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We are a dynamic school system serving more than 13,000 students across twenty schools.
OUR VISION: A community of well-educated, employable, and socially responsible citizens.
OUR MISSION: To produce college and career-ready high school graduates.
Brunswick County Schools Students Make Gains in 2022-2023 School Year
Yesterday, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction presented school accountability results to the State Board of Education. Brunswick County Schools performed well in comparison to statewide results based on End-of-Grade and End-of-Course proficiency results. The district was at or above the statewide average in Elementary Reading, Elementary Math, Elementary Science, Middle School Math, High School Math, and High School Science. Most schools within the district maintained their growth status from the previous school year, while three schools improved their status.
The following schools met growth:
· Lincoln Elementary School
· Southport Elementary School
· Cedar Grove Middle School
· Leland Middle School
The following schools exceeded growth:
· Town Creek Elementary School
· Union Elementary School
· Waccamaw School
· Brunswick County Early College High School
“Brunswick County Schools will remain steadfast in our commitment to providing every student with a quality academic experience that will pave the way for future success,” stated Superintendent Dale Cole. “As we begin the 2023-2024 school year, we will focus on continuous and targeted school improvement that will lead our district to even greater achievement. We ask that our parents and community stakeholders continue to partner with us as we work to move the school district forward together.”
School Performance Grades
Nine BCS schools achieved a School Performance Grade of C, two schools earned a letter grade of B, and two schools earned a letter grade of A.
“We are continuing to experience some of the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tammy Howard, Senior Director of Accountability and Testing for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. “As we look at the data, the school performance grades, and other information from the 2022-2023 school year, it’s very important to note that while it’s informative, it is limited, and it is discouraged to make comparisons to 2018-2019, which is prior to the pandemic.”
She said 2018-2019 is provided as a reference point only, and not for the purpose of drawing linear comparisons.
School Performance Grade Formula
The A-F school performance grades that schools received for 2021-2022 and in 2022-2023 were affected by the formula used to determine those grades because student performance on the state tests far outweighs the credit schools earn for the progress students make on the same tests from one year to the next.
Eighty percent of the grade is for the percentage of tests earning a score of at least grade-level proficient; 20% is for growth, measured by a statistical model that compares each student’s predicted test score, based on past performance, against his or her actual result.
Even as most schools across the state achieved at least expected growth, the A-F performance grades of many schools were depressed by lower-than-usual percentages of students earning a score of grade-level proficiency. With the weighting of 80 percent on the test scores and other achievement data, the school performance grades have shifted downward, consistent with the impact of the pandemic on test scores. For the 2022-2023 school year, the percentage of schools with a grade of D or F decreased to 35.4% from 42.3% in 2021-2022 but remained higher than the 21.8% in 2018-2019.
Looking Ahead
The Brunswick County Board of Education will remain committed to its focus on continuous improvement and providing quality instruction to all students within our district.
Additional information about the 22-23 North Carolina Annual Testing Results can be found on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction website. The Background Brief, which provides a detailed explanation of the 2022-2023 accountability framework, can be accessed at this link.
Brunswick County Schools has partnered with Burkentine Properties and Hawthorne Apartments to offer current and new BCS employees exclusive discounts on housing in Brunswick County!
Exclusive Preferred Employer Discounts for
Brunswick County Public School Employees, including a
3% Monthly Rent Discount and Waived Application Fees!
Half-off application and administrative fees!
The Let's Get Ready! Guide provides family-friendly resources on age-appropriate developmental skills, support tips, and at-home activities where adult/child interactions are the central focus. It is not intended to determine if a child “is" or "is not” ready for kindergarten. We encourage you to share this resource with families of rising kindergarten students. A Spanish version is available as well.
The Brunswick County Board of Education is excited to announce the selection of Mr. Dale Cole as the next superintendent of Brunswick County Schools. Mr. Cole’s selection was unanimously approved by the Brunswick County Board of Education at its Committee Meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
“The Board of Education thoughtfully and carefully reviewed applications from a diverse field of 30 excellent candidates,” said Board of Education Chairman Steve Barger. “Although many qualified candidates applied, the Board of Education felt Mr. Cole’s experience, leadership, and dedication to students and staff would best serve Brunswick County Schools’ students, employees, and community for years to come. The Board of Education is confident Mr. Cole will lead our great school system to even higher achievement.”
Mr. Cole has enjoyed a long and very successful career in public education, spanning nearly thirty years in North Carolina. Since 2019, Mr. Cole has served as the superintendent of Clay County Schools. Prior to joining Clay County Schools, Mr. Cole served as Director of Instructional Services, Career and Technical Education, and Testing for Hyde County Schools, School Transformation Coach for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction - Educator Support Services, Principal (Beaufort County Schools) - Southside High School, Chocowinity Middle School, and P.S. Jones Middle School, Assistant Principal (Beaufort County Schools) - Washington High School, High School English Teacher, and High School football and baseball coach. Mr. Cole was also named the 2013 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year.
Mr. Cole has an impressive academic background as well, earning a Bachelor of Science in English Education-Secondary, a Master of Science in School Administration, and an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Administration and Supervision all from East Carolina University.
Mr. Cole looks forward to the opportunity to lead Brunswick County Schools and to become an active member of the community. Mr. Cole is married to his wife, Kim. The Coles have two daughters, Darah and Delta, and one son, Ty.
“I am so very honored and proud to be selected as the next superintendent of Brunswick County Schools,” Cole said.
Cole has also outlined his vision for the first 90 days as superintendent of Brunswick County Schools, stating:
During my first 90 days in BCS, it is my goal to visit all schools and engage in listening sessions with all staff members, certified and classified. I am encouraged by the fact that in the 2022 NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey, over 80% of our teachers felt that BCS was "a good place to work and learn." However, I would like to see that number move to 90% or better. Our district numbers show that 40-50% of our teachers have concerns with how we use their time, how much influence they have on decision-making, how their professional development is provided, how student conduct is managed, and how the NCTWC survey is used to improve their schools. I will be asking teachers for their specific ideas for improvement in these areas in order to provide a focus for our leadership team. At the same time, I will be carrying out a full review of all safety procedures at all schools, including how we carry out, document results, and continuously improve our fire drill procedures, lock-down drill procedures, tornado drill procedures, etc. Student and staff safety is our first priority, so I will not feel comfortable moving forward in other areas until I have a clear handle on safety for all. I believe that a successful school district will live the following values:
a positive and safe working and learning environment
high-quality and research-based Instruction in all classrooms every day
intentional continuous improvement
a growth mindset
teamwork
leadership by all
intentional family and community partnerships
Please join the Brunswick County Board of Education in congratulating and welcoming Mr. Dale Cole as the new superintendent of Brunswick County Schools!
Please click the hyperlink to view the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Literacy at Home: Digital Children's Reading Initiative
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