Bladen County Schools

Bladen County Schools is a PK–12 graded school district serving Bladen County, North Carolina. Its 14 schools serve 5,360 students as of the 2010–2011 school year.

Bladen County Schools
Location
Bladen County, North Carolina
United States
District information
TypePublic
GradesPK–12
SuperintendentRobert Taylor
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
Schools14
Budget$ 54,051,000
NCES District ID3700390[1]
Students and staff
Students5,360
Teachers359.92 (on FTE basis)
Staff416.90 (on FTE basis)
Student–teacher ratio14.89:1
Other information
Websitewww.bladen.k12.nc.us

History

The history of public education in Bladen County really began shortly after the state passed its first common school law in 1839. The state was then divided into several school districts.[2] In August of that year, voters in Bladen County approved a measure establishing a school system in the county. The system started growing and by 1900 there were 11 schools functioning in the county.[3]

By the 1966–67 school year, the segregated Bladen County Schools was operating nine schools for black students and eight schools for white students. Integration and school consolidation movements developed that year and by 1971, the system was fully integrated.[3]

Student demographics

For the 2010–2011 school year, Bladen County Schools had a total population of 5,360 students and 359.92 teachers on a (FTE) basis. This produced a student-teacher ratio of 14.89:1.[1] That same year, out of the student total, the gender ratio was 51% male to 49% female. The demographic group makeup was: Black, 42%; White, 41%; Hispanic, 12%; American Indian, 1%; and Asian/Pacific Islander, 0% (two or more races: 4%).[4] For the same school year, 75.80% of the students received free and reduced-cost lunches.[5]

Governance

The primary governing body of Bladen County Schools follows a council–manager government format with a nine-member Board of Education (also called the Bladen County Public School Board) appointing a Superintendent to run the day-to-day operations of the system. The school system currently resides in the North Carolina State Board of Education's Fourth District.[6]

Board of Education

Some of the nine members of the Board of Education are elected by district, others are at-large members elected by the whole county. They serve four-year terms of office. The current members of the board are:[7]

District 1
  • Ophelia Munn-Goins (Vice-Chair)
  • (Vacant)[8]
District 2
  • Roger Carroll
  • Wilbur Smith (Chair)
District 3
  • Bonnell Walker
  • Alan T. West
At-large
  • Kip Lancaster
  • Berry Lewis
  • Vinston Rozier

Superintendent

Robert Taylor has been the superintendent for Bladen County Schools since July 1, 2011. He was previously an assistant superintendent for Clinton City Schools in Clinton, North Carolina. He took over from interim superintendent Roland McKoy who served after the unexpected retirement of Gregory Killingsworth in 2010.[9]

Member schools

Bladen County Schools has 14 schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. Those 14 schools are separated into three high schools (including one alternative school), four middle schools, and seven elementary schools.[10]

High schools

Middle schools
  • Bladenboro Middle School (Bladenboro)
  • Clarkton School of Discovery (Clarkton)
  • Elizabethtown Middle School (Elizabethtown)
  • Tar Heel Middle School (Tar Heel)

Elementary schools
  • Bladen Lakes Primary School (Elizabethtown)
  • Bladenboro Primary School (Bladenboro)
  • Booker T. Washington Primary School (Clarkton)
  • Dublin Primary School (Dublin)
  • East Arcadia Elementary School (Riegelwood)
  • Elizabethtown Primary School (Elizabethtown)
  • Plain View Primary School (Tar Heel)

Athletics

According to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, for the 2012–2013 school year both East and West Bladen high schools are 2A schools in the Waccamaw Conference.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Bladen County Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  2. "History of the North Carolina State Board of Education". NCPublicSchools.org. North Carolina State Board of Education. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  3. "The history and development of the Bladen County school system". The Bladen Journal. April 26, 1984. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  4. "Percentage of Students in Each Demographic Group". North Carolina’s School Report Cards. NC Department of Public Instruction. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  5. "2010–2011". Free & Reduced Meals Application Data. NC Department of Public Instruction. Archived from the original (XLS) on April 23, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  6. "Education Districts". NC State Board of Education. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  7. "Bladen County Public School Board". Bladen County Schools. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  8. Maeser, Nadine (November 15, 2012). "School board member resigns to take seat on board of county commissioners". WECT news. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  9. Futch, Michael (April 26, 2011). "Bladen County Schools tabs new superintendent". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  10. "Schools". Bladen County Schools. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  11. "NCHSAA CONFERENCES 2012–13". NCHSAA website. NCHSAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.