WCPSS News Headlines
WCPSS Dropout Rate Decreases in 2010-11
February 2, 2102 - The dropout rate for grades 9-12 in the Wake County Public School System decreased for 2010-11 to 3.25 percent. The WCPSS rate remains lower than the state’s average and the rates for most urban North Carolina school districts. Read More...
Community Agencies Unite for Positive Youth Development Day on Feb. 4
Feb. 1, 2012 - Community agencies are uniting for Positive Youth Development Day at the Tarboro Road Community Center this Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. WCPSS supports and is participating in this effort led by the City of Raleigh's Positive Youth Development Task Force to engage families and support young people. Read More...
Citing Progress, AdvancED Raises WCPSS's Accreditation Status
Jan. 26, 2012 - The accreditation agency AdvancED has determined that the Wake County Public School System and Wake County Board of Education have "demonstrated significant improvement" in the governance and climate of the school system, and has upgraded its accreditation status for the school year. Read More...
Yes! We'll Have an App for That
January 25, 2012 - Apex High students will soon begin developing mobile apps, thanks to a new partnership with Lenovo, the National Academy Foundation (NAF) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Superintendent Tony Tata joined leaders from Lenovo and NAF in announcing the new partnership Tuesday at Apex High.
"Our schools are strong because we have great partnerships with business and industry,” said Superintendent Tata. “This unique program gives our students practical experience with innovative technology at a time when they're making decisions about their future careers. We're creating the next generation of entrepreneurs." Read More...
Initial Magnet Results Presented to School Board
Jan. 24, 2012 - Demand for magnet programs in the Wake County Public School System remains strong, with more than twice as many magnet applications as available seats made during the December magnet selection period. WCPSS staff presented magnet selection results to the Wake County Board of Education during a work session today. Read More...
Big First Day for Choice Selection Round
Jan. 18, 2012 - Parents and guardians flocked to the Wake County Public School System's student assignment website on the first day of a six-week school choice selection period. As of 5 p.m., 7,385 students had at least one school choice registered, 3,589 of them rising kindergartners. Read More...
Mobile Enrollment Locations to Help Families Choose Schools
Jan. 17, 2012 - On the road and in communities around Wake County, the Wake County Public School System is rolling out help for families who need to enroll their children or choose a school for next year. Read More...
Parents May Choose Schools Through Feb. 24
Jan. 17, 2012 - If you are a parent wanting to choose a new school for your child to attend next year, the new school choice selection process begins at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17.
The first round of the choice selection period runs until Friday, Feb. 24. During that time, if you are new or returning to the school system, the parent of a rising kindergartner, or a parent who wants to change schools for next year, you may log onto the student assignment website, assignment.wcpss.net, investigate your options and make your choices.
Read More...
Magnet Program Selection Results Now Available
Jan. 13, 2012 - Letters are on the way to notify parents of the results of their magnet program selections for next school year, and the information will also be online on the WCPSS website today at 3 p.m. "We're pleased with the number of online applications we received," said Superintendent Tony Tata. "Our magnet programs continue to be a thriving component of our school system, as evidenced by both the quality of their unique programs and the interest families are showing in them." Read More...
Wake County Schools Report Gifts Totaling $94,144
January 11, 2012 - Businesses, Parent Teacher Associations and families donated 152 gifts valued at $94,144 to Wake County Schools. The school board received a monthly report on gifts Jan. 10.
Read More...
Families May Attend Extended Office Hours and Sessions for Information on Choice Student Assignment Plan
Jan. 3, 2012 - Families seeking more information on the Choice Student Assignment Plan can visit the Wake County Schools Administration Building during extended hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays or attend one of the information sessions being held across Wake County. Read More...
72 Teachers Renew National Board Certification
December 15, 2011 – Seventy-two Wake County Public School System educators earned renewal of their certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards this year. Read More...
Leaders4Wake Internship Program Recruits University Students
December 9, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System will tap into the tremendous resources of Triangle universities and colleges by launching Leaders4Wake, a multidisciplinary internship program to provide university undergraduate and graduate students with experiences in the school system. Read More...
WCPSS Teachers Rank #2 in Nation in Earning National Board Certification
December 7, 2011 – More than 150 Wake County Public School System educators earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards this year, keeping WCPSS first in the nation in total number of certified teachers. The NBPTS reports a total of 2,194 teachers earned certification while working with WCPSS.
WCPSS had 156 teachers earn certification this year, the second largest class of new certified teachers in the nation. WCPSS had 319 teachers earn certification last year, and 197 in 2009. Read More...
Board Members Take Oath of Office
December 6, 2011 - Three new members and two returning members of the Wake County Board of Education took the oath of office this afternoon. In a ceremony that filled the boardroom, new members Susan Evans, Christine Kushner, Jim Martin, and returning members Kevin Hill and Keith Sutton were sworn into office. Read More...
Online Magnet School Selection Period Runs Through Dec. 19
Dec. 1, 2011 – Beginning at 1 p.m. on Mon., Dec. 5, Wake County parents can participate in the online magnet selection process for the 2012-13 school year.
The magnet selection period will run from 1 p.m. on Dec. 5 through 10 p.m. on Dec. 19. The selection period is part of the Wake County Public School System’s new school choice student assignment process. Parents interested in magnet programs may log into the student assignment website, assignment.wcpss.net, during this time period to choose from a range of magnet schools based on their home address. Read More...
Garner Trojans Play for Class 4-AA High School Football Championship
The undefeated Garner Magnet High School Trojans will play for the Class 4-AA High School Football Championship at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3 in Winston-Salem at BB & T Field, Wake Forest University. Read More...
Pre-Enrollment for the 2012-13 School Year Begins Today
Nov. 28, 2011 – Pre-enrollment for the 2012-13 school year begins today for rising kindergartners and students new to the Wake County Public School System.
Parents of rising kindergartners may register at any nearby elementary school, and parents of students new to the system may register at the nearest grade-appropriate school for their child. Read More...
WCPSS Reports its Progress in AdvanceED Response
Nov. 23, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System today released copies of its Institutional Progress Report and supporting material for AdvanceED as the accrediting organization returns to Wake County. Read More...
High Demand Leads to Enrollment Cap for Walnut Creek Elementary
November 22, 2011 - To ensure that Walnut Creek Elementary continues to effectively serve children and families despite a higher student population than initially projected, the Wake County Board of Education today approved halting the enrollment of additional students during the 2011-12 school year. After today, any new students enrolling from Walnut Creek Elementary's base assignment area will be assigned to the overflow school approved by the school board, Creech Road Elementary. Read More...
Increasing Student Enrollment Makes New Walnut Creek Elementary a High Demand School
November 21, 2011 - The new Walnut Creek Elementary School has become such a high demand school that it is the second most crowded elementary school in the district.
As a result, Superintendent Tony Tata will ask the Wake County Board of Education at its next meeting to cap enrollment at the school. Walnut Creek Elementary began the school year in August with 795 students. On Nov. 16, the school had grown to serve 929 students. Capping the enrollment would mean the elementary children of families who move into the school’s attendance area after the enrollment is capped will attend a nearby school designated by the board. Read More...
WCPSS School Counselors to Heighten Efforts around Bullying Prevention
Nov. 17, 2011 –In light of the recent events that occurred in Columbus County involving the bullying of an elementary school student, school counselors within the Wake County Public School System are stepping up their efforts to educate students about bullying and bullying prevention. Read More...
WCPSS Cafeterias Serve up Consistently High Inspection Ratings
Nov. 17, 2011 – The cafeteria is an important part of the learning environment of a school, and that’s why WCPSS places great emphasis not only on the meals that are served but also the health and cleanliness of our facilities. Read More...
New Testing for High School Students Begins This Year
November 14, 2011 - As the state shifts from the NC Standard Course of Study to the new Common Core Standards and a new accountability model, North Carolina high schools will begin administering new required testing for students. Read More...
Superintendent and Staff Salute WCPSS Veterans
Nov. 10, 2011 - In recognition of Veterans Day tomorrow, Superintendent Tony Tata today expressed his appreciation to those teachers and other school system employees who have served their nation in the United States military. Read More...
Parents Can Learn More about Magnet Schools at Open House
November 8, 2011 - Parents can learn more about Wake County magnet schools by visiting the schools during open house opportunities starting this week. Read More...
Meet the New Hilburn Drive Academy
Nov. 4, 2011 - The new Hilburn Drive Academy, an elementary school becoming a combined kindergarten-through-eighth grade academy in 2012, will feature a curriculum infused with a 21st-century skills focus.
Superintendent Tony Tata presented Hilburn Drive Academy's new framework during his weekly press briefing today. "Under Gregory Ford's leadership as principal, and through the resources we have been able to provide, we will welcome sixth-graders into a new, innovative academy next year," said Tata. "Families will have a compelling reason to be a part of this stable learning community." Read More...
Need to Learn How to Choose Your School? Parent Info Sessions Underway
The Wake County Public School System is beginning a series of helpful information sessions designed to walk parents through the process of selecting a school through the new Choice Student Assignment Plan for 2012-2013. These will be offered throughout Wake County, frequently through the assistance of community partners and host organizations. Read More...
IBM Grant Provides Computers to Special Education Preschool Classrooms
November 1, 2011 - Ten pre-school special education classrooms in Wake County received IBM Kidsmart computers thanks to a $25,999 grant to the WCPSS Office of Preschool Special Education Services. Read More...
Leadership Academies, New Schools and New K-8 Academy Named
November 2, 2011 - The Wake County Board of Education yesterday named five new schools, including two innovative single-gender leadership academies, and renamed a sixth in line with its new mission. Read More...
Wake County Public School System and William Peace University Developing Leadership Academy Partnership
November 1, 2011 – The Wake County Public School System and William Peace University are working on plans to establish an early college campus for the school system's new single-gender leadership academies for students in grades six through 13 effective fall 2012. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding being developed by WCPSS and William Peace University that will be presented to their respective boards, the Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy and the Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy will be located entirely on the Peace campus. Read More...
Parents Get Advanced Look at School Choices
Oct. 27, 2011 -- WCPSS has updated its student assignment website to allow parents to preview their school choices for the 2012-2013 school year. The lists are based on center of the node driving distance to each school. In January, WCPSS will publish the choice application website that will show complete functionality, to include actual proximity from each family’s address, available seats at each proximity choice, real time numbers of requests for seats by grade level, and other key information. Read More...
Magnet Schools Fair Set for Nov. 5
October 18, 2011 – Families will have the opportunity to learn about magnet school options for their children at the Wake County Public School System magnet fair from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School. Read More...
School Board Adopts Choice-Based Student Assignment Plan
Oct. 18, 2011 - The Wake County Board of Education today approved a new student assignment model that is driven by parental choice rather than school system control. Read More...
Two High Schools Honored for High Graduation Rates
October 13, 2011 - The state honored Green Hope and Panther Creek high schools in ceremonies this week for the state’s school districts and high schools with high graduation rates.
State Superintendent June Atkinson joined Lt. Governor Walter Dalton and State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison in a ceremony in the Research Triangle Park where they recognized Green Hope and Panther Creek high schools for having top graduation rates in the state in 2010-11. Read More...
Drew Cook Named 2011 Principal of the Year
October 6, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System named Drew Cook of Garner Magnet High School the 2011 Principal of the Year and Syreeta Smith of North Forest Pines Elementary the 2011 Assistant Principal of the Year in ceremonies this evening at the Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh.
The awards ceremony is sponsored by Pierce Group Benefits and the Wake County Division of Principals and Assistant Principals. Read More...
Superintendent Presents Proposed Student Assignment Plan to Board
Oct. 5, 2011 – Superintendent Tony Tata presented his proposed student assignment plan to the Wake County Board of Education during their work session on Tuesday. Board members will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Oct. 13 before voting on the plan during their next meeting scheduled for Oct. 18.
The entire proposal along with the PowerPoint presentation to the board can be downloaded online. The student assignment website also contains highlights of the plan, frequently asked questions and a comment form. Public comments will be accepted online through midnight on Oct. 13. All comments will be shared with board members prior to the Oct. 18 board meeting. Read More...
WCPSS to Save Thousands of Dollars at the Bus Fuel Pump -- Again
Oct. 3, 2011 - Wake County taxpayers could save almost $600,000 this year thanks to a timely bulk fuel purchase by the Wake County Public School System's Transportation Department. It's the second fiscal year in a row WCPSS purchasers have been able to lock in favorable prices well below budget. Read More...
Board Approves Leadership Academies as Part of New WCPSS Facilities Plan
Oct. 4, 2011 - The Board of Education approved a new school facilities plan that includes adding two new single-gender leadership academies and converting Hilburn Drive Elementary School to a kindergarten through eighth-grade facility. The board agreed to build a new high school near Apex, a new elementary school near Wake Forest and continue improvements to Cary High. Read More...
Student Assignment Proposal Timeline Released
Sept. 30, 2011 - Superintendent Tony Tata today outlined the timeline for bringing the student assignment proposal to the Wake County Board of Education for action.
This follows seven months of work by the Student Assignment Task Force, which developed the plan and its details. Read More...
School Board to Hold Public Hearing on Student Assignment Proposal
Sept. 29, 2011 - Parents and citizens may comment on the draft student assignment proposal at a public hearing called by the Wake County Board of Education on Thursday, October 13, at 5:00 p.m. at Broughton High School. Read More...
52 Students Named National Merit Scholar Semifinalists
September 27, 2011 – Fifty-two students from 13 Wake County Public School System high schools were among the approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Read More...
Hilburn Drive K-8 Proposal Survey Expanded and Extended
Sept. 22, 2011 – An online survey on the Wake County Public School System website soliciting community feedback on an innovative K-8 concept proposed for Hilburn Drive Elementary School is now expanded and extended, following strong community participation.
The expanded survey can be found on this Website and at http://tinyurl.com/WakeK8-Concept, and will be available through Oct. 6. Parents who have already taken the survey are welcome to participate in the new, expanded survey. Read More...
National Cyber Security Competitions Open to Wake County High School Students
Sept. 22, 2011 - Wake County's computer-savvy high school students have the opportunity to put their hacking skills to the test this fall in a series of national online cyber security competitions. The competitions are designed to find students interested in computer science and inspire them toward careers in cyber security or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future.
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Superintendent to Meet Municipal Leaders, Discuss Future Programs and Facilities
Sept. 21, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System is reaching out to the leadership and chambers of commerce of our 12 municipalities to discuss the facilities and programs package recently approved by the Wake County Board of Education. A series of meetings between WCPSS and municipal leadership begins on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 2 p.m. in the Apex Town Hall with mayors Keith Weatherly (Apex) and Dick Sears (Holly Springs), followed by a Sept. 30 update to the Wake County Chambers of Commerce Leadership Meeting, hosted by the Greater Raleigh Chamber. Future updates with other municipalities are currently being scheduled. Read More...
Ninth Community Info Session Scheduled for Sept. 21 at Brier Creek Elementary
Sept. 19, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System has added a ninth community information meeting about the draft student assignment proposal. The meeting will be held in the Brier Creek Elementary cafeteria from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 21. Read More...
Wake Forest-Rolesville Senior Covers Arrival of President Obama at RDU
Sept. 19, 2011 – A student journalist at Wake Forest-Rolesville High got an opportunity that few professional journalists get – the chance to cover the arrival of President Barack Obama on Air Force One.
"It was an incredible experience – a once in a lifetime opportunity," Holden McLemore said. "The thing that caught me by surprise was how huge Air Force One is. I've seen it on TV, but when you see it in person, 50 feet away, it’s surprising how big it really is."
Read More...
WCPSS Seeks Feedback on K-8 Hilburn Drive Proposal
Sept. 16, 2011 - An online survey debuting Saturday, Sept. 17, on the Wake County Public School System website is soliciting community feedback on an innovative K-8 concept proposed for Hilburn Drive Elementary School beginning with the 2012-13 school year. Read More...
2010-11 SAT Scores Top NC and US; ACT Also Strong
September 14, 2011 - Wake County Public School System seniors continue to achieve high scores on the SAT, according to results released today by the College Board. WCPSS students continue to outscore other students around the state and across the nation. Read More...
Parent and Student Summit Planned for Sept. 17
September 13, 2011 - Parents can help their children get off to the right start this school year by attending the Empowering Parents, Students and Communities Education Summit on Saturday, Sept. 17. The summit will be in the auditorium of Enloe Magnet High School at 128 Clarendon Crescent in Raleigh. Register on site for the event beginning at 8 a.m. Presentations begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 12 p.m. Read More...
Additional Student Assignment Meeting Scheduled for Sept. 19 at Millbrook High
September 13, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System has added an eighth date in our latest series of community information meetings about the draft student assignment proposal. The remaining dates are: Tuesday, September 13 at Broughton High; Wednesday, September 14 at Sanderson High; Thursday, September 15 at East Wake High; and Monday, September 19 at Millbrook High (NEW DATE AND SITE)
Read More...
Parent Feedback Leads to Updates in Draft Student Assignment Proposal
September 12, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System's Student Assignment Task Force has released updated feeder patterns that provide improved options for families attending certain schools with magnet programs. Read More...
Additional Student Assignment Public Meeting Scheduled for September 14
September 8, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System has added another date in our series of community information meetings about the draft student assignment proposal. The additional meeting will be held at Sanderson High on Wednesday, September 14.
These community information meetings will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.:
- Tuesday, September 13 at Broughton High
- Wednesday, September 14 at Sanderson High (NEW DATE AND SITE)
- Thursday, September 15 at East Wake High Read More...
New WCPSS Leadership Team Takes Shape
September 7, 2011 - A veteran Wake County educator and a telecommunications state president are the latest additions to the Wake County Public School System's leadership team.
"We're proud of the team we're assembling," said Superintendent Tony Tata. "It has the right mix of local experience and new, innovative thinking from a variety of perspectives. What we all have in common are high expectations for student achievement and the will to build a culture of continuous improvement." Read More...
Long-term Suspension Rates Decline in 2010-11
September 1, 2011 - Fewer Wake County students were long-term suspended and more students availed themselves of alternative educational programs during the last school year.
The Wake County Public School System saw a 22.3 percent decrease in its number of students placed on long-term suspension in the 2010-11 school year. 647 students were placed on long-term suspension in 2010-11, compared with 833 students in 2009-10. Read More...
Power Outage at Alston Ridge Elementary
Sept. 1, 2011 - Alston Ridge Elementary is experiencing a power outage. As of 3 p.m., the school did not have power or phone service. The school releases students at 3:45 p.m. Duke Energy is working on the problem and expects to have it resolved by 5 p.m. Read More...
WCPSS Pushes to Enroll Qualified Students in Algebra I
August 30, 2011 - If your child passes Algebra I by eighth grade, he or she is much more likely to be college-bound. However, not all Wake County Public School System students who could have succeeded in Algebra I were placed in the right courses to put them on this path. Through a new school board policy and guidelines, and using data tools that help us better predict student success, WCPSS is changing course. Read More...
Student Assignment Community Information Meetings
August 30, 2011 - Members of the Wake County Public School System's Student Assignment Task Force will lead a series of community information meetings during the next three weeks to provide the community an update on the development of a staff student assignment proposal and to answer questions from the public.
Upcoming meetings: Thurs., Sept. 8 at Southeast Raleigh High; Tues., Sept. 13 at Broughton High; and Thurs., Sept. 15 at East Wake High.
Read More...
Schools Are Ready for Hurricane Irene
August 26, 2011 - Wake County Public School System principals and staff have prepared our schools for Hurricane Irene's landfall on the North Carolina coast. Read More...
Drive Safely with Start of New School Year
August 24, 2011 - Traffic around schools will increase and students will return to bus stops when the Wake County Public School System's traditional calendar schools begin the new school year on August 25.
We ask drivers to help keep our students safe as they learn new routines with the start of a new school year.
The traditional calendar schools are returning to session providing a noticeable increase in traffic and a few changes in transportation patterns near schools. Read More...
WCPSS Schools Seek Honors in Healthier US School Challenge
August 22, 2011 - Wake County will increase the number of North Carolina schools credited with meeting federal nutrition and exercise standards with the submission of 102 elementary school applications to the US Department of Agriculture.
Schools that receive the awards have high student participation in school lunch programs, uphold high nutritional standards in meals served to students and promote physical education and activities for students. Read More...
Superintendent Tata and Task Force Update Board on New Student Assignment Plan
August 17, 2011 - Superintendent Tony Tata and Student Assignment Task Force members provided an update on the task force’s work to develop a new student assignment process to school board members in a work session August 16. Read More...
Students Must Now Pay Fee to take Driver Education Classes
August 17, 2011 – Starting this school year, students in the Wake County Public School System who enroll in driver education will have to pay a $45 fee to take the course.
In the past, WCPSS offered driver education at no cost to all Wake County students between the ages of 14.5 and 18. However, this year a state budget shortfall prompted the NC General Assembly to cut approximately $5.2 million from the appropriation for driver education classes across the state. Read More...
No Child Left Behind Annual Yearly Progress Information for Wake County Public School System
August 8, 2011 - No Child Left Behind (NCLB) guidelines stipulate that Title I schools, that have not met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets for two consecutive years in the same subject, enter Title I School Improvement. The schools are required to notify parents of their option to attend a school that is not in Title I School Improvement (Choice Option) at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the next school year. Students will be able to attend the choice school until they complete 5th grade. Transportation will be provided as long as the sending school remains in Title I School Improvement. Read More...
WCPSS 2010-11 Graduation Rate Jumps Above 80 Percent
August 4, 2011 – The 2011 graduation rate was 80.4 percent for the Wake County Public School System, according to the four-year cohort graduation rate data released by the state today. This is the school district’s highest rate since the 82.6 percent rate in 2006. Read More...
ABCs Results: 96 Schools Honored, 95 Percent Make Expected Growth
August 4, 2011 – Ninety-six Wake County public schools earned recognition as an Honor School of Excellence, School of Excellence or School of Distinction, according to information released by the State Board of Education today. Read More...
WCPSS Releases AYP Results
July 21, 2011 - Twenty-two Wake County public schools met the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standard for 2010-11, according to the preliminary results for Adequate Yearly Progress released today by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. These results reflect the higher NCLB performance standards for 2010-11 making it more challenging for schools to achieve AYP. Overall, the system met 82 percent of its total AYP targets (3,144 out of 3,813). Read More...
Upcoming Summer Freshman Camps Help Students Transition to High School
July 19, 2011 - Wake County high schools will offer freshman camps or orientation sessions this summer to help our rising ninth-graders make the oftentimes-difficult transition from middle school to high school a little easier. Each high school developed its own version of Freshman Camp in order to personalize its program, staff and campus facilities for the rising ninth grade students. Read More...
HS Sports Practices Start July 30, MS Practices On Aug. 25
July 14, 2011 - Summer break for Wake County's student athletes will soon be over.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) set July 30 (a Saturday, check with your school) as the first day for tryouts and practice for high school students. Middle school athletic teams start practice on Aug. 25. Read More...
Meal Benefit Applications Sent to All Families
July 13, 2011 - Every household with a child in Wake County Schools will be mailed a Free & Reduced price meal application this year, to ensure all parents are fully informed of the benefits. The decision to mail to every household provides an opportunity for every qualified family to enroll in the federal program. Read More...
Drive Safely with Start of New School Year July 11
July 8, 2011 – Drivers will find students back at bus stops and school buses traveling the streets when the Wake County Public School System’s year-round schools begin the new school year on July 11.
We ask drivers to help keep our students safe as they learn new routines with the start of a new school year. Read More...
Central Services Moving to New Offices in Cary
July 6, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System will consolidate Central Services departments in new offices at the Crossroads Office Park in Cary this summer.
You will find the new home for the school system in the Crossroads I Building, located at 5625 Dillard Drive, near existing WCPSS offices in the Crossroads II Building, located at 110 Corning Road. The move consolidates most WCPSS administrative services in two buildings at one location.
Departments will be moving throughout July and August. Please check the moving schedule for a department's location before visiting Central Services during these months. Read More...
Global and STEM School Networks Launch
June 17, 2011 - This week saw school leaders from across Wake County gather for the launch of WCPSS's Global Schools and STEM Schools Collaborative Networks. Schools already involved in international or STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields of study welcomed additional schools to the fold, and attendees pledged to work together to prepare a new generation for the global and technological challenges of tomorrow. Read More...
Trial Simulation of WCPSS Assignment Proposal Extended to June 24
June 17, 2011 – Superintendent Tony Tata today announced he is extending the online simulation of the proposed Community-Based Choice Plan, also known as the Blue Plan, until midnight on June 24.
The school system is also holding a number of community outreach events on Sunday, June 19 and Monday June 20 to help increase participation in the simulation.
"We have had a great response to the 'test drive' of the Blue Plan, and we’re hoping that by extending the trial period we can get even more data that will help us better understand what parents would choose in such a plan," Tata said. Read More...
Trial Simulation of School Choice Proposal Available June 13 - 20
June 10, 2011 - Superintendent Tony Tata is calling on parents throughout Wake County to participate in an online simulation of the proposed Community-Based Choice Plan, commonly known as the “Blue Plan.” The simulation is the next step in the school district’s process of developing a long-range student assignment plan.
Starting June 13 at 5 p.m., and continuing through June 20, parents can come to this Website to rank the school choices available for their address. This test run will gauge how parents might select their children’s school, in the event a choice-based system is used for assigning students in the 2012-13 school year. The choices produced under the simulation are samples only and will not affect students’ assignments for next year. Read More...
Class of 2011 -- Stories of Accomplishment
June 7, 2011 - The class of 2011 is the largest to graduate from the Wake County Public School System with 8,858 students.
These students earned a record $79.8 million in scholarships. Many of the students have established records of tremendous accomplishment, some despite difficult circumstances. Read More...
Graduation Ceremonies Underway for 22 High Schools
June 7, 2011 - Graduation ceremonies are underway for 22 Wake County Public School System high schools. More than 8,800 students will graduate this year.
Twenty high schools will hold graduation ceremonies between Thursday, June 9 and Sunday, June 12. Many of the ceremonies will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center and Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts. Read More...
Student Assignment Plans Updated with Middle & High School Options
June 3, 2011, Raleigh, NC - WCPSS Superintendent Tony Tata has announced the addition of middle and high school options to the online student assignment proposals website. Parents can now see a sample list for middle and high school options that could be used in a new student assignment plan starting with the 2012-13 school year. The middle and high school options are available for the two leading assignment proposals: The Community-based Choice model, known as the Blue Plan, and the Base Schools Achievement Plan, known as the Green Plan. Read More...
Class of 2011 Graduates More Than 8,800 Students
June 2, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System will award diplomas to 8,858 students in 22 ceremonies through Sunday, June 12.
The class of 2011 earned $79.8 million in scholarships, had 1,119 students qualify for the North Carolina Scholars program and more than 1,498 Honor Society graduates. Read More...
Ten Information Meetings Scheduled to Present Details of Student Assignment Proposals
May 24, 2011 – Members of the Wake County Public School System's Student Assignment Task Force will lead a series of community information meetings to provide details of the two draft student assignment proposals to families who may have difficulty accessing the plans online.
Please note that these meetings are for informational purposes. Comment cards will be available and collected, but there is not a public comment portion during this meeting. The Board of Education will schedule public hearings later in the process.
Meetings are scheduled for May 31, June 1, and June 2 (full schedule after the jump). Read More...
Public Sends Comments as Assignment Task Force Continues Work
May 24, 2011—Superintendent Tony Tata released two student assignment proposals yesterday afternoon, and in the nearly 24 hours since then, thousands of citizens have visited the student assignment Web site to learn about the two leading proposals – the Blue Plan and the Green Plan. Read More...
Wake Early College of Health and Sciences Holds 1st Graduation of the Year
May 24, 2011 - The Wake Early College of Health and Sciences will hold the first Wake County Public School System graduation ceremony of the 2011 school year tonight at 7 p.m. at Meymandi Hall at the Progress Energy Building. It's the second graduation for the school, whose 47 graduates earned $700,000 in scholarships this year. Read More...
Superintendent Tony Tata Presents Student Assignment Proposals
May 23, 2011 - WCPSS Superintendent Tony Tata today presented two draft student assignment proposals following more than two months of research and analysis by a task force of administrators he created in March. Read More...
No Child Left Behind Annual Yearly Progress Information for Wake County Public School System
May 20, 2011 - No Child Left Behind (NCLB) guidelines stipulate that Title I schools, that have not met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets for two consecutive years in the same subject, enter Title I School Improvement. The schools are required to notify parents of their option to attend a school that is not in Title I School Improvement (Choice Option) at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the next school year. Students will be able to attend the choice school until they complete 5th grade. Transportation will be provided as long as the sending school remains in Title I School Improvement. Read More...
2011 WCPSS Valedictorians Celebrate Success
May 18, 2011 - Wake County Board of Education members will honor the 26 Wake County Public School System 2011 valedictorians at the board's June meeting.
Read More...
Farmington Woods Named Top Elementary Magnet School
May 17, 2011 - The Magnet Schools of America awarded Farmington Woods International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme Magnet Elementary the Elementary School of Excellence Award, the honor given to the top magnet elementary school in the nation. Read More...
Middle Creek Senior Named US Presidential Scholar
May 17, 2011 - US Education Secretary Arne Duncan named Middle Creek High Senior James David Turner a 2011 US Presidential Scholar.
Turner is the only WCPSS student and one of two NC students among the 141 outstanding high school seniors to receive this honor. NC State University has named Turner a Park Scholar, providing full tuition for four years at NC State valued at $80,000, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, travel, and personal expenses. Turner has earned the honor of valedictorian at Middle Creek High. Read More...
2011-12 Assignments Given to Students May 13, Transfer Window Open Through June 1
May 12, 2011 - The official school assignments for the 2011-12 school year will be given to students on May 13 to take home. (Transfer forms now available.) Read More...
Sanderson High Teacher is 2011 Wake County Teacher of the Year
May 12, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System named Sanderson High teacher Stephanie Rhodes as the 2011 Wake County Teacher of the Year. Read More...
Meet the 2011 Teacher of the Year Finalists
May 10, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System will name one of 12 finalists the 2011 Wake County Teacher of the Year at a banquet on Thursday, May 12 at the Embassy Suites in Cary. Read More...
Five WCPSS Seniors Named Morehead-Cain Scholars
May 10, 2011 - The Morehead-Cain Foundation selected five Wake County Public School System high school seniors as 2011 Morehead-Cain Scholars. The scholarship covers all expenses for four years of undergraduate study at UNC, as well as four distinctive summer enrichment experiences. Scholars have the opportunity to complete an outdoor leadership course, carry out public service in the United States or abroad, conduct research at sites around the world and gain experience in private enterprise. The scholarship is valued at more than $90,000. Read More...
Four WCPSS Seniors Named Park Scholars
May 9, 2011 - North Carolina State University has named four Wake County Public School System high school seniors as 2011 Park Scholars. The Park Scholar awards provide full tuition for four years at NC State valued at $80,000, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, travel, and personal expenses. Read More...
Board Approves Changing Five Year-round Schools to Single Track
May 4, 2011 - The Board of Education approved changing five under-enrolled year-round schools to operate on a single-track for the next two years. The change should provide an operational savings of $400,000 for the school year. Read More...
Board of Education Approves 2011-12 School System Budget
May 3, 2011 - The Wake County Board of Education adopted the fiscal year 2011-12 budget for the school system at its meeting tonight.
The board action in its May 3 meeting followed discussions in work sessions and a public hearing. The board adopted the budget as recommended by Superintendent Tata last March. Read More...
Work Nearing Completion on Walnut Creek Elementary
May 3, 2011 - Work is nearing completion on Walnut Creek Elementary, our newest Wake County school. The school will open in August. Read More...
International Family Conference on May 7
May 3, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System will hold the first K-12 International Family Conference, "Emerging Leaders," from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 7 at Millbrook Magnet High School located at 2201 Spring Forest Road in Raleigh. Read More...
President Obama Honors King as One of the Nation's Best Math and Science Teachers
April 29, 2011 - President Obama named WCPSS Teacher Zebetta King one of 85 recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Superintendent Tata congratulates Zebetta King on earning Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. King is the WCPSS Senior Administrator for Elementary Science. She has served on the Wake County Elementary Science Steering Committee and has been a leader in developing curriculum documents to supplement the NC Science Standard Course of Study. She has presented professional development trainings at national, regional, and local science education leadership institutes and conferences. Read More...
Schools added to STEM and Global Schools Networks
April 26, 2011 - Superintendent Tony Tata today announced the names of the five Wake County schools joining the STEM Schools Collaborative Network and the first three schools that will join the Global Schools Collaborative Network. Read More...
Four Standout First-Year Teachers Win 2011 Diane Kent-Parker Awards
April 19, 2011 - The Wake County Public School System today announced the winners of the prestigious Diane Kent-Parker First-Year Teacher Awards for 2011. Read More...
Eight Teachers Named Kenan Fellows
April 19, 2011 - The Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development selected eight Wake County Public School System teachers to join the Class of 2012 Kenan Fellows. Read More...
Superintendent Tony Tata Calls for Strengthening Student Transfer Process
April 15, 2011 - Wake County Public School System Superintendent Tony Tata proposed improvements to the student transfer process today, following a thorough review of the process. Tata cited the opportunity to improve the clarity and transparency of the student transfer process. Read More...
Parents, Students, Teachers Get a Voice In Under-Enrolled Year-Round Schools Decision
April 13, 2011 - Parents, students and staff at 14 under-enrolled Wake County year-round schools are being asked their opinions about the idea of scheduling all students on a single-track for the 2011-12 school year. Notification of an online survey begins today, with the internet survey going live tomorrow, April 14. The deadline for completing the survey is April 30. Read More...
Xtreme Beginnings Career Fair to Draw Hundreds of Students and Volunteers
April 13, 2011 - Sometimes students need a nudge to remind them that there's life after high school, and that the choices they make today can help them find a fulfilling career in adulthood. That's why the Wake County business community supports Xtreme Beginnings, WCPSS's annual career fair for 10th- through 12th-graders, on Friday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to noon at NC State's McKimmon Center. Read More...
NC Highway Patrol Promises to Step Up Enforcement near High Schools
April 11, 2011 - The NC Highway Patrol launched Operation Drive to Live today in a news conference at Millbrook Magnet High School where they promised increased enforcement and education to slow young drivers and reduce the number of young drivers killed in auto accidents. Read More...
Superintendent Tata Discusses Strengthening Schools
April 8, 2011 - Superintendent Tony Tata talked with reporters and photographers today about his use of the budget to strengthen schools, the concerns he has heard about under enrolled year-round schools and the work of his student assignment task force. Read More...
Superintendent Tata Proposes Flexibility for Year-round Principals
April 5, 2011 - Superintendent Tony Tata wants to give principals at some year-round schools more flexibility in track assignments for the coming school year. In his visits to schools, Tata has been talking with principals about their concerns. He has also reviewed assignment data for 2011-12 that identify a number of multi-track, year-round schools that may be at or below 100 percent of their single- track capacity for 2011-12. Read More...
Sixty-Five Gifted WCPSS Students Selected for 2011 Governor's School
April 4, 2011 - Sixty-five Wake County Public School System rising high school juniors and seniors are part of the 600 students selected to attend the 2011 Governor's School, the six-week summer program for academically or intellectually gifted students. Read More...
Superintendent Tony Tata Launches Online Chats to Engage Community
April 1, 2011 -- WCPSS Superintendent Tony Tata held his first “Virtual Town Hall” meeting this morning. The online chat sessions are part of Tata’s efforts to engage Wake County parents and citizens in ongoing conversations about the Wake County Public School System. Read More...
Superintendent Tata Kicks Off Series of Weekly News Briefings
April 1, 2010 – Superintendent Tony Tata kicked off his first weekly briefing with the news media this morning as he met with reporters and photographers from local media outlets. Tata plans to meet with the news media each Friday morning to share vital information related to the Wake County Public School System and to provide reporters access to ask him any questions they may have. Read More...
Superintendent Tata Asks for Public's Help in Improving Bus Safety
Superintendent Tony Tata is inviting public feedback on transportation issues in the Wake County Public School System. It's part of his efforts to improve a department that transports more than 73,000 students every day. Read More...
Sixty Students Named 2011 NC Teaching Fellows
March 29, 2011 – The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program named 60 Wake County Public School System high school seniors 2011 Teaching Fellows and 18 students as alternates.
The Teaching Fellows Program provides a $6,500 per year scholarship for four years at one of 17 North Carolina colleges or universities in turn for the students agreeing to teach for four years in one of North Carolina’s public schools. Read More...
School Board Affirms Student Assignment Policy in Office of Civil Rights Investigation
March 29, 2011 - The Wake County Board of Education denied allegations of discrimination in a 42-page response to an inquiry by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights ("OCR"). The school board stated that there is no evidence that any of their decisions about student assignment policies or procedures were "motivated by racial animus. The school board denied that it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964." Read More...
'Virtual Town Halls' Will Connect Superintendent and Community
March 25, 2011 -- WCPSS superintendent Tony Tata welcomes Wake County parents and citizens to an ongoing conversation beginning Friday, April 1, through a monthly online "Virtual Town Hall" at the school system's website.
"Our supportive, passionate and multi-cultural community is the foundation of our schools," said Tata. "That's one of our core beliefs, and we will honor it by engaging our community up front. I want to hear your concerns and suggestions for increasing every student's achievement." Read More...
Beijing Royal School Principal Visits Millbrook Magnet High
March 24, 2011 - Wang Guangfa, businessman, philanthropist, educator and the driving force behind the Beijing Royal School of Beijing, China, visited Millbrook Magnet High today. Wang visited classrooms as part of his research on US teaching styles and discussed an possible exchange program with a group of interested students. Read More...
Magnet and Calendar Application Results Available Online Starting March 24
March 22, 2011 – Families who submitted an application to attend one of Wake County’s magnet schools or to request a specific calendar will be able to learn the status of their applications on Thursday, March 24. The information will be available on this Website. Read More...
April is Adolescent Immunization Month
March 22, 2011 - Adolescents need vaccines to prevent disease. Vaccines such as Tdap (protects against whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus and diphtheria), are required for entry into the sixth grade. Read More...
Millbrook's Hard Work Pays Off; New IB Diploma Programme Offers Students New Options
March 21, 2011 - Millbrook Magnet High has earned authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization to become one of 720 US high schools offering the IB Diploma Programme. Students can opt to take the new two-year, college-level course of study in the fall of 2011.
"We've been sitting on the edge of our chairs waiting for this news since our site visit last October," said Assistant Principal Kelly Aman. "We have been authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School, and that is a very exciting culmination of 18 months of very hard work."
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WCPSS Celebrates National Early College High School Week
March 17, 2011 - More than 200 Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) students are enrolled in the Wake Early College of Health and Science, and that number will increase with the opening of the Wake NC State University STEM Early College in the fall.
The two WCPSS Early College high schools are among the more than 70 Early Colleges in North Carolina. These schools account for nearly one-third of the early college programs nationwide. Read More...
Wake County Public Schools Maintain Accreditation
March 16, 2011 -- The Wake County Public School System will retain its full accreditation while having until November 2011 to address required actions received from AdvancED, the accreditation division of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The results of a review by the accreditation agency were presented this morning to Wake County Board of Education Chair Ron Margiotta, Vice Chair Debra Goldman, and Superintendent Tony Tata.
"I welcome this input as I continue my listening tour of Wake County. We are already attacking many of the recommendations and intend to aggressively implement all of them," Tata said. Read More...
Five Honored with Employee Excellence Awards
Five Wake County Public School System employees were recognized by the Board of Education with Employee Excellence Awards on March 15. Read More...
Superintendent's Budget Protects Classrooms, Boosts Programs at Small Schools
Wake County Public School System Superintendent Tony Tata today presented his 2011-12 budget recommendation to the Board of Education. Read More...
First of Three Audit Reports Delivered to WCPSS
March 14, 2011 – Today the Wake County Public School System received the first of three audits being provided by the Broad Superintendents Academy as part of its support program for Superintendent Tony Tata. The audit focused on district-wide communications, outlining recommendations intended to improve how the district communicates internally and externally with key stakeholders. Read More...
High Schools Bridge Miles and Opportunity Gaps with Teleconferencing
March 11 , 2011 - A small group of students at Knightdale High School take an Advanced Placement (AP) Government class each morning. However, their teacher, Michael Miragliuolo, and the rest of their classmates are on the other side of the county in Cary at Green Hope High School.
This past fall, the Wake County Public School System received a grant from Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation to establish a special teleconferencing program between Green Hope High and Knightdale High. Distance education labs are now up and running at both schools. Read More...
Building a School Calendar Is a Balancing Act
March 9, 2011 - Creating the instructional calendar for the school system is much more complicated than you would imagine. School administrators work to build an instructional calendar that conforms to state law, school system policy and family needs.
"The first thing is knowing that our main focus was to meet student needs from the instructional standpoint, and then we also really tried to focus in on making sure that some of the different components of the calendar meet family needs for those important times like spring break, winter break and the Thanksgiving holiday," said Calendar Committee Member (and Aversboro Elementary Principal) Paul Domenico. "We tried to take all that into consideration, and we really tried to make sure we met the needs of what would make sense for students from the learning standpoint and from the family needs, too."
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WCPSS Saves Half Million Dollars with Creative Fuel Purchase for School Buses
March 9, 2011 – A purchasing decision made by Wake County Public School System staff will save taxpayers a half million dollars on diesel fuel costs to operate its school buses. Read More...
Renaissance School Plan Offers Bonus Pay for High Performing Teachers
March 9, 2011 - A three-year bonus pay plan for educators has been approved by the Board of Education for the four schools in the Renaissance School plan. Using federal Race to the Top funds, the school system is working to boost student achievement at Barwell Road Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, Creech Road Elementary, and Wilburn Elementary. Read More...
Superintendent Tata Assembles Team to Begin Work on Student Assignment Plan
March 8, 2011 - Superintendent Tony Tata has assembled a team of Central Services administrators to begin work on the development of a new student assignment plan for the Wake County Public School System. Today, Tata announced the staff members that will be serving on the student assignment team. Read More...
Dropout Rate Increases Slightly for 2009-10
March 3, 2011 - The dropout rate for grades 9-12 in the Wake County Public School System increased for 2009-10 to 3.53 percent, but the WCPSS rate remains lower than the state's average and the rates for most urban North Carolina school districts. Read More...
Board of Education Approves New Mission, Vision and Core Beliefs
March 3, 2011 - The Wake County Board of Education has come to agreement and voted approval of a new mission, vision and set of core beliefs.
The board voted approval of these guiding principles at its meeting on March 1, after spending a day on Friday, Feb. 25 working with Superintendent Tony Tata in a planning retreat.
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WCPSS Renaissance Model to Provide Support for Four Elementary Schools
March 1 , 2011 - North Carolina recently received a $400 million grant from the Federal Race to the Top competition to be used over the next four years to help increase student achievement throughout our state. The Wake County Public School System will receive $10.2 million of those funds to be utilized for activities designed to improve the academic achievement of students in our school district.
A portion of these funds will be used for our Renaissance Model. WCPSS developed the Renaissance Model to provide support for four of our elementary schools that could benefit from the extra resources provided by this grant: Barwell Road Elementary, Brentwood Magnet Elementary, Creech Road Elementary and Wilburn Elementary. Read More...
15 Magnet Schools Honored by Magnet Schools of America
February 22, 2011 - Fifteen WCPSS magnet schools have been honored as top magnet schools in the nation by the Magnet Schools of America.
Schools are recognized as 2011 Magnet Schools of Excellence which are considered for the top magnet school in the nation. Schools also earn recognition as Magnet Schools of Distinction.
"I am excited to see the large number and wide variety of our magnet schools earn national recognition," said Dr. Donna Hargens, WCPSS Chief Academic Officer. "This points to the choices Wake County families can make selecting from a variety of high quality schools that are recognized as being among the best in the country." Read More...
Schools Recognized for Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Programs
Feb. 16, 2011 - Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Programs are helping the Wake County Public School System impact the learning environments in our schools in order to support high student performance and to reduce behavioral problems. Read More...
Application Period for 2011-12 WCPSS Calendar and Magnet School Programs Opens Feb. 21
February 15, 2011 - The application period for the Wake County Public School System calendar and magnet schools will open Feb. 21 and continue through March 7. Read More...
Board Approves School Assignment Changes for 2011-12 School Year
February 4, 2011 - At its Feb. 1 meeting, the Board of Education approved school assignment changes for 2011-12, taking votes on 50 changes requested by families, the school board and school principals along with recommendations from staff. The approved plan will send about 3,500 students to different schools this fall. Read More...
STEM Schools Provide Science, Technology, Engineering, Math Instruction
February 3, 2011 - The new Wake STEM Early College at NC State University will join other WCPSS schools that are focused on science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) instruction.
At Brentwood Magnet School of Engineering, students learn science lessons using engineering processes. A team of fifth graders are studying wind energy by designing windmills. Read More...
Tata Sworn in as Wake County Superintendent of Schools
February 1, 2011 - Anthony Tata was sworn in as the new Superintendent of the Wake County Public School System today.
NC Appeals Court Judge Douglas McCullough administered the oath of office as Tata placed his hand on a Bible held by his sister, mother and wife. His father watched from the audience. Read More...
Board Completes Review of 2011-12 Assignment Proposal
January 28, 2011 – The Board of Education completed its second work session Thursday reviewing the 2011-12 Assignment Proposal after devoting an all-day session to discussions Tuesday. Read More...
Magnet Schools Hold Information Sessions and Tours
January 21, 2011 - Families who are interested in exploring magnet school options for their children for 2011-12 will have the chance to visit schools in upcoming information sessions and tours. Read More...
Sanderson JROTC Students Get to Know the Air Force
January 20, 2011 - Students who sign up for the Air Force Junior ROTC program at Sanderson High are held to high standards and enjoy a number of JROTC activities during the school year. Read More...
Principals Put EVAAS to Work for Students
January 18, 2011 - Wake County educators are using the Education Value Added Assessment System, EVAAS, to help make data driven decisions for students and student instruction. Read More...
Dillard Drive Practice Event Comes to Successful Conclusion
January 24, 2011 - At 2:10 this afternoon, the multi-agency full scale exercise at the Dillard Drive Elementary and Middle campus came to a successful conclusion.
"We learned a lot during this drill, and I'm confident that this leaves Wake County's emergency responders even better prepared to communicate with each other to protect our kids," said Randy Dishong, WCPSS security investigator and exercise manager. "We met our objectives, there were no injuries, and the neighborhood is returning to normal. We want to thank the neighbors for their patience, all of the agencies for their participation, and our sponsors for their support." Read More...
Board Receives Update on 2011-12 Assignment Proposal
January 6, 2011 – The Board of Education received an update on the 2011-12 student assignment proposal from WCPSS Auxiliary Services Chief Don Haydon and Laura Evans of the WCPSS Growth and Planning Department in its committee meeting Tuesday. Read More...
Kingswood Elementary Named National Title I Distinguished School
January 6, 2011 - Kingswood Elementary School has been recognized as a 2010 National Title I Distinguished School by the National Title I Association. Kingswood is one of only two schools in the state selected for this honor.
Principal Sherry Schliesser said the teachers at Kingswood have been working to internalize the powerful practices of professional learning teams, Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), and Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) which helps teachers plan and deliver lessons that allow English learners to acquire academic knowledge as they develop English language proficiency. Read More...
Anthony J. Tata Named Next WCPSS Superintendent
December 23, 2010 - The Wake County Board of Education today selected Anthony J. Tata to be the next superintendent of the Wake County Public School System. Ron Margiotta, chairman of the school board, announced that Tata would arrive in Wake County in early January to meet with the school board, teachers, staff and community. He will begin his duties as superintendent on January 31, 2011. Read More...
Sixty Teachers Earn National Board Re-Certification
December 20, 2010 - Sixty Wake County Public School System educators earned re-certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards this year. Read More...
Study of Professional Learning Teams Finds Increased Collaboration and Understanding
December 20, 2010 - A school system study looking at the implementation of professional learning teams in schools found that teachers are reporting that the team meetings have steadily increased collaboration, understanding of learning standards and understanding of assessments. Analyses based on 2008-09 professional learning team work show a positive correlation between high levels of professional learning team implementation and students' academic achievement, attendance and their overall level of satisfaction with their schools. Read More...
Online Registration Open for Student Assignment Public Hearings
December 17, 2010 - The Board of Education will hold public hearings on the staff proposal for adjustments to the student assignment plan for the 2011-12 school year at five high schools in January. The Board of Education has also asked for community input regarding additional assignment changes that have been suggested. You can now register to speak at one of the hearings online. Updated to reflect schedule changes resulting from winter weather. Read More...
Decision-making Process for Inclement Weather Situations
Closing schools due to inclement weather is a difficult and complex decision. WCPSS uses a combination of factors based on the best interest of our students and their families. Although weather conditions can vary across the county, when a decision is made to close schools, it is always for the entire district. Read More...
Teachers Set Records in Earning National Board Certification
December 15, 2010 - More than 300 Wake County Public School System educators earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards this year, helping WCPSS establish a number of records in supporting teachers who pursue and achieve National Board Certification.
WCPSS is first in the nation and the state in the total number of teachers who earned certification this year. And WCPSS now has more than 2,000 teachers who have earned certification. Read More...
We Need Your Suggestions for the 2011-12 Budget
Staff anticipates that continued growth, and federal and state budget cuts will create a significant funding shortfall for 2011-12. We are soliciting suggestions from the public on managing this situation. Read More...
2011-12 Reassignment Proposal Online
The 2011-12 Reassignment Proposal is now available. You may make comments on the schools and nodes in the staff proposal online, starting today. Read More...
Magnet Schools Provide Richness of Instruction
December 2, 2010 - Wake County magnet schools have been consistently honored among the best magnet schools in the nation. For nearly 30 years, families have enrolled in magnet schools to take advantage of the theme-related instruction that these schools offer. Read More...
Schools Have Increased Flexibility to Address Student Discipline
December 2, 2010 - Revisions to school policy and strategies that keep students focused on instruction will provide schools increased flexibility in addressing student discipline. Read More...
Financial Aid Workshops for Families with Students Heading to College
November 18, 2010 - The College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and Wake County Financial Aid Advisor Program will sponsor workshops on Financial Aid for college for parents and students in Wake County in December and January. Read More...
Students' Holiday Projects: Support Troops, Perform at Candle Tea
November 17, 2010 - As the winter holidays near, families and schools prepare for special time together. Teachers develop creative projects that give students a chance to help others and students share their talents in holiday activities. Here are some of the planned events from educators who have shared their stories with us. Read More...
Guthrie Earns National Athletic Director Award
November 17, 2010 - Bobby Guthrie, WCPSS Senior Administrator for Athletics, is one of eight high school athletic directors from across the nation to be awarded the NFHS Citation during luncheon festivities next month at the 41st annual National Athletic Directors Conference sponsored by the National Federation of State High School Associations and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Read More...
Magnet Schools Hold Open Houses this Week
November 15, 2010 - The Wake County Public School System will hold a series of open houses and magnet school information sessions prior to the magnet online application acceptance period, which has been scheduled for Feb. 14-28, 2011.
The first series of open houses will take place this week starting Tuesday, Nov. 16 for the magnet elementary and high schools and Wednesday, Nov. 17 for the magnet middle schools. Read More...
Fourth Community Workshop Added to Discuss 2011-12 Assignments
November 12, 2010 - The Wake County Public School System has added a fourth community workshop at Garner High to inform and involve the public in the 2011-12 student assignment process. The list of proposed changes for the 2011-2012 student assignment plan is now available. Read More...
Durant Road Elementary Serves Visually Impaired Students
November 4, 2010 - Durant Road Elementary is one of several schools across Wake County specially equipped to serve visually impaired students. There is a team of specialists at the school who teach students skills that help them succeed in regular education classrooms. Read More...
Community Workshops to Discuss Third Year of Multi-Year Assignment Plan
November 4, 2010 - The Wake County Public School System announced a series of community workshops to inform and involve the public in the 2011-12 student assignment process. Read More...
Explore Magnet Schools Fair
October 27, 2010 - The Magnet Schools Fair ( 9 am - 12 pm, Sat., Nov. 6, Southeast Raleigh Magnet High) offers parents and students the opportunity to explore the diverse offerings of Wake's magnet programs. WCPSS magnet schools have been honored as some of the best in the nation. The Fair offers those considering applying to a magnet program a unique opportunity to investigate their options and to meet staff and students from magnet schools. Read More...
Two High Schools Honored for Graduation Rates
October 15, 2010 - Two Wake County Public School System high schools were among 20 North Carolina high schools honored by State Superintendent June Atkinson for having the highest four-year cohort graduation rates in the state for the 2009-10 school year. Read More...
Pizza Promo Provides for Pupils
October 15, 2010 -- Today you can support all of WCPSS's schools by ordering a pizza. The Wake County Corporate Operators and Franchisee of Papa John's Pizza will be donating a portion of their proceeds from their October 20 pizza sales to WCPSS schools. Read More...
Saturday, October 23 is Make A Difference Day for Literacy
The Wake County Public School System's community service project, designed to assist students in need of additional literary assistance, will soon be coming to an end. There are only a few days left for you to participate and help make a real difference in the life of a Wake County Student.
As we lead up to the 20th anniversary of the nationwide Make a Difference Day on Oct. 23, we need families and community members to create and donate Early Literacy Kits. WCPSS is hoping to collect 5,000 kits by noon on Oct. 23. The kits will be distributed by our elementary schools to students who have been identified for being at risk of not being on reading level this year. Read More...
Astronaut Speaks to Stough Students
October 12, 2010 - Former NASA Astronaut Frank Culbertson challenged Stough Elementary students to prepare today to be an astronaut who could share his experiences of looking back at the earth from space.
"I think they need to think big," said Culbertson. "In 20 or 30 years from now, I think we will be sending people to Mars and this is the generation that will do it. If they want to go, they need to prepare now."
Culbertson said today's students need to be aware of the importance of taking care of our planet. Read More...
WCPSS Enrollment Grows to 143,289 Students for 2010-11
October 8, 2010 - Wake County Public School System student enrollment increased to 143,289 on the 20th day of the 2009-10 school year, 3,690 students more than last year. Read More...
King Named 2010 Principal of the Year
October 7, 2010 - The Wake County Public School System named Dana King of Millbrook Magnet High School the 2010 Principal of the Year and Robert Grant of Briarcliff Elementary the 2010 Assistant Principal of the Year in ceremonies this evening at the Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh. The awards ceremony is sponsored by Pierce Group Benefits, the Wake County Public School System and the Wake County Division of Principals and Assistant Principals. Read More...
2010 Principal of the Year Finalists
October 6, 2010 - The Principal of the Year and the Assistant Principal of the Year for the Wake County Public School System will be named Thursday night at ceremonies at the Marbles Museum in downtown Raleigh. Read More...
School Board Approves Resolution on Student Assignment
October 6, 2010 - At its October 5, 2010, meeting the Wake County Board of Education passed a resolution that made changes to the student assignment process and the development of a zone-based assignment model. Read More...
Building Reading Skills with Universal Screening
October 5, 2010 - Universal screening is a tool teachers use to measure reading skills. Teachers time students in short literacy tasks, with younger children naming sounds that letters make and older children reading passages of texts. Read More...
Students To Take Part in 2010 Walk to School Day
October 4, 2010 - Students from schools across Wake County will take part in the national Walk to School celebration on Wednesday, October 6. Read More...
Public Comment Sign up Process for Oct. 5 School Board Meeting
Oct. 1, 2010 - The Wake County Board of Education's work session will begin at 3:30 p.m. on October 5, 2010, in the Board Conference Room at 3600 Wake Forest Rd. The full meeting of the school board will begin at 5:30 in the Board Room at 3600 Wake Forest Rd. Read More...
Seven WCPSS Seniors Named National Merit Achievement Semifinalists
September 29, 2010 - Seven Wake County Public School System students were named National Achievement Scholarship semifinalists today by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Read More...
Student Assignment Committee Adjusts Sample Assignment Zones
Sept. 29, 2010 - Committee Chair John Tedesco started the Sept. 28 meeting Student Assignment Committee meeting with a discussion of an academic accountability model and a list of components to be considered in the community based assignment plan. His slides, the list of adjustments to the sample assignment zones approved by the committee, and the informational materials presented at the meeting are available by clicking on "Read More."
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Center for International Enrollment Marks First Anniversary
September 24, 2010 - More than 3,700 students were enrolled into the Wake County Public School System through the WCPSS Center for International Enrollment, providing families a central, convenient location to enroll and freeing schools from performing these complex tasks. Read More...
59 WCPSS Students Named Merit Scholar Semifinalists
September 15, 2010 – Fifty-nine students from 12 Wake County Public School System high schools were among the approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 56th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Read More...
WCPSS Students' 2009-10 SAT Scores Top NC and US
September 13, 2010 - Wake County Public School System seniors continue to achieve high scores on the SAT, according to results released today by the College Board. While WCPSS seniors saw their average scores dip slightly, participation rates rose by five percent, and WCPSS students continue to outscore other students around the state and across the nation. Read More...
Wake County College and Post Secondary Opportunity Fair Set for Sept. 19
September 9, 2010 - Families with high school students who have begun to investigate college can find lots of information at 2-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19 at the Wake County College and Post Secondary Opportunity Fair held at the McKimmon Center at NC State University. Read More...
Cary High Has an Education Tradition
September 3, 2010 - If you drive down Academy Street in Cary, you find that it ends at a city landmark, a site long associated with education in North Carolina.
After Cary was incorporated in 1871, Frank Page and community leaders opened a school they called Cary Academy at this site. In 1896, the school was incorporated as Cary High School. It became the first public high school in North Carolina in 1907. Read More...
Cary High Navy JROTC Cadets Excel at Leadership Camp
September 7, 2010 - Six members of the Cary High School Navy Junior ROTC participated in the Navy Area Six Leadership Academy held at Coastal Carolina University over the summer.
Cary High JROTC cadets Jessica Waters, Austin Hurlock and Rebecca Law assisted in providing the training and Cary High JROTC cadets Mitch Earley, John Blackwell and Josh Moore successfully completed the Leadership Academy. Read More...
Student Assignment Committee Selects Tentative Assignment Zone Model, Seeks Public Comment
September 2, 2010 - At the August 31 meeting, the Student Assignment Committee selected the High School Attendance Zone Model as a basis for developing a new community-based school assignment plan and directed staff to bring additional information on it at the next meeting. During the discussion of possible assignment zone models, Committee Chair John Tedesco commented that the selection of a the model based on high school attendance areas is intended to provide a starting point for review, analysis and public comment. Read More...
Parental Pesticide Use Notification
Parents and guardians have the right to request advance notification of pesticide applications at their children's schools. The Environmental Health and Safety Department has prepared an annual Notification and Request for Notification (of future updates) documents to comply with statute-specific guidelines. These two documents have been combined into a single, convenient Acrobat Reader file, available here. Read More...
Transportation Patterns Change with the Opening of New Schools
August 24, 2010 - With the start of school for another 100,000 Wake County students on August 25, drivers are asked to be alert to students at bus stops and watch for school buses transporting students to school. There will be changing transportation patterns with the opening of new schools. Read More...
Wake's Average ACT Score Surpasses State and National Averages
August 20, 2010 -Wake County seniors taking the ACT college admissions exam scored above the state and national averages for 2010 with an average ACT score that was 0.4 points higher than the previous year's score, according to results released by the ACT.
The average ACT composite score for WCPSS was 23, while the average ACT composite score for the state was 21.9 and 21 for the nation. Read More...
Breakfast and Lunch Prices Up 25 Cents, Expanded Payment Options
August 17, 2010 - The Wake County Public School System provides our students with nutritionally balanced meals and snacks each school day. This year, parents should be aware of several changes taking place.
The prices of standard breakfasts and lunches increased by 25 cents this year. Reduced price breakfasts and lunches saw no price increase. Read More...
Knightdale High Launches New Initiatives for Students
August 17, 2010 - Knightdale High teachers were greeted by community leaders and heard Principal Carla Jernigan talk about new initiatives on their first day of the 2010-11 school year. Read More...
New Schedule Adopted for 2010-11 Board Meetings
August 12, 2010 - The Wake County Board of Education has adopted a revised schedule for its meetings during the 2010-11 school year that will see an increased number of work sessions by the full board, a reduction of full meetings, and the suspension of standing committees. Read More...
Got Skills? Teach Adult Evening Education Classes
Wake County residents with a desire to teach are able to earn income by offering classes that appeal to Lifelong Learning students. WCPSS Community Services is now accepting Course Intent Packets for applicants interested in creating, designing and marketing their own continuing education course for the spring semester of Lifelong Learning with Community Schools. Read More...
Modifications to School Board Public Comment Sign up
August 5, 2010 - Several changes are being made to the process for signing up for public comment at Wake County School Board meetings. These modifications will be implemented beginning Tuesday, Aug 10. Read More...
NC School Accountability Data Released
August 5, 2010 - Nearly half of the schools in the Wake County Public School System earned recognition as either an Honor School of Excellence, School of Excellence or School of Distinction, according to information released by the NC State Board of Education today. Additionally, the number of schools named as Schools of Distinction increased substantially from 50 schools in the 2008-09 school year to 63 schools in 2009-10.
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First Days of Kindergarten Are an Instructional Starting Point
August 2, 2010 - The schedule is different for the newest students entering kindergarten in Wake County. Teachers schedule kindergarten students in a staggered entry so that small groups of students arrive at school in the first week. Durant Road Elementary Principal Teresa Winstead says staggered entry benefits students, teachers and parents. Read More...
Parents May Apply for Title I School Choice Options Online
July 29, 2010 - No Child Left Behind (NCLB) guidelines stipulate that Title I schools, that have not met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets for two consecutive years in the same subject, enter Title I School Improvement. The schools are required to notify parents of their option to attend a school that is not in Title I School Improvement (Choice Option). Read More...
Sales Tax Holiday Begins Next Weekend
Wake County families can save money on eligible back-to-school items by participating in North Carolina's sales tax holiday weekend on August 6-8. If basic school supplies, clothing, and a new computer are on your back-to-school shopping list this year, then taking advantage of North Carolina's Sales tax holiday weekend will be a great time to bargain shop. Read More...
Committee Receives First Sample Zone Maps (Includes Link To Maps and Comment)
July 28, 2010 - The first sample zone maps were presented to the Student Assignment Committee of the Wake County Board of Education at its meeting Tuesday, as the committee continued to develop a new method of student assignment to recommend to the school board. The maps presented to the Board are available for public review and comment. Read More...
WCPSS Preliminary Graduation Rates Hold Steady
July 21, 2010 -- Preliminary North Carolina graduation rate data show that the Wake County Public School System's overall rate held steady at 78.4 percent for a second year in a row. Additionally, seven student subgroups showed improvement, while three subgroups had a lower graduation rate. Read More...
WCPSS Releases AYP Results
July 21, 2010 - The NC Department of Public Instruction today released the preliminary results for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the federal "No Child Left Behind Law" (NCLB) for schools. With the data currently available, 92.85 percent of the total AYP targets (3,420 out of 3,683) for the Wake County Public School System were met. Sixty-one of 159 Wake County Public School System schools met the AYP standard by reaching their target goals. Read More...
Procedures for July 20 School Board Meeting
July 16, 2010 - In order to comply with fire codes, the following procedures will be used for distributing seating vouchers, handling speaker sign up, and accommodating overflow seating for the Board of Education meeting on July 20. Read More...
WCPSS Preliminary Test Scores Show Across-the-board Improvement
July 14, 2010 -- Preliminary North Carolina End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) test scores for 2009-10 show improvement in virtually every subgroup of students in the Wake County Public School System, and also show a closing of the achievement gaps between white, African-American, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students at several grade levels. Additionally, 85 percent of students taking EOC tests passed those exams. Read More...
School Year Starts for Year-Round Students
July 9 2010 - Approximately 40,000 students began the 2010-11 school year this morning as the Wake County Public School System's 49 year-round elementary and middle schools opened their doors for the start of the new school year. Read More...
Drivers Take Care: School Buses Back on the Road July 9
July 7, 2010 - Drivers should be prepared for changing transportation patterns caused by the opening of new schools and the return of school buses to the roadways transporting students to 49 year-round elementary and middle schools with the new school year beginning July 9. Read More...
Annual Meeting of the Wake County Board of Education
June 15, 2010 - During today's annual meeting, the Wake County Board of Education re-elected Ron Margiotta as board chair. Margiotta, who has represented District 6 for seven years, was first elected board chair on December 1, 2009. The school board also re-elected Debra Goldman to continue as vice-chair. Goldman, representing District 9, was first elected vice-chair on December 1, 2009. Read More...
Board Authorizes Use of Search Firm and Funds for Superintendent Search
June 4, 2010 - At its June 1 meeting, the Board of Education approved requests from the Superintendent Search Committee to authorize use of a search firm in the process and to designate $125,000 from the undesignated fund balance for the superintendent search. Read More...
More Than 8,200 Students Graduate
June 2, 2010 - The Wake County Public School System will award diplomas to 8,223 students in 21 ceremonies through Friday, June 11.
Most of the students will continue their education in college, while others will enlist in the military or join the workforce. Read More...
14 Magnet Schools Win National Honors
June 2, 2010 - Fourteen WCPSS magnet schools were recognized as top magnet schools in the nation by the Magnet Schools of America at the association's 28th annual conference. This year, WCPSS tied for having the most award-winning schools of any district in the nation. Read More...
First Class Graduating from Small, Hybrid School
May 27, 2010 - The Class of 2010 will be the first class of graduates from the Wake Early College of Health and Sciences, the Wake County Public School System's first early college high school.
There are 54 students in the Class of 2010 including 19 who have earned 2-year college degrees in addition to completing their high school requirements. The students have earned more than $600,000 in scholarships. All of the students completing in May will pursue post secondary opportunities. Read More...
15 Seniors Earn 2010 National Merit College-Sponsored Scholarships
May 26, 2010 - Fifteen Wake County Public School System seniors have earned 2010 National Merit College-sponsored Scholarships.
The 15 WCPSS students are among more than 2,800 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities, announced today by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among Finalists in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship. Read More...
Graduation Ceremonies Underway for More Than 8,000 Students
May 26, 2010 - Ceremonies will be held for more than 8,000 students who will graduate from Wake County Public School System high schools this year. Read More...
Board Approves Common Early Release Days for 2010-11 School Year
May 20, 2010 - Members of the Board of Education approved six common early release days for schools following the traditional and modified calendars and for each track on the year-round calendar during their meeting on May 18. All early release days occur on Fridays. Schools will dismiss 2.5 hours early on these days. Read More...
2010 WCPSS Valedictorians Celebrate Success
May 18, 2010 - Wake County Board of Education members will honor the 24 Wake County Public School System 2010 valedictorians at the board's May 18 meeting.
Twenty of the students plan to attend North Carolina universities with five going to UNC-Chapel Hill, five bound for Duke and five going to NC State University. One student earned a Robertson Scholarship to attend both UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University. Other students plan to attend Appalachian State University, Davidson College and East Carolina University. Read More...
Four Beginning WCPSS Teachers Honored with Diane Kent-Parker 1st Year Teacher Award
May 13, 2010 - Four first-year Wake County Public School System teachers have been honored with the Diane Kent-Parker First-Year Teacher Award.
The four are Niki Britt of Reedy Creek Elementary, Karen Hall of Aversboro Elementary, Lindsey Evans of Apex Middle and Preston Williams, Jr. of Middle Creek High. The teachers were recognized during the Wake County Teacher of the Year celebration. Read More...
Fuller Elementary Teacher is 2010 Wake County Teacher of the Year
May 13, 2010 - Fuller Magnet Elementary School teacher Elizabeth Plotkin is the 2010 Wake County Teacher of the Year.
Interim Superintendent Donna Hargens presented Plotkin the Wake County Teacher of the Year Award sponsored by Wachovia Bank at tonight's banquet. Hargens praised Plotkin for her devotion to children, her leadership in encouraging positive student behavior and with her school's professional learning teams. Plotkin received applause from hundreds of community and education leaders attending the event. Read More...
Hunter Students Recycle Their Way onto the Times Square Jumbotron
May 12, 2010 - A team of Hunter Magnet Elementary students have earned second place in the national Siemens "We Can Change the World" Elementary School Challenge. Teacher Assistant Smith Raynor has led her team of kindergarten to second grade students, known as the Hunter EcoHeroes to be featured on the Jumbotron in Times Square in New York City.
The EcoHeroes found out from their cafeteria manager that their cafeteria produces about a dumpster-full of trash every 2-3 days. They decided to focus their project on reducing waste in the cafeteria and changing wasteful behavior. Read More...
Eight WCPSS Students Earn 2010 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships
May 6, 2010 - Eight Wake County Public School System students have earned 2010 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships.
The eight WCPSS students are Ryan K. Minster and Eric B. Porter of Apex High; Patrick A. Royal of Broughton High; Thomas A. Pendlebury and Monica B. Tabor of Cary High; Shiv P. Parikh of Enloe High; Joanna U. Kim of Green Hope High; and Anand Kannan of Panther Creek High.
The eight WCPSS students are among 2,500 students who have won National merit $2,500 Scholarships. They were chosen from more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program. Read More...
Students Receive 2010-11 School Assignments on May 14
May 6, 2010 - The official school assignments for the 2010-11 school year will be given to students on May 14 to take home.
The WCPSS Growth and Planning Department has been working to finalize the student assignment forms and deliver them to schools. Laura Evans of WCPSS Growth and Planning reviewed details with the school board in the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 4. Read More...
2010 Wake County Teacher of the Year Finalists
May 5, 2010 - One of 12 finalists will be named the 2010 Wake County Teacher of the Year at a banquet on Thursday, May 13 at the Embassy Suites in Cary. Read More...
Wakefield Teacher Named Kenan Fellow
May 4, 2010 - A Wakefield High teacher has earned a two-year fellowship with the Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development at NC State University. Sara Morey of Wakefield High was selected for the 2012 Class of Kenan Fellows and will work with university professors in research to develop math and science lessons for the classroom.
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56 WCPSS Students Named NC Teaching Fellows
May 3, 2010 - Fifty-six Wake County Public School System high school seniors have been named North Carolina Teaching Fellows and 22 students have been named alternates.
The Teaching Fellows Program provides a $6,500 per year scholarship for four years at one of 18 North Carolina colleges or universities in turn for the students agreeing to teach for four years in one of North Carolina's public schools.
The 56 Teaching Fellows attend 18 different WCPSS high schools. Broughton and Sanderson high schools had six students earn the scholarships. There were five Fellows at Green Hope and Wakefield high schools. There were four at Enloe, Holly Springs and Middle Creek. Read More...
Five WCPSS Students Named 2010 National Merit Corporate Scholars
April 29, 2010 - Five Wake County Public School System students have been named as 2010 National Merit Corporate Scholarship winners.
The five WCPSS students are Kai Kang, Andrew Lee, Staci Cooper and Ekaterina Roze of Enloe Magnet High and Derek Eidum of Millbrook Magnet High. Read More...
Four WCPSS Students Named Morehead-Cain Scholars
April 27, 2010 - Four Wake County Public School System high school seniors have been named Morehead-Cain Scholars, providing a full four-year scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill.
The four WCPSS students are Ellen Corbitt Currin of Broughton High, George Edmonds Ramsay and Madhulika Vulimiri of Enloe High and Laura Nataly Rozo of Panther Creek High. Read More...
Superintendent Search Committee Set
April 26, 2010 - Wake County School Board Chairman Ron Margiotta has announced his appointments to the superintendent search committee. The superintendent search committee will be chaired by School Board Vice-Chair Debra Goldman. Completing the committee are board members Chris Malone, Deborah Prickett and Carolyn Morrison. Read More...
Board Approves 2010-11 Budget
April 23, 2010 - The Board of Education approved the 2010-11 operating budget for the Wake County Public School System last Tuesday making severe cuts as state funding shrinks, local funding is expected to remain the same and school enrollment continues to grow. Read More...
Four WCPSS Teams Compete at Odyssey of the Mind World Finals
April 20, 2010 - Four teams of Wake County Public School System students qualified at state finals to attend the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, which will be held over Memorial Day weekend at Michigan State University. Two teams from Partnership Elementary and teams from Davis Drive Middle and Wake Forest Rolesville High won at the April 10 NC state finals held at Wingate College. There are separate divisions for elementary, middle and high school teams. Read More...
Online Grandfathering Period Runs Through April 25
From Monday, April 19, through Sunday, April 25, eligible families may request online that their children remain at their current school under the school system's grandfathering rules. Families eligible to participate in this online grandfathering process will receive a letter of notification in the next few days. If you use the online grandfather process, no additional paper form is needed; families who miss the online grandfather window can still submit a paper Request for Transfer during the May 14 - June 1 transfer period. Read More...
Don't Wait: International Students Should Register Now
The Wake County Public School System's Center for International Enrollment (CIE) opened its doors last September in an effort to ease the registration process for our international families. With the start of the 2010-11 school year quickly approaching, CIE staff is reminding families not to wait until school starts to register. Instead, beat the rush by registering now. Read More...
Four WCPSS Teams Compete at Odyssey of the Mind World Finals
April 16, 2010 - Four teams of Wake County Public School System students qualified at state finals to attend the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, which will be held over Memorial Day weekend at Michigan State University. Read More...
Find Your 2010-2011 Magnet/Calendar Application Decisions
Families may check the Wake County Public School System website beginning Friday, April 16 to find their magnet and calendar application decision for the 2010-11 school year. Read More...
2010 Governor's School Selections Announced
April 13, 2010 - The Wake County Public School System has 50 of the 600 distinguished North Carolina rising high school juniors and seniors who will attend the 2010 Governor's School, the six-week summer program for academically or intellectually gifted students. Read More...
School Meal Prices to Increase for 2010-11
April 8, 2010 - For the first time in years, the price of meals will increase at school. At its meeting April 6, the Board of Education approved increases in the price of breakfast and lunch for 2010-11. Read More...
Panther Creek High Students Take Part in SMART Lunch
April 7, 2010 - Students at Panther Creek High take part in SMART lunch, a tool that strengthens student academic success.
“The demands of education today require more than what is available during the class time,” said Panther Creek High Principal Rodney Nelson. “We committed early on in the beginning of our school to work with students both inside and outside of the classroom. And offering SMART lunch especially gives all students access to their teachers, both those students who are struggling to achieve in class as well as those students who are even excelling. They have another opportunity that they can go by and see a teacher.” Read More...
Board Finalizes Assignments; Magnet and Calendar Notification Set for April 16
April 7, 2010 - At its April 6 meeting, the Board of Education finalized student assignment for 2010-11, requiring the notification date for magnet and calendar applications to move to April 16 to incorporate the final changes to the assignment plan. Read More...
Four WCPSS Seniors Named 2010 National Merit Achievement Scholars
April 7, 2010 - Four Wake County Public School System students were named 2010 National Achievement Scholarship winners today by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The WCPSS scholarship winners are Olivia Hart of Green Hope High, Matthew Jones of Enloe Magnet High, Shayna McCormack of Broughton High and Kaosisochukwu Uzokwe of Millbrook Magnet High.
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Board Agrees on School Assignment Changes and Magnet Selection Criteria
April 1, 2010 - At its March 31 work session, the Board of Education agreed to some changes to the school system three-year assignment plan that will formally be voted on by the board at its April 6 meeting. Read More...
Public Seating for April 6 Board of Education Meetings
April 1, 2010 - In an effort to clarify the process for attending the Wake County Board of Education’s Committee of the Whole and regular board meeting on Tuesday, April 6, seating vouchers will be available to those citizens wishing to attend beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m. that day. Read More...
Board of Education Approves Student Assignment Changes for 2010-11
March 24, 2010 - At its March 23 meeting, the Board of Education approved some changes to the school system's three-year assignment plan. Read More...
Board of Education Approves Resolution on Community Based Assignment
March 24, 2010 - At its meeting March 23, the Wake County Board of Education approved a Resolution Establishing Board Directive for Community Based Assignments. Read More...
Wilburn Elementary Earns TAP Ambassador Award
March 24, 2010 - Wilburn Elementary was one of four schools in the nation to be honored with the TAP Ambassador Award on March 20 at the 10th National TAP Conference: Leading Innovation through Teacher Effectiveness held in Washington, D.C. Read More...
Heath Named 2010 National Dance Educator of the Year
March 23, 2010 - Ligon Magnet Middle School teacher Freddie-Lee Heath has been named the National Dance Educator of the Year (DEOY) by the Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).
Heath was presented the award at the alliance's national convention held this month in Indianapolis.
"To visit Mr. Heath's classroom is to see magic happening. He creates shear musical capacity within his students," said Gretta Dula, Ligon Magnet Middle principal. "During the winter performance, his Tapestry dance troupe performed a selection that took the audience to Broadway. It felt as if we were there."
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Board Meeting Changes
March 22, 2010 - To ensure a safe and orderly environment, as well as to comply with fire safety standards, the following changes have been made to the Wake County School Board meetings. Read More...
"Helping Your Child Transition" Family Day Registration Opens
March 15, 2010 -- Registration for the "Helping Your Child Transition" Family Day on Saturday, May 1 at Millbrook High School is now open. Family Day offers parents practical tips on successfully guiding their children through the extra challenges posed by big transition points in their school career, such as starting kindergarten, moving from elementary school to middle school, and moving from middle school to high school. Sessions will also focus on how transitions involve the community and the relationships among and between children, families, and educators. Read More...
Hargens Named Acting Superintendent
March 11, 2010 - WCPSS Chief Academic Officer Dr. Donna Hargens was named acting superintendent by the Wake County Board of Education in a specially called meeting on Tuesday, March 9. Read More...
Magnet/Calendar Application Results Notification Delayed
March 11, 2010 - All families who submitted an application during the 2010-11 magnet/application period will receive the results of their application on April 8, 2010, rather than March 18. The deadline to decline the offered seats has been moved to April 28. Read More...
Leesville Road and Mills Park Families Have New Magnet/Calendar Application Window
March 11, 2010 - The families assigned to the four schools affected by the calendar changes approved by the Board of Education on March 2 will have the opportunity to submit an application based on their new assignment or new calendar March 12-18. Read More...
City of Raleigh Arts Commission Announces Artists of Tomorrow Scholarship Recipients
March 10, 2010 - Five WCPSS high school students have been awarded Artists of Tomorrow scholarships by the City of Raleigh Arts Commission.
The students were selected to receive one-time scholarships toward their full-time college studies in the fields of dance, theatre, music and the literary and visual arts. Read More...
Three WCPSS Students Named Park Scholars
March 4, 2010 - Three WCPSS students - Madhulika Vulimiri of Enloe High, Alex Jin-Wei Chin of Broughton High and William Hampton Coe of Sanderson High – have been named Park Scholars by NC State University. Read More...
WCPSS Dropout Rate at 3.47 Percent for 2008-09
March 4, 2010 - Wake County Public School System high schools reported a dropout rate of 3.47 percent for the 2008-09 academic year, the lowest rate since 2003-04.
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Board Approves New Calendar for Four Schools
March 4, 2010 - The calendar for three schools will change for the 2010-11 school year and the new Mills Park Middle School will open for 2010-11 on the traditional calendar after the Board of Education voted for the changes at its March 2 meeting. Read More...
Board Approves Community-based School Assignment Directive
March 4, 2010 - At its meeting on Tuesday, March 2, the Wake County Board of Education approved on first reading a "Resolution Establishing Board Directive for Community-based School Assignments." The resolution calls for staff to develop a zone-based assignment model during the next nine to fifteen months with input from community stakeholders. Read More...
Superintendent's Budget Cuts Central Services Jobs
March 2, 2010 - For the second year in a row, Superintendent Del Burns is presenting to the Wake County Board of Education a school budget with severe cuts as school enrollment continues to grow. Read More...
Adjustments Made to School Board Meeting
Please note the following changes to the Wake County School Board meeting on Tuesday, March 2, 2010.
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John Wall Named as Regional Wachovia Principal of the Year
February 9, 2010 - Wake County Principal of the Year John Wall is one of eight outstanding principals selected as regional Wachovia Principals of the Year. He will now compete for the title of 2010 Wachovia North Carolina Principal of the Year.
Wall has been in education for 22 years and has been principal at North Garner Middle for four years. Prior to that, he was principal and assistant principal at Zebulon Middle and a teacher at Carnage Middle. Earlier he taught in New York.
A state selection committee will review the portfolios of the eight regional winners and visit each candidate's school campus. Results of these site visits, portfolio assessments and personal interviews will be used to determine the 2010 Wachovia North Carolina Principal of the Year.
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Wake County Pre-K Programs to Hold Application Events for School-Year 2010-11
January 26, 2010 - In February, Wake County SmartStart will accept applications for Wake County’s public Pre-K programs, including the More at Four Program, a publicly funded pre-kindergarten program that provides quality experiences which enhance kindergarten readiness. Read More...
Board Resolution Brings Families Choice of School Calendar
January 21, 2010 - Parents will have a choice in the calendar of the school their child will attend for 2010-11. Read More...
Calendar and Magnet Schools Application Period Starts Feb. 8
January 21, 2010 - The application period for the Wake County Public School System calendar and magnet schools will open Feb. 8 and continue to Feb. 28. Read More...
Students Win Science Competition, Trip to China
January 18, 2010 - Two students from the Wake Early College of Health and Sciences won the North Carolina International Science Challenge held at Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill on Jan. 16.
Victoria Jones and Victoria Melbourne were named finalists in the science competition and will present their projects on March 16-23, 2010 at the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition in China. Read More...
Magnet Schools Schedule Tours
January 14, 2010 - The Wake County Public School System Magnet Schools have scheduled school tours for parents who are considering magnet schools for their children for 2010-11. Read More...
Online Registration for Year-Round Community Engagement Meetings Open
The Wake County Board of Education will hold five community engagement meetings as the board discusses school calendar options currently used in the Wake County Public School System. The results of these community engagement meetings will assist the Board of Education in making decisions that may impact school calendar assignments as early as 2010-11. Online pre-registration for those who wish to speak at these meeting is now open. Read More...
More than 50 WCPSS Teachers Earn National Board Re-Certification
January 11, 2010 - More than 50 Wake County Public School System educators earned re-certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards this year. Read More...
WCPSS Teacher Honored at the White House
January 7, 2010 - Hunter Magnet Elementary teacher Carol Wooten was in the White House yesterday being congratulated by President Obama as one of the more than 100 science, math, and engineering teachers and mentors honored with the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence. Read More...
Online Survey on School Calendar Options Planned
January 5, 2010 - Parents will soon be asked to complete an online survey about school calendar options currently used in Wake County Public School System. The results of this survey will assist the Board of Education in making decisions that may impact school calendar assignments as early as 2010-11. Read More...
Education Summits Help Students
December 17, 2009 - Education summits are being used by principals at schools in the Wakefield and Wake Forest communities to bring community leaders together, examine area student needs and design solutions to meet student needs.
The process builds strong connections as educators work with parent, community and business leaders to develop a common understanding of issues facing students and then work together to create solutions to help students succeed. Read More...
Nearly 200 WCPSS Teachers Earn National Board Certification
December 16, 2009 - Nearly 200 Wake County Public School System educators earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards this year, continuing WCPSS leadership in supporting teachers who pursue and achieve National Board Certification. Read More...
Herrick Named North Central Region Teacher of the Year
December 14, 2009 - Rene Herrick, Wake County's Teacher of the Year, has been named the North Central Regional Teacher of the Year and is now one of the teachers in the running for the North Carolina Teacher of the Year. Read More...
Free H1N1 Vaccination Clinics Offered
Wake County Human Services is offering free H1N1 vaccines to anyone over six months of age during the week of December 14-18. Clinics will be offered in four WCPSS high schools on December 15 and 16. Students and staff may attend any clinic offered, regardless of the school they attend or where they live. Read More...
New Board Members Take Oath of Office
December 1, 2009 - Four new members of the Wake County Board of Education took the oath of office this afternoon. In a ceremony that filled the board room, Debra Goldman, Chris Malone, Deborah Prickett and John Tedesco were sworn into office. Read More...
Volunteers Make a Difference
November 30, 2009 - Schools benefit when they are part of a community, especially a community that is willing to volunteer its time to help students. Schools seek to build this community looking to parents, neighboring businesses and supportive communities. Read More...
Saturday, Nov. 21, H1N1 Vaccination Clinics for Children
November 20, 2009 - Wake County will open three H1N1 vaccination clinics primarily for healthy children ages 2 to 18 on Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Read More...
Superintendent Calls for $20 Million in Central Services Budget Cuts for FY 2010-11
November 19, 2009 - Facing a potential funding gap of $20 million for the next fiscal year, this afternoon WCPSS Superintendent Del Burns called for his senior management team to prepare plans for cutting its Central Services operations.
In a briefing for reporters, Burns outlined anticipated cost increases and revenue declines for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010. "We are in the midst of our budget planning process and given what we see in the leading indicators, we must take proactive steps now to address the problem of rising expenses and decreasing revenue," said Burns. "As we did last year, as information became apparent regarding our financial situation, we made decisions to absorb the impact. This year, we are trying to avoid going back to the classrooms for cuts." Read More...
Some High School Certificates May Be Converted to Diplomas
November 13, 2009 - To comply with changes in state law, the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) eliminated, effective July 1, 2009, the Competency Tests in Reading and Mathematics and the Computer Skills Tests and their alternate assessments. Students who have left school since 1981, and have met all the all state and local graduation requirements except for the tests mentioned above, may petition their former high school for a diploma. Read More...
Updated H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Resources
Our flu page has new resources from Wake County Human Services. There are new information sheets on good health manners and prevention, and on the differences between H1N1 and seasonal flu. Also, free seasonal flu vaccination clinics for children are being offered around the county through Nov. 24. Read More...
Three WCPSS School Counselors Earn State Honors
November 13, 2009 - School counselors from the Wake County Public School System swept the awards at the NC School Counselor Association Annual Conference underway in Greensboro. Read More...
November Full Circle and The School Connection
November 6, 2009 - In the spotlight this month: fighting H1N1 flu, volunteering, the Magnet Program, an online art museum, and our efforts to build a top-notch staff. Read More...
Board Resolution Recommends Changes for No Child Left Behind Law
October 27, 2009 - The Wake County Board of Education has weighed in with its input for updating the federal No Child Left Behind law. Read More...
Exploring Innovative Opportunities at the Magnet School Fair
October 26, 2009 - The Magnet Schools Fair of the Wake County Public School System will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 7 at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School. Read More...
Wall Named 2009 Principal of the Year
October 15, 2009 - The Wake County Public School System named John Wall of North Garner Middle School the 2009 Principal of the Year and Fay Jones of Forest Pines Drive Elementary the 2009 Assistant Principal of the Year in ceremonies this evening at the Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh. The awards ceremony is sponsored by Pierce Group Benefits, the Wake County Public School System and the Wake County Division of Principals and Assistant Principals. Read More...
2009 Principal of the Year Finalists
October 12, 2009 - There are five finalists for the Wake County Public School System Principal of the Year and the Assistant Principal of the Year. A celebration naming the Wake County Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year will be held at the Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh Thursday night, October 15. Read More...
New Videos Support Reading at Home
October 9, 2009 - Parents interested in reinforcing their children's classroom instruction -- or giving them a strong foundation before entering school -- can now find some helpful tips on the new WCPSS Reading at Home Website. Read More...
Millbrook Elementary Teachers Selected for Best Teaching Practices
October 8, 2009 - The first grade team of teachers at Millbrook Elementary Magnet School has been selected to participate in a project to document the planning, teaching, assessment and reflection on one of their inquiry-based units of instruction for this school year. Read More...
Learning on TV: Full Circle and The School Connection
October 6, 2009 - Fighting H1N1 flu, the upcoming Magnet Fair, disability awareness, and the continuing quiet revolution of the 2007 Curriculum Management Audit are in the spotlight on this month's public access video programs from the Wake County Public School System. Read More...
WCPSS Students Take Part in 2009 Walk to School Day
October 6, 2009 - Students from schools across Wake County will take part in the national Walk To School celebration on Wednesday, October 7. Read More...
Garner High Student Named to National SAVE Advisory Board
October 1, 2009 - Garner Magnet High School junior Casey Story has been selected as one of ten high school students from across the country to serve on the 2009-10 National SAVE Youth Advisory Board (YAB). Read More...
12 WCPSS Students Named Achievement Scholarship Semifinalists
October 1, 2009 - Twelve students from eight Wake County Public School System high schools have been recognized as semifinalists in the 46th annual Achievement Scholarship competition. The 12 students were among more than 1,600 Black American high school seniors recognized nationally. Read More...
All WCPSS High School Students Can Send Electronic Transcripts
October 1, 2009 - Students at all Wake County Public School System high schools now have the ability to request their official high school transcript be securely sent electronically to any of the 110 North Carolina public, private, and community colleges and universities through the College Foundation of North Carolina's college access web portal, CFNC.org. Read More...
Learning Can Take Place Outside of School
One of the most effective ways to teach children is by making learning a part of everyday life situations. Many daily activities can enhance classroom learning and often reinforce what students are studying at school. Read More...
WCPSS Sees 1,893 More Students for 2009-10
October 1, 2009 - Wake County Public School System student enrollment increased to 139,599 on the 20th day of the 2009-10 school year, 1,893 students more than last year. Read More...
54 WCPSS Students Named Merit Scholar Semifinalists
September 21, 2009 - Fifty-four students from 13 Wake County Public School System high schools were among the approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 55th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Read More...
Final Touches Being Put on Renovated Root Elementary
September 11, 2009 - The Wake County Public School System has received a Certificate of Occupancy for Root Elementary which has been undergoing major renovations. During renovations, the school has been operating in a temporary modular campus off St Albans Street near North Hills Mall. Read More...
Communication Powers Relationship between Home and School
September 9, 2009 - Communication is a critical part of the partnership between the classroom and home. Schools, teachers and parents are finding many different ways to keep each other informed. Read More...
"Full Circle" Provides New Perspective for Television Audiences
September 4, 2009 - Sometimes the most important issues aren’t always the ones that are covered in a 90-second news story. That’s why WCPSS created the Full Circle. This new television program explores a wide range of topics and issues during a half hour of discussion. Viewers will learn about a single topic affecting Wake County Schools, students and teachers that might not get covered in the news media. Read More...
WCPSS High Schools See Higher Scores on SAT
September 1, 2009 - Students' results on the SAT from the WCPSS graduating Class of 2009 pushed eight high schools above the 1600 point average score on the three part college entrance exam. Read More...
AP Test Scores Hit 4-Year-High, Well Above State Average
September 1, 2009 - Students in the Class of 2009 set records in the Wake County Public School System for the number of students taking Advanced Placement exams and the total number of exams taken. They had the highest average exam score in the last four years and the highest percentage of students earning a score of 3 or higher on the exam in the last four years. Read More...
WCPSS Offers Students Healthier Choices in the School Cafeteria
August 28, 2009 - Students are being offered healthier options in the Wake County Public School System Child Nutrition Services cafeterias thanks to changes providing local produce and vending machine options with fewer calories.
Marilyn Moody, WCPSS Child Nutrition Services director, says WCPSS is one of 40 school systems participating in the NC Farm to School Co-op program. The NC Department of Agriculture sends out bids and procures fresh NC produce in season so that it can be delivered to each participating school system. Read More...
SAT Scores Increase
August 25, 2009 - Wake County Public School System seniors continue to score well on the SAT and continue to outpace other large districts in North Carolina as well as the national average, according to results released today by the College Board. SAT scores for 2008-09 WCPSS seniors increased by 20 points over average WCPSS scores for 2007-08 with increases of eight points in critical reading, seven points in math and five points in writing. Read More...
School Board Balances Budget Following State Cuts
August 20, 2009 - - The Wake County Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday, August 18, that reduced the Wake County Public School System's budget for the 2009-10 school year. The school board's action followed a $35.1 million cut in state funding. Read More...
Students Benefit from Early Dismissal Wednesdays
August 19, 2009 - For the nearly 100,000 Wake County Public School System students attending traditional calendar schools, August 26 will be something new and different. It will be their first early dismissal Wednesday. Read More...
Transportation Director Stresses Safety at Start of School Year
August 18, 2009 - Buses will roll to all 159 Wake County Public School System schools with the opening of traditional calendar schools on August 25.
There will be an increase of traffic around schools. Motorists will notice more students at school bus stops and changing traffic patterns with several school relocations.
"We want everyone to think about the safety of our children," said Bob Snidemiller, WCPSS Transportation Director. "We want drivers to be alert to children at bus stops and the additional buses on the road." Read More...
12 WCPSS Schools Earn State's Highest Recognition
August 6, 2009 - The Wake County Public School System saw an increasing number of schools achieve School of Excellence and School of Distinction in 2008-09, according to the ABCs of Public Education released today by the NC State Board of Education.
In 2008-09, WCPSS had 12 schools named School of Excellence or Honor School of Excellence and 50 named School of Distinction. That compares with four Honor Schools of Excellence and 26 Schools of Distinction for 2007-08. Read More...
Board Approves Public School Choice for Families at 15 Title I Schools
August 5 , 2009 - The Board of Education approved choice options for families at 15 elementary schools in compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind law for schools that are in Title I school improvement. Read More...
Board Delays Student Moves in Multi-Year Assignment Plan
August 4, 2009 - The Board of Education approved delays today for the multi-year student assignment plan, delaying the movement of students to coincide with a revised school construction timetable tied to county funding. Read More...
Board of Education Conducting Search to Fill District 6 Vacancy
A vacancy has been created on the Wake County Board of Education by the resignation of District 6 Representative Beverley Clark. Clark resigned from the board on July 21, 2009. The Board of Education is searching for eligible citizens to fill the vacancy created by Clark's departure. Read More...
AP Course Enrollments Continue to Climb
More Wake County Public School System students are taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses than ever before.
AP courses afford high school students the opportunity to take college-level coursework. Many colleges and universities provide credit to students who earn a high score on the AP exams, which are offered by the College Board. Read More...
State Testing Shows Continued Improvement for WCPSS Students
July 21, 2009 - State testing results for students in the Wake County Public School System showed continuing improvement in 2008-09.
WCPSS is releasing preliminary Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results today for the 2008-09 school year as well as preliminary End-of-Grade and End-of-Course testing results. The State Board of Education is scheduled to officially approve these results later this summer at their August and September meetings. Read More...
Six Graduates Earn 2009 National Merit College-sponsored Scholarships
July 13, 2009 - Six Wake County Public School System graduates have received National Merit System College-sponsored scholarships.
The six students include Jennifer K. Fredette and Cheryl L. Schlitter of Green Hope High, Ellis E. Gyongyos and Emily R. Myers of Enloe High, Zachary A. Martin of Broughton High and Brighid M. Milan of Panther Creek High. Read More...
WCPSS Teacher Earns Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
July 9, 2009 - Hunter Elementary teacher Carol Wooten was one of 87 science, math, and engineering teachers named by President Obama to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The educators will receive their awards in the fall at a White House ceremony. Read More...
High Schools Schedule 2009 Freshman Camps
July 8, 2009 - WCPSS high schools are offering freshman camps to help ninth graders begin their journey as the Class of 2013.
While the camps serve some of the same purposes of orientation sessions held in the past, high school faculties have focused on relationship and team building exercises that are part of the school system's efforts to meet the needs of each student. Read More...
Transportation Patterns Change with the Opening of New Schools
July 2, 2009 - Drivers should be prepared for changing transportation patterns caused by the opening of new schools and the return of school buses to the roadways transporting students to 52 year-round elementary and middle schools with the new school year beginning July 7. Read More...
Early Dismissal Wednesdays
In order for teachers to meet regularly to collaborate and discuss ways to improve individual student academic performance, the 2009-10 bell schedule provides weekly one hour early dismissal on Wednesdays for all students. On six of those Wednesdays, schools will release 2.5 hours early. Schools will continue to use the six 2.5 hour sessions for school-wide faculty professional development. Read More...
Wake County Drivers Earn Top Honors at 2009 Bus Roadeo
June 24, 2009 - Taking their driving skills to the obstacle course, school bus drivers from across North Carolina converged on the State Fairgrounds to compete with each other for top honors at the 2009 State Roadeo on June 16. Two Wake County Public School System bus drivers placed in the top 10 in this high-stakes, yet friendly competition. Read More...
Board of Education Conducting Search to Fill District 4 Vacancy
The Board of Education is searching for eligible citizens to fill the vacancy created by Rosa Gill's departure. Candidates interested in serving on the Wake County Board of Education must reside in District 4, which encompasses East Raleigh, to be eligible for the vacated seat. Read More...
Board of Education Adjusts Bell Schedule at Seven Schools
June 18, 2009 - At its June 12 meeting, the Board of Education made final adjustments to the bell schedule affecting seven schools: Hodge Road Elementary, Centennial Campus Middle, Moore Square Middle, Mt Vernon School, River Oaks Middle, Enloe High, and Phillips High. Read More...
Kevin L. Hill Selected as Board of Education Chair
June 16, 2009 - Kevin L. Hill was selected as the new chair of the Wake County Board of Education during the board's annual meeting June 16. Hill, a unanimous choice for the post, was the only person nominated by board members for the position of chair.
"I'm grateful for this privilege, and I look forward to serving as chair for the coming year," Hill said after being elected. "My commitment is to work closely with my fellow board members, always remembering that our responsibility is to help provide the best educational opportunities for all children in Wake County." Read More...
Dr. Burns launches Superintendent's Journal
The Journal is a videotaped message from Superintendent Del Burns to parents and the community regarding the issues that affect the Wake County Public School System. In what are expected to be regular webcasts, the Journal will allow parents and other key stakeholders the opportunity to hear directly from the Superintendent about plans for the new school year, ways to become involved and how we are improving to meet the needs of all of our students. Read More...
WCPSS Teams Compete in Odyssey of the Mind 2009 World Finals
June 10, 2009 - Three Wake County Public School teams of students took part in Odyssey of the Mind® 2009 World Finals at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa on May 27 - 30. Read More...
2009 High School Graduation Schedule
High school graduations are in full swing this week. Check the dates, times and locations of all of our high school graduations here. Read More...
Rand Road Elementary to Dismiss at Noon Today
June 9, 2009 - Rand Road Elementary School will dismiss at noon today due to an air conditioning system failure. Replacement parts expected this morning have been delayed, therefore the school will dismiss early due to today's expected high temperatures.
Crews will conduct repairs tonight with the hope of having the system operational by tomorrow morning. No End of Grade testing was scheduled today. We will keep parents updated if there are any changes to the school's testing calendar.
Please monitor the Wake County Public School System website for updates. Read More...
WCPSS Graduates More Than 8,000 Students for 2009
June 8, 2009 - The Wake County Public School System will award diplomas to 8,094 students in 21 ceremonies through Sunday, June 14.
Most of the students will continue their education in college, while others will enlist in the military or join the workforce. Read More...
H1N1 - Confirmed Case at Laurel Park Elementary School
June 4, 2009 - Wake County Human Services has notified school officials there is a second confirmed case of H1N1 in a Wake County Public School system student at Laurel Park Elementary School.
Yesterday, Public Health officials notified WCPSS of a confirmed case of H1N1 at Reedy Creek Middle School. In both cases, health officials have conducted case interviews, identified and notified all the close contacts that may have been exposed to H1N1 to date. We are limited in the specifics we can share regarding the case, but can say that the student is recovering and isolated at home. Read More...
New Graduates, a Returning Entrepreneur, Strawberries and More on The New School Connection
This month on The New School Connection we celebrate the Class of '09; Smith Elementary begins its International Baccaulaureate Programme and moves to a new building; a recent Cary High graduate and entrepreneur brings what she learned to WCPSS high school students; 15 elementary schools receive fitness help from the John Rex Endowment; and farm-fresh produce comes to our cafeterias.
Watch The New School Connection here on our website, or on Time Warner Cable channel 11 in Raleigh and Cary. Read More...
Graduation ceremonies underway for more than 8,000 students
May 28, 2008 - Ceremonies are underway for more than 8,000 students who will graduate from Wake County Public School System high schools this year. Read More...
Ten WCPSS Students Earn National Merit College Scholarships
May 28, 2009 - Ten Wake County Public School System seniors earned college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships, according to information released today by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Read More...
2009 WCPSS Valedictorians Celebrate Success
May 28, 2009 - Wake County Board of Education members will honor the 22 Wake County Public School System 2009 valedictorians at the board's June 2 meeting. Read More...
State Education Chairman and CEO Responds to Board's Resolution
At its May 5th meeting, the Wake County Board of Education adopted a resolution in response to Governor Purdue's Executive Order 11, Flexible Furlough....
...State Board of Education Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Harrison responded this week to the resolution in a letter to Superintendent Del Burns. Read More...
2009-10 Transfer Process
Parents now can submit Request for Transfer forms (download forms) for students to attend another Wake County Public School for the 2009-10 school year.
The Board of Education recently reviewed the student transfer process with Laura Evans of the WCPSS Office of Growth Management on May 19 and 20. The criteria staff use in reviewing transfer requests (PDF) are available for download. Read More...
Combs Elementary Teacher is 2009 Wake County Teacher of the Year
May 14, 2009 - Combs Elementary School teacher René Herrick is the 2009 Wake County Teacher of the Year.
Superintendent Del Burns presented Herrick the Wake County Teacher of the Year Award sponsored by Wachovia Bank at tonight's banquet. Burns praised Herrick for her data-driven classroom instruction and for her active involvement in the lives of her students. Herrick received applause from hundreds of community and education leaders attending the event. Read More...
2009 Wake County Teacher of the Year Finalists
May 12, 2009 - One of 12 finalists will be named the 2009 Wake County Teacher of the Year at a banquet on Thursday, May 14 at the Embassy Suites in Cary. Read More...
Three WCPSS Seniors Named National Merit $2,500 Scholars
May 8, 2009 - Three WCPSS seniors were named 2009 National Merit $2,500 Scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
The three students include Alexey Vasilyev of Enloe High, Syed Saleh of Green Hope High and Kyle Swartz of Southeast Raleigh High. Read More...
Board Approves Assignment Process
May 7, 2009 - Following the ruling of the NC Supreme Court last week, the Wake County Board of Education approved a return to its assignment process allowing families the opportunity to apply for schools in February, receive an assignment in mid-May and request a transfer after assignment. Read More...
Full Circle: The Importance of Professional Learning Communities
Full Circle, the new WCPSS television program, returns this month with a discussion of Professional Learning Communities -- what they are, how important they are to the future of Wake County's schools, and how they help students achieve more. Read More...
Helpful Tools Can Prepare Students for State Testing
May 4, 2009 - Parents can find some online resources that can be used in helping their children prepare for the state testing administered by Wake County Public School System schools during May. Read More...
65 WCPSS Students Named NC Teaching Fellows
May 1, 2009 - Sixty-five Wake County Public School System high school seniors have been named North Carolina Teaching Fellows and eight students have been named alternates.
The Teaching Fellows Program provides a $6,500 per year scholarship for four years at one of 18 North Carolina colleges or universities in turn for the students agreeing to teach for four years in one of North Carolina's public schools. Read More...
Supreme Court Rules
May 1, 2009 - In a majority ruling, The North Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that school districts have the authority to assign students to year round schools.
WCPSS's attorneys are currently studying the ruling and its impact; however this ruling means that WCPSS will now be able to fully utilize current and future building capacity. Read More...
Southeast Raleigh High Pre-Engineering Program Earns Certification from Project Lead the Way and Duke University
April 30, 2009 - Representatives from Project Lead the Way and Duke University have recognized Southeast Raleigh High for its exemplary pre-engineering program that has met and exceeded the program's quality standards during a certification visit April 30.
The High School certification program recognizes schools which have successfully implemented the Project Lead the Way curriculum and provides an opportunity for students to receive college credit. Read More...
Enloe Swimming Coach Named 2009 Toby Webb Award Winner
April 29, 2009 - Vickie Peoples of Enloe High School will be presented the fourth annual Toby Webb Coach of the Year Award given by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Read More...
Four Teachers Honored with 2009 Diane Kent-Parker First-Year Teacher Award
April 29, 2009 - Four Wake County teachers have been honored with the Diane Kent-Parker First-Year Teacher Award, the award named after the late WCPSS teacher recruiter. The award recognizes outstanding first-year elementary, middle, and high school teachers who are nominated by his or her principal and school and have shown significant professional success during his or her first year of teaching.
The teachers are Ryan Williams of Rand Road Elementary, Jessica Benton of Underwood Elementary, Michael Dunbar, Jr. of East Garner Middle and Austin James of Millbrook High. Read More...
Lisa Cox Named 2009 Teacher Assistant of the Year
April 27, 2009 - Lisa Cox, a teacher assistant for the Cross Categorical Resource special education classroom at Swift Creek Elementary, was named the 2009 Teacher Assistant of the Year by the Wake County Teacher Assistants Association during a banquet held at the McKimmon Center on April 27. Read More...
Spring Job Fair Cancelled
April 27, 2009 - The Wake County Public School System has cancelled its Spring Job Fair as the school system addresses budget issues brought on by the downturn in the nation's economy. Read More...
Eight WCPSS Seniors Named National Merit Corporate Scholars
April 24, 2009 - Eight WCPSS seniors were named 2009 National Merit Corporate Scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
The eight students include Rachel C. Rowe, Pradeep B. Gopinathan and Diana L. Xie of Enloe High, Michael S. Nokes of Apex High, Jonathan H. Edwards of Broughton High, Sean M. Bartell of Green Hope High, Sarah Phillips of Middle Creek High and John T. Primm of Panther Creek High Read More...
Two WCPSS Teachers Named Kenan Fellows
April 24, 2009 - Two WCPSS teachers have earned two-year fellowships with the Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development at NC State University.
Jason Wolfe of Enloe High and Justin Osterstrom of Combs Elementary were selected for the 2011 Class of Kenan Fellows and will work with university professors in research to develop math and science lessons for the classroom. Read More...
Enloe High Senior Wins Student Emmy Award
April 21, 2009 - And the Emmy goes to... . Enloe High senior Taylor Leslie who won in the writing category for a series of commercial spoofs called "Real Teachers of Genius." Also, Southeast Raleigh High students earned two honorable mentions.
Leslie is a student in the broadcasting class taught by Curry Leslie and is part of Enloe's Eagle Productions. This is the 12th Student Emmy award in 13 years for Enloe Eagle Productions and advisor Curry Leslie. The school has a total of 23 nominations. Read More...
School Teams Work To Speak Up For Every Child
April 21, 2009 - In schools across Wake County, teams of adults work behind the scenes speaking up for every child, working with families so that students achieve academic success. Read More...
Former Chair, Sen. Vernon Malone Remembered
April 20, 2009 - State Senator Vernon Malone, who served as the Wake County Board of Education's first chairman in 1976, passed away on Saturday, April 18.
"He was a strong supporter of education for all children," said Rosa Gill, current chair of the Wake County Board of Education. "He believed in equal access to opportunities for our students to become all they wanted to be in life." Read More...
Student Leaders Help to Establish School Culture
April 14, 2009 - Wake County educators have been putting older students to work realizing the impact these students have on sharing the school culture and offering advice to the younger students at their schools. Read More...
State Funding Restrictions Announced for Local School Districts
April 14, 2009 - Based upon continuing cash flow shortages, the State Department of Public Instruction yesterday issued funding restrictions to school districts across North Carolina. Read More...
WCPSS Prepares to Audit Individual Schools
April 9, 2009 - The Wake County Public Schools System is looking to build on the success of the changes brought by the Curriculum Management Audit for the school district by auditing individual schools. Read More...
Five WCPSS Seniors Named National Merit Achievement Scholars
April 8, 2009 - Five Wake County Public School System students were named National Achievement Scholarship winners today by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
The WCPSS scholarship winners are Kaiya M. Aroyo of Middle Creek High, Lariah D. Ijames of Apex High, Amelia J. Lumpkin of Enloe High, Mariah Moore of Enloe High and Kelly A. Wyche of Broughton High. Read More...
Helping Hands Helps With Instruction
April 6, 2009 - A team of tutors are working with mentors and students in the Wake County Public School System Helping Hands program to strengthen student skills and prepare them for success on the state End-of-Grade testing in math and reading. Read More...
The New School Connection for April Takes the Stage
April 2, 2009 - Spring is in the air, and that means the curtains are about to rise on the annual spring musicals. That's just one of the interesting and informative stories you'll see this month on The New School Connection, The Wake County Public School System's monthly television news magazine. Read More...
Board Schedules Time to Support Learning and Teaching
March 31, 2009 - In its meeting today, the Board of Education approved the 2009-10 bell schedule including a change for the use of time to support learning and teaching, developing techniques for strengthening and enriching students' skills.
The new school schedule adds 10 minutes to the school day and provides one hour early dismissal on Wednesdays. On six of those Wednesdays, school will release 2.5 hours early. Read More...
2009-10 Bell Schedule
March 31, 2009 - The Board of Education approved the 2009-10 bell schedule, adding three new elementary schools and providing time for teachers to meet in learning teams to improve student instruction. Read More...
Board Approves Austere Budget for 2009-10
March 31, 2009 - The Board of Education approved the 2009-10 operating budget for the Wake County Public School System making $115,000 in cuts to the austere budget they received March 3 from Superintendent Del Burns. Read More...
Board Hears Recommendation on Using Time to Support Learning and Teaching
March 25, 2009 - Board of Education members meeting in the Student Achievement Committee Tuesday heard from representatives of a committee that has been studying the use of time to support learning and teaching.
The board gave tentative approval to a proposal that will provide teachers more time to meet together to study student testing results, discuss strategies to meet the needs of individual students and develop techniques for strengthening and enriching students' skills. Read More...
66 WCPSS Students Selected for 2009 Governor's School
March 24, 2009 - Sixty-six students from 19 Wake County Public School System high schools have been selected to attend the Governor's School of North Carolina for 2009. Read More...
Willow Springs Elementary Plants a Vegetable Garden
March 24, 2009 - Willow Springs Elementary has a new 90' by 30' vegetable garden that the students have named "The Grow Zone."
The first, second, and third grade students will have the primary responsibility for caring for the garden. Each class plants a section of the garden and then grade levels take weekly turns caring for it. Read More...
Sanderson's Bob Catapano Named to Hall of Fame
March 13, 2009 - Sanderson High Athletic Director Bob Catapano will be inducted into the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame later this month. Read More...
Eight WCPSS Seniors Named Park Scholars
March 10, 2009 - Eight WCPSS high school seniors are among 55 students North Carolina State University has named Park Scholars for the Class of 2013.
The WCPSS students named Parks Scholars include Ryan Alexander Collinsworth of Middle Creek High School, Tyler Confrey-Maloney of Broughton High School, Adam Carswell Dunn of Holly Springs High School, Alyse Cristen Flick of Athens Drive High School, Ebunoluwa Ololade Olaleye of Wake Forest-Rolesville High School, Patrick Joseph Short of Sanderson High School, Gretchen Louise Stokes of Apex High School and John Michael Turner of Middle Creek High School. Read More...
Two WCPSS High School Seniors Named 2009 Morehead-Cain Scholars
March 06, 2009 - Two WCPSS high school seniors are among the 70 Morehead-Cain Scholars selected to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Read More...
WCPSS Rates are Lower Than State Averages for Crime, Suspensions, Dropouts
March 5, 2009 - The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released a report today covering dropout, suspension, and expulsion data for the 2007-08 school year. Read More...
Full Circle: A Look at Great Teachers
This month on the School Connection TV show, we preview a new kind of storytelling for WCPSS. Jeff Nash invites intriguing guests and asks probing questions for a fast-paced and informative half hour about "Great Teachers." We hope you enjoy Full Circle. Read More...
Superintendent Recommends Austere Budget To Navigate Economic Hurricane
March 3, 2009 - An "economic hurricane" is the phrase Superintendent Del Burns used to describe the state of the economy as he presented the 2009-10 operating budget for the Wake County Public School System to the Board of Education.
New info:
- ParentVision Video: The Budget Picture
- Quick Podcasts: Chief Business Officer Discusses Budget
- Board Member Questions and Answers
Wake County Families and Schools Support Student Success
February 24, 2009 - Families and schools are working in partnership to support success for students and for their schools.
To further foster this partnership, the Wake County School Board is embracing standards of the National PTA. The PTA's six standards for judging effective family-school partnerships are now included in Board Policy 2541. Read More...
WCPSS Congratulates 2009 National Board Certified Teachers
February 13, 2009 - The nearly 200 Wake County Public School System educators who earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards this year were congratulated by Superintendent Del Burns in a reception Wednesday. Read More...
Lifelong Learning Instructors Wanted to Offer Summer Classes to Adult Students
February 12, 2009 - Whether it's learning how to start a home-based business, learning a craft such as sewing, painting or graphic design, or becoming proficient with a computer application or foreign language, people are always looking to master new skills.
Teaching adult learners is a viable earning opportunity for potential instructors. Each year, hundreds of entrepreneurs in Wake County are able to earn extra income by teaching classes through the WCPSS Community Services adult education program, Lifelong Learning with Community Schools. Read More...
Wake County Magnet Schools Earn National Honors
February 11, 2009 - Eighteen magnet schools in the Wake County Public School System have been notified by the Magnet Schools of America of their selection from a pool of more than 2,000 magnet schools from across the nation as MSA Schools of Excellence or MSA Schools of Distinction. Read More...
Kindergarten Registration Underway
The transition from preschool to elementary school can be an exciting but uncertain time for many students and parents. This month, as North Carolina school districts kick off the kindergarten enrollment period for the 2009-2010 school year, parents are encouraged to register their children early to save time and stress. Read More...
Forestville Road Elementary Named National Title I Distinguished School
February 6, 2009 - Forestville Road Elementary has been named the state’s National Title I Distinguished School, an honor recognizing Title I schools that improve student achievement through innovative approaches. Read More...
WCPSS Drop-out Rate at 4.17 Percent for 2007-08
February 6, 2009 - Wake County Public School System high schools reported that 4.17 percent of students dropped out of school during the 2007-08 academic year, according to the state’s 2007-08 Dropout Report released today. Read More...
WCPSS Freezes Hiring in Response to Economy
February 6, 2009 - Preparing for a challenging budget environment due to the continuing economic downturn, the Wake County Public School System has implemented a hiring freeze until at least June 30, 2009. Positions vacant as of February 6, 2009, will remain unfilled unless they are considered "mission-critical." Exceptions will be made for school-based teacher vacancies, but principals will have to fill those positions on a temporary basis. Read More...
Board Approves 2009-12 Multi-Year Assignment Plan
February 3, 2009 - The Board of Education has approved a multi-year assignment plan that will fill 10 new schools opening over the next three years. The plan was approved after an eight-month process that included seven public hearings, five community engagement meetings and additional comments that brought numerous changes shaping the final plan. Read More...
Application Period for Magnet Programs and Calendar Option Schools Ends Feb 28.
The magnet school application period ends at the end of the day on Saturday, Feb. 28. Families may apply for their children to attend one of the 33 magnet schools including 19 elementary, 8 middle, 5 high schools and 1 early college.
Important notes: Applications are accepted online only. Feb. 28 is the last day for on-time applications. Apply online here. Read More...
Parents are Invited to Visit Year-Round Application Elementary Schools
January 29, 2009 - The 14 year-round elementary schools that accept applications are holding open houses in February. If your child's base school is on a traditional calendar, and you want to apply for a year-round seat, there is an online Magnet/Calendar Option Application form. The application form must be completed and submitted online between February 9th and February 28th of 2009. Read More...
Board Continues Work on 2009-12 Reassignment Plan
January 29, 2009 - The Board of Education heard from 13 families last night in the board's sixth public hearing on the first-ever, multi-year assignment proposal to fill 10 new schools over the next three years. The Board has scheduled one more public hearing at noon on February 3 for those few nodes affected by the very latest changes to the assignment plan. Read More...
Blues Guitarist Visits Powell Elementary
January 28, 2009 - While dance teacher Stacie Shumake encouraged her students to feel the beat of the music, visiting blues guitarist Roger "Hurricane" Wilson strummed and crooned Monday afternoon at Powell Elementary School.
Read More...
Board Considers Changes at Student Assignment Work Session
January 23, 2009 - A number of changes were discussed to the multi year student assignment proposal during work sessions held by the Board of Education on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23. Read More...
Wake County Schools Communicate with Families
January 20, 2009 - Communication is important for families and schools to build a partnership that supports students in achieving their best.
To try and further foster this communication, the Wake County School Board is embracing standards of the National PTA. The PTA's six standards for judging effective family-school partnerships are now included in Board Policy 2541. Read More...
Board Hears 11 Hours of Comments in Student Assignment Hearings
January 16, 2009 - More than 200 people spoke and more than 1,000 people attended the series of five public hearings held by the Board of Education in its review of the multi-year assignment proposal that will fill 10 new schools over the next three years. Read More...
Congressman Etheridge Announces School Construction Bill at Ligon Middle
January 12, 2009 - Congressman Bob Etheridge called for school construction funding to be included in the economic recovery package before congress in a news conference today at Ligon Middle School. Read More...
Wight Named Regional Principal of the Year
January 12, 2008 - Matt Wight, principal of Apex High School, has been selected as the Regional Principal of the Year by the NC Department of Public Instruction, The Principals' Executive Program and the Wachovia Corporation. Read More...
Learning Teams Strengthen Instruction
January 7, 2009 - Teachers are talking excitedly about what's happening in their schools. There is a cultural shift underway transforming the way teachers teach and students learn. The change isn't the result of gimmicks or magic solutions. Read More...
Superintendent Burns Says Shared Leadership Can Lead to Student Success
January 6, 2009 - In his midterm report to the Wake County Board of Education, Superintendent Del Burns focused on leadership for school executives and classroom teachers. Read More...
Staff Multi-Year Assignment Proposal Online
December 16, 2008 - Public input has resulted in changes to the multi-year student assignment proposal presented today to the Board of Education by WCPSS Growth and Planning to fill 10 new schools with 25,486 students over the next three years. The full plan is online.
This is a staff proposal to the Wake County Board of Education. The school board will discuss the plan, consider changes, and adopt a plan following the public comment period. The public comment period is now over.
Videos of the speakers at all the public hearings are now online. Read More...
WCPSS Retains Quality Teachers
December 16, 2008 - An effort to retain quality teachers is having an impact in the Wake County Public School System, as the school system's teacher turnover rate remains below the state average and below other urban districts in the state. Read More...
Economic Slowdown Pinches School System Budget
The national economic downturn is being felt locally as the Wake County Public School System Board of Education approved $11.2 million in reductions from its budget. The reductions were in response to a requirement to return $5.47 million to the state as well as a pending request from Wake County to return $5.7 million. Read More...
Board Approves IB Magnet Changes
After agreeing to reconsider the magnet status of Broughton High School, the Board of Education today voted to phase out the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years and Diploma Programmes at Broughton over the next five years.
The board voted to implement the IB Middle Years and Diploma Programmes at Millbrook High School to continue to serve IB elementary and middle school students. Read More...
Nearly 200 WCPSS Teachers Earn National Board Certification
December 9, 2008 - Nearly 200 Wake County Public School System educators earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards this year, making WCPSS one of the nation's leaders in the certification program. Read More...
Board Cuts $11 Million Responding to State and Local Revenue Shortfall
December 2, 2008 - The Board of Education cut $11 million from its budget to return funds to the NC Department of Public Instruction and Wake County Commissioners, both short of revenue as national economic woes begin to affect North Carolina. Read More...
Wake County Schools Work to Welcome Families into Schools
November 20, 2008 - For students to succeed, it’s important for families and schools to build a partnership that supports the child. Read More...
2009-2012 Draft Assignment Proposal Released for Review & Comment
Nov. 15, 2008 - An unprecedented draft multi-year student assignment proposal from WCPSS Growth and Planning that fills 10 new schools with 26,771 students over the next three years was released this morning. You can submit comments online through the end of the day on Dec. 10. Read More...
Certification and Leadership are Connected
November 12, 2008 - Teachers who have earned certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards are challenged to become education leaders in their community. Read More...
Schedule Set for Multi-year Assignment Proposal
November 10, 2008 - A draft multi-year student assignment proposal that promises families greater predictability and better defined feeder patterns will be available for view online at wcpss.net at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15. Read More...
Four WCPSS Schools Earn State's Highest Recognition
November 6, 2008 - Four Wake County Public School System schools were recognized as Honor Schools of Excellence, according to the 2007-08 state ABCs of Public Education announced today. Read More...
WCPSS Sees Impact of State Raising Reading Standards
November 6, 2008 - More than six out of 10 third- through eighth-grade Wake County Public School System students achieved reading proficiency on the state End-of-Grade tests in 2007-08 after the State Board of Education established significantly higher reading standards, according to reports being released today by the state. Read More...
Knightdale High Works to Boost Student Achievement
November 5, 2008 - Student success, classroom instruction and learning teams are the talk of faculty meetings at Knightdale High School. Read More...
Smith Elementary Named International Baccalaureate Magnet
October 29, 2008 - Change is coming to the instructional plan and the Maxwell Drive campus of Smith Elementary. When the work is completed, the school will become Smith Elementary International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in a completely renovated campus. Read More...
Explore Magnet Programs on Sat., Nov. 1
October 24, 2008 - The annual WCPSS Magnet Schools Fair is planned for Saturday, Nov. 1 at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Families interested in educational choice may explore the many innovative programs offered through the network of magnet programs. Read More...
More WCPSS Students Taking College-Level AP Exams
October 23, 2008 - More Wake County Public School System students are taking college-level Advanced Placement exams and the percent of WCPSS students with a passing score remains significantly higher than the average for North Carolina. Read More...
Teacher Job Fair Pre-registration Now Open
October 20, 2008 - Pre-registration for the Fall 2008 Teacher Job Fair opened today. Online pre-registration ends on November 30, and is mandatory. To participate, you are fully licensed, have completed your student teaching, or are eligible for a valid teaching license. School administrators will be on site to conduct interviews. The Job Fair is scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2008. Read More...
Wight Named 2008 Principal of the Year
October 16, 2008 - The Wake County Public School System named Matt Wight of Apex High School the 2008 Principal of the Year and Shejuanna Rodgers of Apex Middle the 2008 Assistant Principal of the Year in ceremonies this evening at the Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh. The awards ceremony is sponsored by the Wake County Public School System and the Wake County Division of Principals and Assistant Principals. Read More...
2008 Principal of the Year Finalists
October 15, 2008 - The Principal of the Year and the Assistant Principal of the Year for the Wake County Public School System will be named at ceremonies at the Marbles Museum in downtown Raleigh Thursday night, October 16. Read More...
Wake Students Celebrate Walk to School Day 2008
October 8, 2008 - Students at schools across Wake County joined in today’s celebration of Walk to School Day. The national Walk to School Day celebration is designed to enhance the health of students and their families by providing an opportunity to increase physical activity, draw greater community awareness to safe walking and biking routes to school and demonstrate community strategies to improve air quality. Read More...
Kindergarten Eligibility Date Changes for the 2009-10 School Year
The State of North Carolina has made changes to the eligibility dates for children entering kindergarten. Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, students attending kindergarten must be 5 years of age on or before August 31, 2009. Read More...
Laurel Park Elementary School Celebrates Opening
Laurel Park Elementary School celebrated the opening of their new school by holding a dedication ceremony Wednesday, October 1 for parents and members of the community. Read More...
Introducing New E-Newsletter and Emergency Notification Sign-up and Subscription Manager
September 30, 2008 - There's a new generation of electronic communication tools provided by the Communications Department of the Wake County Public School System. The new system will streamline and simplify the ability to receive e-newsletters and emergency notifications emails with a new Subscription Manager.
This Web-based interface will allow you to sign up and manage your subscriptions to our electronic newsletters and emergency notification e-mails which alert you to unexpected school closing, delayed opening, early dismissal or other critical system-wide news. Read More...
WCPSS Sees 3,700 More Students for 2008-09
September 30, 2008 - Enrollment in the Wake County Public School System increased to 137,706 on the 20th day of the 2008-09 school year, 3,700 students more than last year. Read More...
11 WCPSS Students Named Achievement Scholarship Semifinalists
September 25, 2008 - Eleven students from seven Wake County Public School System high schools have been recognized as semifinalists in the 45th annual Achievement Scholarship competition. The 11 students were among more than 1,600 Black American high school seniors recognized nationally. Read More...
Root Moves to Temporary North Hills Campus
September 19, 2008 - Root Elementary School has moved into swing space in a temporary modular campus for the school year while the school's campus is renovated. Moving into the temporary campus just days before school started was hard work for the school's teachers and families. Read More...
Increased Share of Construction Awarded Minority Business Enterprise Firms
September 17, 2008 - Minority Business Enterprise firms have been awarded an increased share of school construction work Don Haydon, WCPSS Chief of Facilities and Operations, told the Board of Education at its meeting Tuesday. Read More...
Tdap Vaccination Deadline for Sixth Graders Has Passed
Students entering the sixth grade on or after August 1, are required to have a Tdap booster shot if it has been five or more years since their last tetanus shot. The deadline was September 23 - after that date, students not immunized, or without proof of an immunization appointment scheduled on or before October 24, will be prohibited from attending school. Wake County Human Services is offering the Tdap shot by appointment at several locations around the county. Read More...
53 WCPSS Students Named Merit Scholar Semifinalists
September 11, 2008 - Fifty-three students from 11 Wake County Public School System high schools were among the approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 54th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Read More...
Wake High Schools Recognized for Graduation Rate
September 9, 2008 - Two Wake County Public School System high schools were recognized yesterday by Dr. June Atkinson, State Superintendent of Education, for achieving some of the top graduation rates for high schools in the state. Read More...
Ligon Middle School Make-up Day is Nov. 4th.
Ligon students will make up for missing Monday on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Due to the potential additional traffic on Election Day, Ligon will open on a two-hour delay like all WCPSS year-round and modified calendar schools. Other WCPSS schools have a scheduled teacher work day on Nov. 4. Read More...
Free Seminar Shows Elementary Parents How to Help Their Children Improve At Math
Mastering math is not just a classroom skill, it's a life skill. Parents in Wake County can learn what they can do to help their elementary age children become strong math students, thanks to a special event scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 11 from 7-9 p.m. in the Leesville Road High School auditorium. The event is free, but due to limited seating, online registration is required. Read More...
WCPSS Given Award for Creating Healthy School Environments
Cleaner air, fewer reports of problems, and well-trained school staff in place to troubleshoot concerns are just a few of the benefits to having successfully launched the indoor air quality program, Tools for Schools within our district two years ago. Read More...
Bus Routes Adjusted for Sycamore Creek Elementary
All students who attend Sycamore Creek Elementary School will be eligible for bus transportation. The routes that were established when Sycamore Creek was temporarily housed at Hilburn Elementary School will remain in effect throughout this school year. It has been determined that there will not be a “no transportation” zone around the school. Read More...
WCPSS Students' 2008 Scores Increase on SAT
August 26, 2008 - SAT scores for 2007-08 Wake County Public School System seniors increased while results at the state and national levels held steady. This year, WCPSS seniors averaged 541 on math, 518 on critical reading and 506 on writing. The combined average score is 1565. Read More...
WCPSS hires more than 950 new teachers for 2008-09
August 22, 2008 - More than 9,250 teachers will be prepared to teach 140,000 students at 157 Wake County Public schools this year. Read More...
First Day of Traditional Calendar Schools
August 25, 2008 - Thousands of students return to classes today for the first day of the Traditional calendar school year. They join roughly 40,000 year round students who returned to classes on July 7. Read More...
Teachers Meet in Learning Teams to Boost Student Achievement
August 22, 2008 - The call has gone out to Wake County teachers from Dr. Donna Hargens to work together to help more Wake County Public School System students enjoy academic success and to challenge all students academically. Learning teams may be one way to do that. Read More...
Traditional Calendar Schools Kick Off Monday Morning
With all schools in Wake County back in full operation on Monday, August 25, there will be an increase of traffic around schools, more students at school bus stops and changing traffic patterns with the opening of new schools. Read More...
Transportation Safety Follow-up
This memo outlines actions WCPSS has taken to address transportation safety issues. These steps are in addition to those listed in the August 2nd safety memo. Read More...
Greater Gang Awareness Helps Create Safer Schools
Children and teens join gangs for many reasons - peer pressure, boredom, gaining a sense of belonging - and unfortunately for some children, the lure of a gang is too great to resist. We know that gang activity is increasing in Wake County. That increase is impacting our entire community including our schools. As a result, the Wake County Public School System has increased its efforts to help stop the spread of gangs in our county by improving school policies and procedures and working closely with local law enforcement and community groups, as well as intervening at the social services level. Read More...
WCPSS Seeks Partnerships Between Schools and Faith-based Groups
August 20, 2008 - A new partnership between Brentwood Elementary and a North Raleigh church is providing students with some extra support inside the classroom and a facelift on the outside. Read More...
Finalists Named for 2008-09 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year
August 20, 2008 - Five principals and five assistant principals have been nominated as finalists for the Wake County Public School System 2008-09 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year. Read More...
Board Approves Hunter Education Policy
August 20, 2008 - The Board of Education gave final approval Tuesday night to a new policy, Policy 5135 for Hunter Education Programs, to address school participation in hunter safety programs. Read More...
New School Facilities Open for 2008-09
August 18, 2008 - New school facilities are opening for 2008-09 with some schools beginning the school year August 25 at new locations. The changing locations will mean new transportation patterns that drivers will need to consider. Read More...
School Board Briefed on Multi-Year Student Assignment Process
Currently under development, the Multi-Year Student Assignment plan will span three years and should provide advanced notice of where specific attendance nodes will be assigned. This is the first time WCPSS has sought to provide an assignment plan that covers more than one year. Read More...
Bus Routes Posted Online for August 25 Start of School
With the start of the traditional calendar school year right around the corner, parents are encouraged to review bus routes and stops for their child's school. Read More...
WCPSS Employee Contributes to Kid's Book on National Display
August 14, 2008 - A substance that isn't talked about much, yet is one of the most prevalent and valuable natural resources the world has to offer is finally receiving attention from patrons visiting a popular museum in the nation's capital. The National Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. has a new exhibit called Dig It! The Secrets of Soil (https://www.soils.org/smithsonian/). This exhibit features a new children's book co-authored by one of our own WCPSS employees. Read More...
Sycamore Creek Elementary Moves In Monday
August 14, 2008 - It's been six weeks since the first day of the 2008-09 year-round calendar, and now the students of Sycamore Creek Elementary will enjoy another first day of school on Monday, Aug 18. That's when they begin the first day of classes at their new school on Leesville Road in Raleigh. Read More...
Board Finalizes Plans for 14 Schools in Title I School Improvement
The Wake County Board of Education has approved public school choice options for 14 Wake County schools that receive Title I funding and are in School Improvement, as required by No Child Left Behind. Read More...
Preliminary ABCs: More Schools Achieve High Growth
August 7, 2008 – The Wake County Public School System is seeing big gains in the number of schools meeting state high growth standards. That’s according to preliminary results of the ABCs of Public Education released today by the NC Department of Public Instruction. Read More...
Transportation Update
Recently, concerns were raised regarding student transportation safety. The following link is a memo which recaps the actions taken to date by the system as well as future plans of action. Read More...
WCPSS Sponsors Event for Parents at McKimmon Center
July 31, 2008 - An educator who wrote the book on family involvement in schools will be one of the speakers at an August 13 event the Wake County Public School System will provide for the community. Read More...
Title I Elementary Summer School Celebrates Closing Like the Olympics
July 31, 2008 - Gold medal winners were celebrating across the Wake County Public School System Thursday with the completion of Title I elementary summer school programs. Read More...
WCPSS Releases 2007-08 Graduation Rate Results
July 21, 2008 - Three high schools have graduation rates above 90 percent as described in a report on graduation rates for 2007-08 released by the Wake County Public School System today. Read More...
WCPSS Releases Preliminary 2007-08 AYP Results
July 21, 2008 - The NC Department of Public Instruction today released the preliminary results for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the federal "No Child Left Behind Law" (NCLB) for schools. With the data currently available, 37 of 152 Wake County Public School System schools met the AYP standard. Read More...
WCPSS Earns National Award for Learning Teams
July 9, 2008 - The National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF) and Pearson Achievement Solutions have named the Wake County Public School System one of three exemplary learning teams for 2008. WCPSS has been recognized for its "outstanding work in moving toward a collaborative model focused on improving student achievement" by using Professional Learning Communities in its schools and departments. WCPSS was one of 52 nominees for the award. Read More...
Three New Schools Open in 2008-09
July 7, 2008 - The Wake County Public School System will open three new schools for 2008-09, while more schools are being built and planned. The schools opening this year include three new year-round elementary schools: Laurel Park Elementary, Mills Park Elementary and Sycamore Creek Elementary. Read More...
WCPSS School Buses Return to Road for 2008-09 School Year
July 7, 2008 -The first morning bus rides for students attending Wake County’s year-round schools are expected to go smoothly, according to WCPSS Transportation administrators.
Buses will roll to 41 elementary and eight middle schools for the start of the school year. Since many parents like to take their youngest children to school on the first day, WCPSS Transportation Department administrators say they expect to see more students on the buses returning home this afternoon. Schools, bus drivers and families work out transportation issues together in the first days of schools. Read More...
Back to School 2008
You can find helpful back-to-school information on Back to School 2008 page. Year-round and Modified Calendar schools are already open. The Wake Early College of Health and Science starts Wednesday, August 6. Traditional calendar schools will begin Monday, August 25. Read More...
Transportation Patterns Change with the Opening of the 2008-09 School Year
July 2, 2008 - Drivers should be prepared for changing transportation patterns caused by the opening of new schools and the return of school buses to the roadways transporting students to 46 year-round elementary and middle schools with the new year beginning July 9. Read More...
New Lunch Money Payment Option Available for Parents
July 2, 2008 - This year, parents will have a new payment option that will, hopefully, make forgetting to pay for their child’s lunches throughout the school year a thing of the past. Starting July 7, parents will have the option of signing up with a new service called MyLunchMoney. The service is easy to use and allows parents to deposit funds into their child's lunch account anytime they want from their home computer, phone or fax. Read More...
School Board Reduces Budget by $39.2 Million
June 24, 2008 - The Wake County Board of Education yesterday identified $39.2 million in program and service reductions necessary to balance its budget for the coming school year. The budget cuts were necessary to reconcile the school board's 2008-09 Plan for Student Success with the Wake County Board of Commissioners' appropriation for the Wake County Public School System. Read More...
Rosa Gill Re-elected Board of Education Chair
June 17, 2008 - Rosa Gill was selected for a second term as the chair of the Wake County Board of Education during the board’s annual meeting today. Gill was a unanimous choice for the post, the only person nominated by board members for the job of chair. Read More...
Board Names Leesville Road High School Stadium in Honor of Marshall L. Hamilton
June 17, 2008 - Today the Board listened to family members and school staff share stories about the accomplishments and contributions of Marshall L. Hamilton, the former Leesville Road High School Athletic Director. Read More...
New School Construction Nearly Complete
June 16, 2008 - WCPSS is finishing construction on three new elementary schools that will be ready to welcome students for the upcoming 2008-09 school year and will allow room for future growth expected in 2009-10 and 2010-11. The three schools are Laurel Park Elementary, Mills Park Elementary, and Sycamore Creek Elementary. Read More...
Graduation Ceremonies at Reynolds Prepare for the Heat
June 6, 2008 – Parents and visitors attending the nine graduation ceremonies for Wake County high schools June 11 to 14 in Reynolds Coliseum need to be prepared for the heat.
Weather forecasts are calling for an extended heat wave and thousands of people are expected to take part in ceremonies at Reynolds which does not have air conditioning. Reynolds provides the space needed for ceremonies with schools that have 400 to more than 500 students in the graduating class. It’s been in use as an interim measure in recent years while a new Raleigh Civic Center has been under construction. Read More...
WCPSS Tackles Eliminating the Achievement Gap
June 6, 2008 - Eliminating the achievement gap is the number one recommendation of the curriculum management audit, an issue of discussion for the community Raising Achievement, Closing the Gap committee and is being tackled in schools now.
The curriculum management audit, an intensive study by national education experts of instruction in WCPSS schools, provided the school system with a blueprint for improvement. It recommends a number of steps for eliminating the achievement gap. Read More...
Students' Writing Tests Results Improve
June 5, 2008 - Results on the state writing tests show Wake County Public School System students continue to perform better than the state average and continue a three-year trend of improvement.
Local analysis of the state writing test results show that 67.9 percent of WCPSS fourth graders scored proficient in writing in 2007-08, eight percentage points above the state average of 59.8 percent. Read More...
Board Discusses Graduation Rate as Academic Goal
June 4, 2008 - Graduation rate was discussed by the Board of Education yesterday as a potential measure for the school system’s academic goal. In the board’s committee of the whole meeting yesterday, Superintendent Del Burns recommended that the WCPSS board, staff, and community commit to raising graduation rates to 90 percent by 2013 and to 95 per cent by 2015. Read More...
WCPSS Graduates More Than 7,600 Students for 2008
June 2 , 2008 - The Wake County Public School System will award diplomas to 7,684 students in 19 ceremonies through Sunday, June 14.
Most of the students will continue their education in college, while others will enlist in the military or join the workforce. Read More...
14 Seniors Earn National Merit Scholarships
May 29, 2008 - 14 Wake County Public School System high school seniors earned National Merit College Scholarships, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
The 14 students are Noah Fontes of Apex High; Matthew Fox and Nancy Pace of Broughton High; Christine Dragonette of Cary High; Adam Buckholtz, James Cuffney, Miles Huang and Scott Possiel of Enloe High; William Schlieper of Green Hope High; Amanda Jackson of Knightdale High; Josh King of Leesville Road High; Terry James and Nicolette Rossmell of Middle Creek High; and Timothy Armstrong of Millbrook High. Read More...
Wake High Schools Schedule Graduation Ceremonies
May 23, 2008 - Nineteen schools will hold graduation ceremonies using five different sites beginning 10 a.m., Saturday, May 31 with the Southeast Raleigh High graduation ceremony at Reynolds Coliseum.
Schools are holding rehearsals for their graduation ceremonies this week so students will be familiar with the facilities and plans for their event. Students will receive admission tickets for their guests and schools will be following guidelines to keep the events safe and orderly. Read More...
39 WCPSS Students Named NC Teaching Fellows
May 23, 2008 - Thirty-nine Wake County Public School System high school seniors have been named North Carolina Teaching Fellows and seven students have been named alternates. Read More...
Board Approves New Teacher Employment Strategy for Wilburn
May 20, 2008 - Wilburn Elementary will become the first school in the state to implement a new strategy for teacher employment after action by the Board of Education cleared the way today.
At its meeting this afternoon, the Board of Education approved Wilburn Elementary School’s request to use Title I school wide funds for implementation of the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP). Of the four WCPSS schools that use Title I school wide funds, Wilburn chose to implement TAP. Read More...
Powell Elementary Teacher is 2008 Wake County Teacher of the Year
May 15, 2008 - Powell Elementary School teacher Ann Quarles is the 2008 Wake County Teacher of the Year.
Superintendent Del Burns presented Quarles the Wake County Teacher of the Year Award sponsored by Wachovia Bank at tonight's banquet. Burns praised Quarles as a teacher leader and for earning the school system's highest honor. Hundreds of community and education leaders attending the event congratulated her with applause. Read More...
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