North Carolina 3rd Grade Teacher Charging Students ‘Rent’

North Carolina 3rd grade teacher, Shelby Lattimore has gone viral for charging her students rent.  Now wait, before you become outraged, let me explain.  Chances are you're going to be standing and applauding Shelby Lattimore.

If there's one thing that you hear adults complaining about children it's something along these lines, "They have no clue about responsibility-fiscal or otherwise."  Also, if there's one complaint WE ALL make about school curriculum, it's that not enough time is spent teaching 'real world stuff.'  Charlotte 3rd grade teacher Shelby Lattimore is knocking both of these out of the park with what she's doing in her class.

Life in Shelby Lattimore's class is not just educational work, but you literally have jobs to do.  Students earn fake money for performing such tasks as holding doors open, cleaning up, and assisting the teacher.  Now, just as in life, not all jobs pay the same.  However, you must 'work.'  You see, 'payday' is Friday.  Students can then use their earnings for rewards like free time or homework passes.  WAIT THOUGH.  Life is not all about buying what we want, right?  No, we work because we have to buy what we need.

Shelby Lattimore teaches this lesson to her class as well.  She reminds her students to always hold back $5 because that's what she charges for rent on their chairs and desks.  HOW GENIUS IS THIS?!  See, I told you that you'd be giving it up.  Shelby Lattimore, a 3rd grade math and science teacher at Renaissance West STEAM Academy may be the teacher of the year!

How do the parents of Shelby Lattimore's students feel?  The teacher tells WCCB, “Parents from my class are thanking me because a lot of them do live check to check, and they were never taught to think of money, long term."  Her videos on TikTok, like the one below have garnered hundreds of thousands of views and equal amounts of praise.

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!

Location: 5337 Highway 264 East, Washington, NC

District: Beaufort County Schools

Public

Beaufort County Early College High School exists in coordination with Beaufort County Community College where students can earn college credits while in high school. It's one of only two high schools that made this list.

Location: 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview, NC

District: Buncombe County Schools

Public

There are actually several Fairview Elementary Schools in Charlotte. This one though is in Buncombe County and has approximately 660 students in Kindergarten through Fifth grade.

Location: 4049 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro

District: n/a

Public

Greensboro Academy is a charter school in Greensboro. Charter Schools offer a private school quality eduction but for free. Students simply have to apply for admission which is available to any student in NC. Greensboro Academy serves grades K-8.

Location: 70 Sanders Road, Wilmington

District: New Hanover County Schools

Public

Known as Bellamy Elementary School, this award-winning school serves students in grades 1-5 in Wilmington, NC.

Location: 1600 N Morris Street, Gastonia

District: Gaston County Schools

Public

Our second and last high school on this list, is Highland School of Technology in Gastonia. Highland is the first magnet high school in this district. Students complete courses in one of three academies: Health Sciences; Business, Legal, and Information Sciences; and Manufacturing/Engineering Technology and Graphics. 

Location: 5925 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC

District: Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

Public

Jay M Robinson is a 6-8th grade middle school in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte. It's home to the Chargers!

Location: 6260 E Blalock Road, Lucama NC

District: Wilson County Schools

Public

Lucama serves students in Wilson County in grades K-5. They state the school's purpose is to develop each student to their fullest potential.

Location: 1885 Odell School Road, Concord, NC

District: Cabarrus County Schools

Public

Odell Elementary is a grades 3-5 elementary school in Concord, NC.