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Number 10Summer reading programCamp Achieve, our summer reading program, expanded to provide additional instruction for students in grades 1-3. The four-week camp held at eight school locations across the county offered small group and one-to-one enrichment activities. Thanks to the summer camp, approximately 90 percent of the children in the program maintained or surpassed their current reading level.
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Number 9$45 million in scholarshipsIt was another outstanding year for scholarships. Seniors in the Class of 2015 were awarded more than $45 million in academic, athletic and fine arts scholarships from the most prestigious colleges and universities in the nation. Among our top scholarships was a $250,000 award presented to a student to attend Yale University.
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Number 8Career and Technical EducationHearing from the community about the need for more job training to prepare students for the workforce, the Board of Education appointed a committee to explore ways to enhance our Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. The committee spent six months reviewing options and plans to present its recommendations to the Board in early 2016.
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Number 7Spirit of the Economy AwardGaston County Schools received the coveted Spirit of the Economy Award from the Gaston Regional Chamber for contributions to the overall economic development efforts in our community. The award, which was presented during the annual Salute to Business and Manufacturing ceremony, recognizes the importance of our public schools to the local economy.
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Number 6Highest graduation rate everThe high school graduation rate climbed to 86.3 percent, which is the highest ever for Gaston County Schools. Since 2006 when the state first calculated the graduation rate, Gaston County’s rate has increased more than 18 points. The rate proves that more of our students are graduating from high school now than ever before.
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Number 5Regional Teacher of the YearFor the fourth time in the past six years, Gaston County Schools has the Regional Teacher of the Year. South Point High School’s Bobbie Cavnar was named the Southwest Region Teacher of the Year for 2015-2016. He will compete against eight other regional winners this spring for the North Carolina Teacher of the Year recognition.
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Number 4STEAM elementary magnet schoolIn an effort to provide more educational choices, the Board of Education approved a new magnet school that focuses on STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. The magnet school for grades K-5 (the first of its kind in Gaston County) will open in August and be housed on the current Hawks Nest Intermediate School campus.
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Number 3Chromebooks for the classroom2015 was a year for more technology in our schools. Gaston County Schools received $1.1 million from the county through the CaroMont Lease Proceeds Task Force to purchase 4,300 Chromebook computers for use in our classrooms. With the additional Chromebooks in schools across the county, the district now has a ratio of one computing device for every two students.
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Number 2“Nickels 4 Neighbors” campaignAfter flooding in October caused devastation across South Carolina, Gaston County Schools launched the “Nickels 4 Neighbors” fundraising campaign. Students, employees, parents and the community worked together to collect more than $25,000 to help children in the Clarendon and Williamsburg school districts and their families.
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Number 1
Two new schoolsIn what was a significant decision for Gaston County Schools, the Board of Education approved plans for a new elementary school in west Gastonia and a new middle school in Stanley. Forest Heights, Pleasant Ridge, and Rhyne are consolidating to form the new elementary school and the new middle school will replace the existing one. The schools are expected to open in 2017.
