This North Carolina Elementary School Could Soon Close
This North Carolina elementary school could soon close. The Cabarrus County School Board will hear from the public tonight about proposed plans to close Beverly Hills Elementary School in Concord.
Built in 1953, school district officials cite safety concerns with the aging building. At more than 70 years old, Beverly Hills Elementary has been home to generations of students. But Cabarrus schools superintendent Dr. John Kopicki told the Independent Tribune it “presents a lot of challenges from a safety point of view.”
A public hearing on the future of Beverly Hills Elementary will be held tonight at Concord’s Education Center board room. After tonight’s hearing, the board will discuss the proposed closure at a February 5 workshop, then hold an official vote on February 12.
So what does all this mean for students at Beverly Hills Elementary? They will be reassigned to W.M. Irvin, Winecoff and Royal Oaks Elementary Schools. Students will also be able to attend the new Coltrane-Webb Elementary once construction is complete.
8 North Carolina Schools Earned The Distinction of National Blue Ribbon Schools
Yesterday 8 North Carolina schools were named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. According to the Department of Education, “the recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments. These schools demonstrate what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.” A total of 353 schools nationwide received this distinction, this included 313 public schools and 40 private schools. Each of the 8 North Carolina schools recognized was a public school.
The award-winning schools will be formally recognized at an awards ceremony on November 16 and 17, 2023 in Washington, DC. This is the 40th year the Department of Education has selected the National Blue Ribbon Schools. According to the department the criteria for public schools are as follows:
Performance Award Criteria for Public Schools: In order to be eligible for nomination, a school must meet several criteria based on the performance of its students on state assessments in reading (or English language arts) and mathematics or a composite of performance on these assessments with other measures of student performance (e.g., student growth on state assessments, performance on state assessments in other subjects, graduation rates, or other indicators in the state’s accountability system).
You can read more about the eligibility requirements here. Congratulations to each of these eight North Carolina Schools that received the National Blue Ribbon Schools recognition. They represent elementary, middle, and high schools across the state. In fact, there are 7 different school districts represented with the remaining school being a charter school. Keep reading to see and learn a little more about each of these schools. Congratulations and thank you to the teachers and staff of these schools for giving your best to the children of North Carolina!
