Rowan–Salisbury School System
Encyclopedia
The Rowan–Salisbury School System (also called Rowan–Salisbury Schools) is a PK
-12
graded school district
in North Carolina covering nearly all of Rowan County
including the city of Salisbury
. The 35 schools in the district serve 20,887 students as of 2009-2010. It was formed in 1989 with the merger of Rowan County Schools and Salisbury City Schools.
) basis.
The school district has no central office, instead spreading administrative tasks over five office locations across Rowan County.
The Rowan–Salisbury School System is the second-largest employer in Rowan County as of 2011.
The school system is currently the 13th largest system in North Carolina based on student population.
The system's high schools often hold their graduation ceremonies at Catawba College
's Keppel Auditorium.
For the same school year, 55.50% of the students received free and reduced-cost lunches
.
.
The Rowan–Salisbury School System was formed in 1989 with the merger of Rowan County Schools and Salisbury City Schools.
In 2006, the school board made headlines when students at South Rowan High School started up a gay–straight alliance club at their school. In response to public complaint, led by Flip Benham
of Operation Save America
from neighboring Cabarrus
county, the Board of Education adopted a policy banning "Sex-based student clubs" at all schools in the system.
appointing a Superintendent
to run the day-to-day operations of the system.
. She was chosen to replace Dr. Wiley Doby as superintendent when his contract expired on April 1, 2006.
In 2011, Dr. Grissom won Superintendent of the Year for the southwest region and was a finalist for the statewide award.
The Blanche & Julian Robertson Family Foundation has awarded several grants Rowan–Salisbury Schools.
to twelfth grade
, including an early college high school
. Those 35 schools are separated into 8 high schools, 7 middle schools and 20 elementary schools.
school.
, for the 2011-2012 school year:
Rowan County Early College and Henderson Independent do not have athletic teams.
Rowan–Salisbury School System has had two teachers recognized as an NC Dept. of Public Instruction
Teacher of the Year: Cynthia B. Zeger-Ostherhus from Salisbury City Schools for 1987-88 and Sandra Davis Rogers from Rowan County Schools for 1989-90. None have won since the merger.
In 2005, the system's technology director, Phillip J. Hardin received the North Carolina Technology Educator Award in the administrator category from the state Department of Public Instruction.
Pre-Kindergarten
Pre-kindergarten refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins between the ages of 3-5 depending on the length of the program...
-12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
graded school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
in North Carolina covering nearly all of Rowan County
Rowan County, North Carolina
-Demographics and economics:As of the census of 2010, there were 138,428 people, 53,140 households, and 37,058 families residing in the county. The population density was 270.7 people per square mile . There were 60,211 housing units at an average density of 117.7 per square mile...
including the city of Salisbury
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
. The 35 schools in the district serve 20,887 students as of 2009-2010. It was formed in 1989 with the merger of Rowan County Schools and Salisbury City Schools.
District information
For the 2009-2010 school year, Rowan–Salisbury Schools had a total population of 20,887 students and 1,392.81 teachers on a (FTEFull-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
) basis.
The school district has no central office, instead spreading administrative tasks over five office locations across Rowan County.
The Rowan–Salisbury School System is the second-largest employer in Rowan County as of 2011.
The school system is currently the 13th largest system in North Carolina based on student population.
The system's high schools often hold their graduation ceremonies at Catawba College
Catawba College
Catawba College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in Salisbury, North Carolina, USA. Founded in 1851 by the North Carolina Classis of the Reformed Church in Newton, the college adopted its name from its county of origin, Catawba County, before moving to its current home of Salisbury...
's Keppel Auditorium.
Student Demographics
As of the 2009-2010 school year, out of the student total of 20,887, the gender ratio was 51% male to 49% female. The demographic group makeup of the student population was: White, 66%; Black, 23%; Hispanic, 10%; American Indian, 0%; and Asian/Pacific Islander, 1%.For the same school year, 55.50% of the students received free and reduced-cost lunches
National School Lunch Act
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is a United States federal law signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. The act created the National School Lunch Program , a program to provide low-cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools...
.
History
The history of public education in Rowan County really began shortly after the state passed its first common school law in 1839. The state was then divided into several school districts. District number 22 (called the Setzer School District) covered Rowan County and was based out of Setzer School, a one room log school built in 1840's just east of China GroveChina Grove, North Carolina
China Grove is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,616 at the 2000 census. The town is located just north of Kannapolis, NC and south of Salisbury, NC.-Geography:China Grove is located at ....
.
The Rowan–Salisbury School System was formed in 1989 with the merger of Rowan County Schools and Salisbury City Schools.
In 2006, the school board made headlines when students at South Rowan High School started up a gay–straight alliance club at their school. In response to public complaint, led by Flip Benham
Flip Benham
Philip "Flip" Benham is an evangelical Christian minister and the national leader of Concord, North Carolina-based Operation Save America.-Pro-life ministry:...
of Operation Save America
Operation Save America
Operation Save America is an organization based in Dallas, Texas, that opposes human induced abortion and its legality. In 1994, Flip Benham became the director of the organization, then called Operation Rescue National. Benham replaced Keith Tucci, who had replaced Randall Terry...
from neighboring Cabarrus
Cabarrus County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 131,063 people, 49,519 households, and 36,545 families residing in the county. The population density was 360 people per square mile . There were 52,848 housing units at an average density of 145 per square mile...
county, the Board of Education adopted a policy banning "Sex-based student clubs" at all schools in the system.
Governance & Funding
The primary governing body of the Rowan–Salisbury School System follows a council–manager government format with a seven-member Board of EducationBoard of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
appointing a Superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
to run the day-to-day operations of the system.
Board of education
The seven-member Rowan–Salisbury Board of Education meets on the fourth Monday of each month. The members are chosen in non-partisan elections by the whole county, but must come from one of the six high school districts or the special area district. The board serves four-year, staggered terms with elections every two years. Its current members are: Dr. Jim Emerson (Chairperson), East area; W. Jean Kennedy (Vice-Chairperson), Special area; Bryce Beard, Salisbury area; Mike Caskey, South area; Linda Freeze, Southeast area; Dr. Richard Miller, North area; Kay Wright Norman, West area.Superintendent
The current superintendent of the Rowan–Salisbury School System is Dr. Judy Grissom. A native of Rowan County, Dr. Grissom once worked for the school system and, most previously, was associate superintendent for the Alamance-Burlington School SystemAlamance-Burlington School System
The Alamance-Burlington School System is a school district covering Alamance County and the city of Burlington. It was created in 1996 by merging the respective systems of the county and city....
. She was chosen to replace Dr. Wiley Doby as superintendent when his contract expired on April 1, 2006.
In 2011, Dr. Grissom won Superintendent of the Year for the southwest region and was a finalist for the statewide award.
List of Superintendents
- Dr. Don Martin (1989-1994)
- Dr. Joe McCann (1995-2000)
- Dr. Wiley Doby (2001-2006)
- Dr. Judy Grissom (2006-present)
Funding
Public school districts in North Carolina do not have their own taxation authority, they are fiscally dependent on the State and their respective county Board of Commissioners. The county Boards of Commissioners vote on funding levels proposed by the school system. The majority of the funding comes from State sources.The Blanche & Julian Robertson Family Foundation has awarded several grants Rowan–Salisbury Schools.
Member Schools
The Rowan–Salisbury School System has 35 schools ranging from pre-kindergartenPre-Kindergarten
Pre-kindergarten refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins between the ages of 3-5 depending on the length of the program...
to twelfth grade
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
, including an early college high school
Early College High School
The Early College High School Initiative provides students the opportunity to receive a high school diploma and an Associate degree or up to two years of college credit...
. Those 35 schools are separated into 8 high schools, 7 middle schools and 20 elementary schools.
High Schools
- East Rowan High School (Mustangs) - Granite QuarryGranite Quarry, North CarolinaGranite Quarry is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,175 at the 2000 census.-Geography: Granite Quarry is located at ....
- Henderson Independent High School (Eagles) - SalisburySalisbury, North CarolinaSalisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
- Jesse Carson High School (Cougars) - China GroveChina Grove, North CarolinaChina Grove is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,616 at the 2000 census. The town is located just north of Kannapolis, NC and south of Salisbury, NC.-Geography:China Grove is located at ....
- North Rowan High SchoolNorth Rowan High SchoolNorth Rowan High School, formerly Spencer High School and East Spencer High School, is located in the northern end of Rowan County in Spencer, North Carolina...
(Cavaliers) - SpencerSpencer, North CarolinaSpencer is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States, incorporated in 1905. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,355.-History:... - Rowan County Early College - Salisbury
- Salisbury High SchoolSalisbury High School (North Carolina)Salisbury High School is a public, co-educational secondary school located in Salisbury, North Carolina. It is one of eight high schools in the Rowan–Salisbury School System.-History:...
(Hornets) - Salisbury - South Rowan High School (Raiders) - China Grove
- West Rowan High School (Falcons) - Mount UllaMount Ulla, North CarolinaMount Ulla is an unincorporated community located in Rowan County, North Carolina, near Salisbury. It is a rather small town, marked mainly by Kerr Mill and Sloan Park. North Carolina Highway 801 and North Carolina Highway 150 run through it....
Middle Schools
There are seven middle schools in the system. Knox Middle School has been chosen to become the district's first STEMSTEM fields
STEM fields is a US Government acronym for the fields of study in the categories of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The acronym is in use regarding access to work visas for immigrants who are skilled in these fields. Maintaining a citizenry that is well versed in the STEM fields...
school.
- China Grove Middle School (Red Devils) - China Grove
- Corriher-Lipe Middle School (Yellow Jackets) - LandisLandis, North CarolinaLandis is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,996. The town is located just north of Kannapolis, NC and south of China Grove, NC.-Demographics:...
- Erwin Middle School (Eagles) - Granite Quarry
- Knox Middle School (Trojans) - Salisbury
- North Rowan Middle School (Mavericks) - Spencer
- Southeast Middle School (Patriots) - Salisbury
- West Rowan Middle School (Bulldogs) - ClevelandCleveland, North CarolinaCleveland is a town in the Cleveland Township of Rowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 808 at the 2000 census.It is named after Cleveland, England, but it is rumored that the town is actually named after Grover Cleveland after he visited the town during his presidential...
Elementary Schools
- Bostian Elementary School (Bulldogs) - China Grove
- China Grove Elementary School (Cardinals) - China Grove
- Cleveland Elementary School (Eagles) - Cleveland
- Enochville Elementary School (Wise Owls) - EnochvilleEnochville, North CarolinaEnochville is a census-designated place in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,851 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Enochville is located at ....
- Faith Elementary School (Firecrackers) - FaithFaith, North CarolinaFaith is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, incorporated in 1903. The population was 695 at the 2000 census.Since 1946, the town has hosted a Fourth of July celebration that has become notably large for a town of its population - running for several days and drawing visitors from many states....
- Granite Quarry Elementary School (Dragons) - Granite Quarry
- Hanford-Dole Elementary School (Bobcats) - Salisbury
- Hurley Elementary School (All Stars) - Salisbury
- Isenberg Elementary School (Investigators) - Salisbury
- Knollwood Elementary School (Knights) - Salisbury
- Koontz Elementary School (Panthers) - Salisbury
- Landis Elementary School (Mini Jackets) - Landis
- Millbridge Elementary School (Musketeers) - China Grove
- Morgan Elementary School (Broncos) - Gold HillGold Hill, North CarolinaGold Hill is a small community in southeastern Rowan County, North Carolina near the Cabarrus County line. It is situated near the Yadkin River and is served by U.S. Highway 52 and Old Beatty Ford Road. Gold was found in this small town outside of Salisbury in the 19th century.- References :...
- Mount Ulla Elementary School (Monarchs) - Mount Ulla
- North Rowan Elementary School (Steamers) - Spencer
- Overton Elementary School (Explorers) - Salisbury
- Rockwell Elementary School (Roadrunners) - RockwellRockwell, North CarolinaRockwell is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,971 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rockwell is located at ....
- Shive Elementary School (Stingers) - Rockwell
- Woodleaf Elementary School (Eagles) - Woodleaf
Athletics
According to the North Carolina High School Athletic AssociationNorth Carolina High School Athletic Association
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association is the governing organization of high school athletics in North Carolina, United States. The association maintains the official rule books and governs the officiating standards across the state....
, for the 2011-2012 school year:
- North Rowan is a 1A school in the Yadkin Valley Conference.
- Salisbury High is a 2A school in the Central Carolina Conference.
- Carson, East Rowan, South Rowan and West Rowan are all 3A schools in the North Piedmont Conference
Rowan County Early College and Henderson Independent do not have athletic teams.
Achievements & Awards
Two employees of the school district have won the North Carolina School Psychology Association Practitioner of the Year Award: Ann Hammonds Long in 1993 and Dr. Shirley Bowles in 2000.Rowan–Salisbury School System has had two teachers recognized as an NC Dept. of Public Instruction
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction oversees the public school system in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The DPI is headed by the State Superintendent and the North Carolina State Board of Education...
Teacher of the Year: Cynthia B. Zeger-Ostherhus from Salisbury City Schools for 1987-88 and Sandra Davis Rogers from Rowan County Schools for 1989-90. None have won since the merger.
In 2005, the system's technology director, Phillip J. Hardin received the North Carolina Technology Educator Award in the administrator category from the state Department of Public Instruction.
See also
- Kannapolis City SchoolsKannapolis City SchoolsKannapolis City Schools is a local education agency headquartered in Kannapolis, North Carolina. It encompasses parts of Cabarrus and Rowan Counties, yet operates independently of both county-wide school systems.-Grades 5-12:...
also serves some residents of Rowan County. - List of school districts in North Carolina
- North Carolina State Board of EducationNorth Carolina State Board of EducationThe North Carolina State Board of Education, established by Article 9 of the North Carolina Constitution, supervises and administers the public school systems of North Carolina...