping the system deal with problem students.
The system’s character education program also has been well received. This program stresses the three R’s – respect‚ responsibility and doing the right thing.
Diane Frost‚ superintendent of Asheboro City Schools‚ says she credits much of the success of the city school system’s eight schools and 4‚300 students to the “incredible support of a wonderful community.”
Last year was a year of improvement for the school system. Class of 2000 SAT scores were at the national average.
“ The class of 2000 was an outstanding graduating class‚” she says. “They not only had our largest number of honor graduates‚ but they also earned $15 million in scholarships.
City schools also ranked ninth in the state for attendance‚ up from 11th the year before‚ and 75 percent of the schools had expected or exemplary growth in the state’s public schools accountability system. The state average is 69.6 percent.
Two of the city system’s schools‚ Guy B. Teachey Elementary and South Asheboro Middle‚ are state Schools of Distinction.
“ Our major area of emphasis last year was student achievement‚” Frost says. “In the 2000-2001 school year‚ certain skills will be required before students can be promoted to the next grade level.”
Three city schools are in the midst of significant renovation projects‚ with a fourth on the drawing board‚ Frost says. South Asheboro Middle‚ Charles W. McCrary and Guy B. Teachey Elementary Schools are adding new space. Lindley Park Elementary will be the fourth school to receive additional space in a project slated for 2001.
The school system also is pursuing “Super S” status‚ the state’s highest status for safe and orderly schools after meeting “Safe Schools” status last year.
“ We’re pursuing Super S Status but we think we’re already there‚” Frost says.
Story by Nancy Humphrey
Photo by Theresa Montgomery
