Wake County Schools

Wake schools to consider going door-to-door to get dropouts back in school

Wake County Public School System officials are considering going door-to-door to get high school dropouts back in school and creating a special curriculum to keep them there.

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CARY, N.C. — Wake County Public School System officials are considering going door-to-door to get high school dropouts back in school and creating a special curriculum to keep them there.

That curriculum – the Wake Acceleration Academy – would involve collaborative learning through projects and tailored learning plans.

The idea was discussed during a district student achievement committee meeting Monday afternoon.

District officials want to have three academies with a total of 750 students by the fall. They’re also looking at creating such schools for students before they drop out.

"The fact is, we are more keenly aware, and have more data than we ever have about what students need, what they could benefit from, their different learning styles,” said Todd Wirt, the district’s assistant superintendent for academics. “So I think we have an obligation to provide students with some of these different environments."

Under the acceleration model, which is currently being used in Florida and Washington, teaching takes place in a more relaxing environment with couches and a cafe instead of desks.

"You walk in a big commons area," Wirt said. "There might be five or six kids there, meeting with a teacher. Study groups off the side where you would have small groups of students. Flexible hours, self-paced, one-on-one assistance. So it doesn't have that feel of the high school setting."

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