HALIFAX COUNTY, N.C. — A state judge's warning is causing morale to drop among some teachers and students at high schools with low test scores, and is scaring away teachers in Halifax County, school leaders say.

Halifax County School Superintendent Willie Gilchrist says the loss of experienced teachers makes it tougher to help students improve their test scores.

Earlier this month, North Carolina Judge Howard Manning warned, in a letter, that if 19 schools across the state, including both high schools in Halifax County, did not improve in student performance, he would order them closed.

"And we are going to be held accountable for test scores, and we have long-term and short-term substitutes in classrooms with no knowledge base at all of the curriculum," Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist says he can show Manning where students have made progress with two state assistance teams helping students improve on tests and performance.