Randolph County Schools

Grays Chapel set for 100 years of school memories

Grays Chapel set for 100 years of school memories

Grays Chapel Elementary School students gather for a photo last week in advance of the 100-year celebration at the school. (Photo courtesy of Dan Routh)   FRANKLINVILLE – The 100-year celebration for Grays Chapel Elementary School this weekend means countless families will rekindle their connections and memories. That’s the whole idea involving this event. “To me, it’s the community involvement in the school that makes it so special,” said April Wood, a kindergarten teacher. “It’s a close-knit community that supports the school. I think that’s the best part about it.” Wood and fellow kindergarten teacher Jennifer Macfayden have been leading…
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Randolph County Schools receive grants, discuss improvement plans

Randolph County Schools receive grants, discuss improvement plans

ASHEBORO – The Randolph County Schools Board of Education met Monday, Nov, 20. The board was presented with two grants received by RCS. The first was the Bright Ideas Education Grant in the amount of $1,675 that was received by Farmer Elementary School to provide the funding to purchase a STEM activity cart with hands-on activities. The second was the Run 5 Feed 5 Grant in the amount of $400 that was received by Northeastern Randolph Middle School to provide for the BackPack Program to address childhood hunger. The BackPack Program, which is hosted by the Feeding America network, offers…
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Randolph County School Board examines dropout data, low-performing schools

Randolph County School Board examines dropout data, low-performing schools

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Schools Board of Education met Monday, Oct. 16, with updates on various district items, including new data on dropout rates, a list of underperforming schools, and details on some received grants and a financial audit. RCS had 111 dropouts for the 2021-22 school year, a decrease from the previous year. “We report 7-12 grade dropouts,” said Executive Director of Administrative Services for Students Edwina Ashworth, noting that this data is for the 2021-2022 school year. “The school system as a whole was at 1.5% and the state as a whole was 1.54%.” For the 2008-09…
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Randolph County School System issues more than 1,000 diplomas

Randolph County School System issues more than 1,000 diplomas

ASHEBORO – The Randolph County Schools Board of Education met Monday, Aug. 21, with a variety of informational items to be presented to the board.  The first information item that was presented to the board was an update on Apprenticeship Randolph.   According to its website, Apprenticeship Randolph is “an opportunity for juniors and seniors living and/or learning in Randolph County to get a jump start on a professional career in our booming local industries.”  Students get on-job training, experience and an Associates of Applied Science from Randolph Community College.  "Apprenticeship Randolph's Signing Ceremony and Graduation was held at Randolph Community…
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UCA’s high school building ready; Delays expected for younger students

UCA’s high school building ready; Delays expected for younger students

ASHEBORO — The new high school building for Uwharrie Charter Academy opens next week. The new facility will house the high school and career academy. A ribbon cutting was held last Thursday, with an appearance by Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who’s running for governor in 2024. Classes begin Monday, and students will be welcomed to the new facility. Staff members have spent the past couple of weeks on-site preparing for the opening. It hasn’t gone quite as smoothly for UCA’s elementary school facilities. UCA superintendent Sharron Castelli announced an adjustment to the school calendar for early grades. “We will have…
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RCS to change focus surrounding Virtual Academy

RCS to change focus surrounding Virtual Academy

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Schools Board of Education met Monday, June 5, with presentations on the Virtual Academy and various grants as the main items on the agenda. Following up on a recommendation to consider closing the Virtual Academy made at last month’s board meeting by Superintendent Stephen Gainey, the superintendent instead recommended that RCS change its focus in relation to the school after an uptick in enrollments. “Looking at some of the things we talked about last month and where the school is, there’s been a pretty strong jump in the last couple of weeks,” Gainey said. “So,…
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Randolph County local makes NC All-State Honors Band

Randolph County local makes NC All-State Honors Band

TRINITY – Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve in Randolph County has a vision to immerse students in 21st-century skills in order to guide them to make decisions related to their future goals. One particular student, Zane York, has taken up this vision and created an opportunity for himself through the All-State Honors Band.  The school’s band director, Angel Freeland, has now accomplished her lifelong goal through York’s hard work. She has been the band director for Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve for 13 years.  “It’s really unique here being a six-twelve school; I really get to enjoy some of my students staying from sixth…
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UCA receives 10-year renewal

UCA receives 10-year renewal

ASHEBORO — Uwharrie Charter Academy has further confirmation that its long-term future appears bright. Randolph County’s only charter school was notified that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has voted to recommend a 10-year renewal for the school, which has grades K-12. “This is our first renewal, and the max you can get is 10 years,” said Sharon Castelli, the school’s superintendent. “Which means we’re going to be around a little longer.” The final stamp of approval should come from the Charter Schools Advisory Board in the spring, something that’s considered just a formality at this point. UCA is…
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RCSS receives electric bus as part of pilot program

RCSS receives electric bus as part of pilot program

The Randolph County School System is the first public school system in the state to receive an electric school bus as part of a pilot program funded by the North Carolina Volkswagen Settlement program. Various school officials and representatives of other groups gathered last week to document the development. In photo, left to right: Phillip Lanier, Randolph County Board of Education member; Michael Trent, Director of Innovative Energy Solutions, Randolph Electric Membership Corp.; Roy Parks, Western Regional Sales Manager, Carolina Thomas; Dr. Stephen Gainey, Superintendent, Randolph County School System; Elizabeth Biser, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality;…
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