NC principal vows to 'break this cycle' after 60% of teachers leave in one year
Posted August 24, 2016 5:55 a.m. EDT
Updated July 13, 2018 2:04 p.m. EDT
By Kelly Hinchcliffe
Rocky Mount, N.C. — When Claude Archer became principal of West Edgecombe Middle School last year, he knew the job would be a challenge. The school was struggling. It had low test scores, high poverty rates and student discipline problems that had plagued principals before him. But that wasn't all.
Not long after he was hired, Archer learned of another problem. West Edgecombe was losing teachers. Fast.
Archer was in a principals' meeting when he first saw how many teachers had left over the years. The numbers seemed unusually high. The school lost nearly 60 percent of its teachers in one year? Archer scanned the information in disbelief.
"Is this right? Is this correct?" he asked.
It was.
Where did the teachers go?
Graphic by: Valerie Aguirre/WRAL — Source: N.C. Department of Public Instruction
West Edgecombe Middle is one of 14 schools in the Edgecombe County public school system. The county has struggled for years with teacher turnover, routinely losing staff at a higher rate than the average North Carolina school district.
Last year, the county reported losing 24 percent of its teachers – the eighth highest rate in the state. But when broken down by school level, Edgecombe's teacher turnover numbers look even more troubling.
According to 2014-15 state data, the county lost 46 percent of its middle school teachers – more than any other school system in the state. The average North Carolina school district lost 16 percent.
NC teacher turnover by school level

School district | Elementary | Middle | High |
---|---|---|---|
Alamance-Burlington Schools | 14% | 16% | 17% |
Alexander County Schools | 6% | 13% | 10% |
Alleghany County Schools | Not reported | Not reported | 11% |
Anson County Schools | 9% | 25% | 25% |
Ashe County Schools | 7% | 15% | 11% |
Asheboro City Schools | 11% | 17% | 17% |
Asheville City Schools | 18% | 21% | 15% |
Avery County Schools | 3% | 11% | 9% |
Beaufort County Schools | 10% | 18% | 14% |
Bertie County Schools | 22% | 41% | 36% |
Bladen County Schools | 14% | 29% | 19% |
Brunswick County Schools | 15% | 17% | 12% |
Buncombe County Schools | 13% | 14% | 13% |
Burke County Schools | 7% | 11% | 12% |
Cabarrus County Schools | 12% | 15% | 15% |
Caldwell County Schools | 5% | 8% | 9% |
Camden County Schools | 6% | 15% | 17% |
Carteret County Public Schools | 12% | 12% | 18% |
Caswell County Schools | 20% | 15% | 13% |
Catawba County Schools | 10% | 13% | 13% |
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools | 18% | 16% | 24% |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | 15% | 19% | 18% |
Chatham County Schools | 16% | 13% | 12% |
Cherokee County Schools | 8% | 14% | 11% |
Clay County Schools | 10% | 14% | 9% |
Cleveland County Schools | 11% | 13% | 17% |
Clinton City Schools | 16% | 22% | 14% |
Columbus County Schools | 13% | 20% | 23% |
Craven County Schools | 18% | 18% | 18% |
Cumberland County Schools | 18% | 18% | 16% |
Currituck County Schools | 8% | 12% | 20% |
Dare County Schools | 5% | 14% | 11% |
Davidson County Schools | 8% | 13% | 10% |
Davie County Schools | 11% | 15% | 18% |
Duplin County Schools | 15% | 24% | 14% |
Durham Public Schools | 19% | 27% | 21% |
Edenton-Chowan Schools | 15% | 13% | 37% |
Edgecombe County Public Schools | 19% | 46% | 18% |
Elkin City Schools | 2% | 14% | 17% |
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools | 13% | 11% | 12% |
Franklin County Schools | 15% | 27% | 18% |
Gaston County Schools | 12% | 18% | 12% |
Gates County Schools | 2% | 13% | 16% |
Graham County Schools | 2% | 17% | 7% |
Granville County Schools | 20% | 28% | 17% |
Greene County Schools | 13% | 44% | 21% |
Guilford County Schools | 13% | 18% | 16% |
Halifax County Schools | 28% | 36% | 29% |
Harnett County Schools | 19% | 20% | 18% |
Haywood County Schools | 15% | 12% | 6% |
Henderson County Schools | 14% | 15% | 11% |
Hertford County Schools | 13% | 25% | 25% |
Hickory City Schools | 19% | 22% | 16% |
Hoke County Schools | 27% | 26% | 18% |
Hyde County Schools | 38% | Not reported | Not reported |
Iredell-Statesville Schools | 11% | 16% | 19% |
Jackson County Schools | 20% | Not reported | 10% |
Johnston County Schools | 14% | 14% | 15% |
Jones County Schools | 9% | 38% | 21% |
Kannapolis City Schools | 16% | 22% | 20% |
Lee County Schools | 19% | 20% | 17% |
Lenior County Public Schools | 13% | 20% | 11% |
Lexington City Schools | 17% | 31% | 35% |
Lincoln County Schools | 9% | 10% | 13% |
Macon County Schools | 13% | 19% | 7% |
Madison County Schools | 6% | 9% | 10% |
Martin County Schools | 6% | 12% | 15% |
McDowell County Schools | 9% | 18% | 10% |
Mitchell County Schools | 12% | 10% | 10% |
Montgomery County Schools | 10% | 23% | 13% |
Moore County Schools | 18% | 17% | 19% |
Mooresville City Schools | 10% | 16% | 12% |
Mount Airy City Schools | 12% | 24% | 10% |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | 18% | 23% | 15% |
New Hanover County Schools | 11% | 14% | 14% |
Newton Conover City Schools | 19% | 18% | 13% |
Northampton County Schools | 33% | 41% | 26% |
Onslow County Schools | 14% | 19% | 16% |
Orange County Schools | 16% | 14% | 18% |
Pamlico County Schools | 15% | 14% | 20% |
Elizabeth City/Pasquotank County Schools | 14% | 19% | 22% |
Pender County Schools | 13% | 15% | 16% |
Perquimans County Schools | 17% | 27% | 22% |
Person County Schools | 15% | 28% | 23% |
Pitt County Schools | 18% | 19% | 16% |
Polk County Schools | 12% | 7% | 15% |
Randolph County Schools | 10% | 10% | 19% |
Richmond County Schools | 17% | 22% | 23% |
Roanoke Rapids City Schools | 12% | 9% | 25% |
Robeson County Schools | 15% | 22% | 16% |
Rockingham County Schools | 8% | 14% | 12% |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | 14% | 16% | 13% |
Rutherford County Schools | 6% | 13% | 12% |
Sampson County Schools | 10% | 11% | 13% |
Scotland County Schools | 16% | 20% | 24% |
Stanly County Schools | 6% | 9% | 22% |
Stokes County Schools | 9% | 14% | 17% |
Surry County Schools | 10% | 12% | 9% |
Swain County Schools | 6% | Not reported | 16% |
Thomasville City Schools | 20% | 25% | 21% |
Transylvania County Schools | 19% | 11% | 19% |
Tyrrell County Schools | 9% | 18% | 13% |
Union County Schools | 15% | 15% | 17% |
Vance County Schools | 14% | 17% | 29% |
Wake County Public Schools | 14% | 11% | 14% |
Warren County Schools | 30% | 27% | 36% |
Washington County Schools | 23% | 44% | 36% |
Watauga County Schools | Not reported | Not reported | 16% |
Wayne County Schools | 10% | 11% | 14% |
Weldon City Schools | 8% | 17% | 27% |
Whiteville City Schools | 5% | 19% | 13% |
Wilkes County Schools | 9% | 7% | 15% |
Wilson County Schools | 16% | 21% | 15% |
Yadkin County Schools | 4% | 11% | 14% |
Yancey County Schools | 6% | 0% | 11% |
Of the county's schools, West Edgecombe Middle had the highest turnover. Sixteen of its 27 teachers left – a nearly 60 percent loss. Most of those who left were experienced teachers. Two of the 16 were beginning teachers, according to state records.
Those who live in and love Edgecombe County say these numbers only tell part of the story. The district is in the midst of a dramatic transformation, school leaders say, one that other struggling school systems will want to learn from in the future.
Supporters point to a number of accomplishments, including higher teacher satisfaction rates, more supplemental pay for teachers and preliminary data showing that teacher turnover, while still high, appears to be improving.
Source: N.C. Department of Public Instruction
Another success, school leaders say, was the recent opening of the county's new global school, Martin Millennium Academy in Tarboro, which serves students in grades K-8 and immerses them in foreign language.
Edgecombe County Superintendent John Farrelly says the opening of the global school may have contributed to the district's loss of middle school teachers.
Before opening the global school, the district decided to close Martin Middle, which was "extremely low performing" and struggled with disciplinary issues, according to Farrelly.
"Many of those teachers, when we closed Martin Middle School, did not end up teaching at Martin Millennium," he said.
Still, Farrelly says, losing teachers isn't always a negative thing. Sometimes, it's necessary.
"When you've got low-performing schools, there does need to be a certain level of turnover if you've got low-performing teachers," he said.
But not all teachers who leave are poor performers.
Teacher: 'It was a very tough, very difficult environment'
Matthew Straub began teaching in Edgecombe County in August 2013. By October, just a few months into the job, he knew he wanted out.
As an art teacher, Straub split his time between two middle schools – West Edgecombe and South Edgecombe. He says he quickly noticed the schools had "decidedly different cultures."
At South Edgecombe, he taught a packed class in a small art room – at one point, squeezing in 43 seventh graders. Despite the small space and large class size, Straub says he benefited from the school's stricter discipline policy, which helped keep students in line.
West Edgecombe Middle School, though, was a different story.
"It was a very tough, very difficult environment," he said.
The problems started right away. While setting up his art classroom, he noticed that the sink wasn't working. There was no water coming out of the faucet. He called maintenance for help. The water had to be shut off, workers explained, because students in the former art teacher's class had stuffed paper towels down the drain and clogged it.
Straub was determined to have a working sink.
"We need to get this turned back on," he said.
The clogged sink foreshadowed some of the discipline problems Straub would face in class that year. He soon learned that students weren't only destructive to the school's property, they would also ruin items he had purchased with his own money.
Orange buckets meant for storing art supplies were ripped, torn and shredded. Colored pencils were snapped in half and turned into projectiles.
Discipline was a constant problem at West Edgecombe. So was teacher turnover. Straub says he saw one sixth grade class go through four teachers in one year because "nobody wanted to hold that section down."
"It was tough for people to keep kids in line," he said. "It was a unique culture. Kids had the run of the place."
Despite his difficulties, Straub says he did have some success at the school. He helped increase art and technology use, completed a three-panel wall mural and was nominated as the school's Teacher of the Year, which he lost on a re-vote after tying with a fellow teacher.
But it wasn't enough to make him stay. After just one year at West Edgecombe, Straub wanted out. He was one of 16 teachers who decided not to stay for the 2014-15 school year.
"I enjoyed the colleagues that I had there. There are plenty of people who are teaching their heart out," he said. "I know it's not an easy thing. Many of them, just because of the situation, may not be able to move and are really trying to tough it out."
Straub says the school system never did an exit interview with him, and no one ever asked why he was leaving. But if they had, he would have told them about West Edgecombe's discipline issues and fractured staff. He also would have given them this advice: "Give teachers the support that they need. We want somebody to have our backs."
Straub's advice is now sought after in Wilson County Schools, where he has taught art since 2014. In his first two years at Speight Middle School in Stantonsburg, he has won more than $3,000 in grants for his school and helped add 10 new computers to the computer lab.
This past spring, he was named his school's Teacher of the Year. Straub says the school has given him something else he is grateful for.
"I have two working sinks," he laughed. "They are fantastic."
West Edgecombe principal reassigned to different school
Superintendent John Farrelly had a decision to make. West Edgecombe Middle School was losing teachers faster than any other school in the county.
The school's new principal, Donita Gregory, was struggling to keep her staff. After her first year, nearly 60 percent of the teachers left. Many went to work in nearby school systems. The next year, more than 40 percent of the staff was gone. Something had to be done.
"Well, obviously we made an administrative change. That certainly was a concern," Farrelly said. "Between school performance and the number of teachers that were leaving the school, there's a reason why there was a change made."
Graphic by: Kelly Hinchcliffe/WRAL — Source: Edgecombe County Schools
Gregory was a first-time principal when she came to West Edgecombe Middle School in 2013. She had previously worked as an assistant principal in Union County Public Schools, but her move to Edgecombe County marked her first time at the helm of a school.
West Edgecombe presented her with immediate challenges. Gregory was the school's third principal in four years. Teachers were hungry for consistency, and morale was low.
"Research states that whenever there is a new principal or leader, there is an increase in staff turnover, therefore, I am not surprised by the number of teachers that left," Gregory wrote in an email to WRAL News. "West Edgecombe was a growing and learning experience for me as well as the school."
In her two years there, Gregory says, the school saw a decrease in suspensions and an increase in student proficiency. Still, it wasn't enough for her to stay. Last year, she was moved to another school in Edgecombe County, Phillips Middle in Battleboro, where she is beginning her second year as principal.
So far, the superintendent has been pleased with her progress.
Phillips Middle saw "tremendous growth" in Gregory's first year leading the school, Farrelly said. "She went into a smaller setting. She's still a young administrator, and things clicked for her."
In her first year at Phillips, Gregory says, the school went from not meeting academic growth standards to exceeding them. Student proficiency rates increased 12 percentage points, and the school saw a 41 percent decrease in student discipline issues.
And one of her former teachers from West Edgecombe, who temporarily left the teaching profession, decided to return and work with her at Phillips Middle.
"My move to Phillips was another year of growth for me, and I accomplished many successes," Gregory told WRAL News by email.
With Gregory reassigned to a different school, West Edgecombe needed a new leader yet again. The school's revolving door of principals was becoming a problem. The superintendent needed to find someone strong to save the sinking school.
He found Claude Archer, an assistant principal from Rocky Mount High School.
New principal challenges himself to 'break this cycle'
When he first came to West Edgecombe Middle School last July, Claude Archer saw the parking space meant for him. "RESERVED FOR PRINCIPAL," the sign read. He ignored it and parked in another spot.
Inside the school, he went to his office and made sure his door was open. It needs to stay that way, he thought. Be open and accessible. The staff needs to see that. The school had been through so many principals, he wanted to show them he was different. Little things matter when you're trying to change the culture of a school.
When he accepted the job, Archer knew the school was struggling academically. What he didn't know was how many teachers had left over the years. He was sitting in his first principals' meeting when he saw just how bad it was – nearly 60 percent teacher turnover one year, 41 percent the next. The numbers didn't seem real.
"Was it scary knowing that that was an issue? Absolutely. But I had to challenge myself and say, listen, what are you going to do to break this cycle?" Archer said. "Do I expect to lose some teachers? Absolutely. Do I expect to lose 50, 60 percent? Absolutely not. Because, if that's the case, then I need to go back to the drawing board and say, what am I not doing right?"
As Archer prepares to begin his second year as principal at West Edgecombe, he still tries to keep his door open and avoids parking in the principal's space so he can give it to a star teacher instead.
"I want them to understand that I don't need to flaunt my title," he said. "Some people love power. I love success. What I do is give my power to my teachers."
Archer has also given power to the community. He has been turning to parents, alumni and community members to help renovate and restore West Edgecombe's building and grounds. While some look at the school and see an old, outdated building, Archer sees promise.
"This building has a lot of historical value and a lot of historical passion and presence to it," he said. "There's a beauty about this building that I don't think you can find anywhere else."
As Archer walks around the school, he points out projects as he goes, sharing his vision for what he hopes the school will look like in the future.
The school's original 1928 auditorium needs a lot of work, he says. He envisions opening the balcony, which was enclosed years ago, and adding a wireless projector so students can learn to operate it. At the front of the auditorium, he'd like to install a projection screen and new curtains. Some of the room's old, broken seats also need to be replaced.
"It's a beautiful place. It has so much character," Archer said. "I want to mesh something old with something new."
Outside the school, Archer wants to upgrade the athletic fields, which he says have not been improved in 30 to 40 years. Some of his plans are already underway, thanks to a parent with a tractor who has been smoothing and leveling the fields for free.
"Believe it or not, we're doing all the work ourselves. We're trying to minimize the amount of money we ask our central office for," Archer said. "My philosophy has always been, if there's something you can do for yourself, then just do it."
New ball fields and auditorium upgrades are nice, but what does that have to do with improving students' test scores and keeping teachers around longer? Everything, Archer says.
He can't pay his teachers more. That's out of his control. But if he can make their work environment better, maybe he can convince them to stay. And maybe improving the school will inspire students to improve themselves.
"Every year, not only do I want to make academic progress, but I want to make sure that we have enhanced our facility in some way," Archer said. "If we don't have a facility in which it's safe, it's clean and we're constantly thinking about ways that we can make it better, then we're not going to have great test scores. Because all of those things impact our test scores."
It's all part of Archer's plan to get the school "off the island," as he calls it. What is "the island?"
"The island of low performance," he said.
West Edgecombe is not the only school in the county on that island. Three other schools – Coker-Wimberly Elementary, Princeville Elementary and Phillips Middle – are also there.
All four schools are on the state's list of recurring low-performing schools, meaning they have not met academic performance standards for two of the past three years. More than 400 North Carolina schools are currently on the list
NC's recurring low-performing public schools

School district | School name | Grades |
---|---|---|
Alamance-Burlington Schools | Graham High | 09-12 |
Alamance-Burlington Schools | Haw River Elementary | PK-05 |
Alamance-Burlington Schools | North Graham Elementary | PK-05 |
Alamance-Burlington Schools | Turrentine Middle | 06-08 |
Anson County Schools | Anson Academy | 09-12 |
Anson County Schools | Anson Middle | 07-08 |
Anson County Schools | Wadesboro Primary | 0K-05 |
Anson County Schools | Wadesboro Elementary | 05-06 |
Anson County Schools | Anson New Tech High | 09-12 |
Avery County Schools | Avery High Viking Academy | 09-12 |
Beaufort County Schools | B C Ed Tech Center | 06-12 |
Beaufort County Schools | Chocowinity Middle | 05-08 |
Beaufort County Schools | John Small Elementary | 04-05 |
Beaufort County Schools | Northside High | 09-12 |
Beaufort County Schools | S W Snowden Elementary | PK-08 |
Bertie County Schools | Bertie High | 09-12 |
Bertie County Schools | Bertie Middle | 06-08 |
Bertie County Schools | West Bertie Elementary | PK-05 |
Bertie County Schools | Windsor Elementary | PK-05 |
Bladen County Schools | Bladenboro Middle | 05-08 |
Bladen County Schools | East Bladen High | 09-12 |
Bladen County Schools | Elizabethtown Middle | 05-08 |
Bladen County Schools | Tar Heel Middle | 05-08 |
Bladen County Schools | West Bladen High | 09-12 |
Paul R Brown Leadership Academy | Paul R Brown Leadership Academy | 06-11 |
Brunswick County Schools | Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary | 0K-05 |
Brunswick County Schools | Leland Middle | 06-08 |
Brunswick County Schools | Supply Elementary | PK-05 |
Buncombe County Schools | Erwin High | 09-12 |
Buncombe County Schools | Enka High | 09-12 |
Buncombe County Schools | Johnston Elementary | 0K-04 |
Burke County Schools | Hallyburton Academy | 06-12 |
Burke County Schools | Freedom High | 09-12 |
Cabarrus County Schools | Concord Middle | 06-08 |
Cabarrus County Schools | Rocky River Elementary | PK-05 |
Cabarrus County Schools | Winecoff Elementary | PK-05 |
Cabarrus County Schools | W M Irvin Elementary | PK-05 |
Kannapolis City Schools | Kannapolis Intermediate | 05-06 |
Kannapolis City Schools | Kannapolis Middle | 07-08 |
Caldwell County Schools | Gamewell Middle | 06-08 |
Caldwell County Schools | Valmead Elementary | PK-05 |
Caldwell County Schools | West Lenoir Elementary | 0K-05 |
Caswell County Schools | Bartlett Yancey High | 09-12 |
Caswell County Schools | N L Dillard Middle | 06-08 |
Catawba County Schools | River Bend Middle | 07-08 |
Hickory City Schools | Grandview Middle | 06-08 |
Hickory City Schools | Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School | 06-12 |
Hickory City Schools | Viewmont Elementary | PK-05 |
Newton Conover City Schools | Newton-Conover Middle | 06-08 |
Newton Conover City Schools | North Newton Elementary | 0K-05 |
Chatham County Schools | Siler City Elementary | PK-05 |
Chatham County Schools | Virginia Cross Elementary | PK-05 |
Cherokee County Schools | Andrews High | 09-12 |
Cherokee County Schools | Andrews Middle | 06-08 |
Edenton-Chowan Schools | John A Holmes High | 09-12 |
Cleveland County Schools | Turning Point Academy | 06-12 |
Cleveland County Schools | Graham Elementary | PK-04 |
Cleveland County Schools | James Love Elementary | PK-04 |
Cleveland County Schools | Shelby High | 09-12 |
Cleveland County Schools | Shelby Middle | 07-08 |
Columbus County Schools | Acme Delco Middle | 06-08 |
Columbus County Schools | Acme Delco Elementary | PK-05 |
Columbus County Schools | Evergreen Elementary | PK-08 |
Columbus County Schools | Hallsboro-Artesia Elementary | PK-05 |
Columbus County Schools | Tabor City Middle | 06-08 |
Craven County Schools | Vanceboro-Farm Life Elementary | PK-05 |
Craven County Schools | New Bern High | 09-12 |
Craven County Schools | Oaks Road Elementary | 0K-05 |
Craven County Schools | Roger R Bell Elementary | 0K-05 |
Cumberland County Schools | Lillian Black Elementary | 0K-05 |
Cumberland County Schools | Luther Nick Jeralds Middle | 06-08 |
Cumberland County Schools | Hope Mills Middle | 06-08 |
Cumberland County Schools | Ireland Drive Middle | 06-08 |
Cumberland County Schools | Sherwood Park Elementary | PK-05 |
Cumberland County Schools | Spring Lake Middle | 06-08 |
Cumberland County Schools | Warrenwood Elementary | PK-05 |
Cumberland County Schools | William T Brown Elementary | PK-05 |
Currituck County Schools | Currituck County High | 09-12 |
Davidson County Schools | South Davidson High | 09-12 |
Davidson County Schools | Southwood Elementary | PK-05 |
Lexington City Schools | Lexington Middle School | 06-08 |
Davie County Schools | Cooleemee Elementary | 0K-05 |
Duplin County Schools | East Duplin High | 09-12 |
Duplin County Schools | James Kenan High | 09-12 |
Duplin County Schools | Wallace Elementary | PK-05 |
Duplin County Schools | Wallace-Rose Hill High | 09-12 |
Durham Public Schools | Bethesda Elementary | 0K-05 |
Durham Public Schools | Eastway Elementary | PK-05 |
Durham Public Schools | Eno Valley Elementary | PK-05 |
Durham Public Schools | Glenn Elementary | 0K-05 |
Durham Public Schools | James E Shepard Middle | 06-08 |
Durham Public Schools | Lucas Middle | 06-08 |
Durham Public Schools | Fayetteville Street Elementary | PK-05 |
Durham Public Schools | Lowe's Grove Middle | 06-08 |
Durham Public Schools | Neal Middle | 06-08 |
Durham Public Schools | Oak Grove Elementary | PK-05 |
Durham Public Schools | E K Powe Elementary | PK-05 |
Durham Public Schools | Sherwood Githens Middle | 06-08 |
Durham Public Schools | Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi | 09-12 |
Durham Public Schools | Sandy Ridge Elementary | PK-05 |
Durham Public Schools | Southwest Elementary | PK-05 |
Durham Public Schools | Hillside New Tech High | 09-12 |
Kestrel Heights School | Kestrel Heights School | 0K-12 |
Edgecombe County Public School | Coker-Wimberly Elementary | PK-05 |
Edgecombe County Public School | Phillips Middle | 06-08 |
Edgecombe County Public School | Princeville Elementary | PK-05 |
Edgecombe County Public School | West Edgecombe Middle | 06-08 |
North East Carolina Prep | North East Carolina Prep | 0K-10 |
Forsyth County Schools | Ashley Academy | PK-05 |
Forsyth County Schools | Cook Elementary | PK-05 |
Forsyth County Schools | East Forsyth Middle School | 06-08 |
Forsyth County Schools | Flat Rock Middle | 06-08 |
Forsyth County Schools | Gibson Elementary | PK-05 |
Forsyth County Schools | Robert B Glenn High School | 09-12 |
Forsyth County Schools | Hall-Woodward Elementary | PK-05 |
Forsyth County Schools | Ibraham Elementary | PK-05 |
Forsyth County Schools | Kimmel Farm Elementary | PK-05 |
Forsyth County Schools | Konnoak Elementary | PK-05 |
Forsyth County Schools | Mineral Springs Middle | 06-08 |
Forsyth County Schools | North Forsyth High | 09-12 |
Forsyth County Schools | Old Town Elementary | PK-05 |
Forsyth County Schools | Philo-Hill Magnet Academy | 06-08 |
Forsyth County Schools | R J Reynolds High | 09-12 |
Forsyth County Schools | Walkertown High | 09-12 |
Forsyth County Schools | Walkertown Middle | 06-08 |
Franklin County Schools | Bunn Middle | 06-08 |
Franklin County Schools | Franklinton High | 09-12 |
Franklin County Schools | Laurel Mill Elementary | PK-05 |
Franklin County Schools | Long Mill Elementary | PK-05 |
Franklin County Schools | Royal Elementary | PK-05 |
Gaston County Schools | Bessemer City Central Elem | 03-05 |
Gaston County Schools | Brookside Elementary | PK-05 |
Gaston County Schools | Chapel Grove Elementary | PK-05 |
Gaston County Schools | Warlick Academy | 06-12 |
Gaston County Schools | Hunter Huss High | 09-12 |
Gaston County Schools | McAdenville Elementary | 0K-05 |
Gaston County Schools | Forest Heights Elementary | PK-05 |
Gaston County Schools | Rhyne Elementary | PK-05 |
Gaston County Schools | Sherwood Elementary | PK-05 |
Gaston County Schools | H H Beam Elementary | PK-05 |
Gaston County Schools | Southwest Middle | 06-08 |
Gaston County Schools | W C Friday Middle School | 06-08 |
Gaston County Schools | York Chester Middle | 06-08 |
Gates County Schools | T S Cooper Elementary | 0K-05 |
Granville County Schools | Butner-Stem Middle | 06-08 |
Granville County Schools | Creedmoor Elementary | PK-05 |
Granville County Schools | G. C. Hawley Middle | 06-08 |
Granville County Schools | J. F. Webb High | 09-12 |
Granville County Schools | Northern Granville Middle | 06-08 |
Granville County Schools | West Oxford Elementary | PK-05 |
Greene County Schools | Greene County Middle | 06-08 |
Guilford County Schools | Southern Guilford Middle | 06-08 |
Guilford County Schools | Brightwood Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Ceasar Cone Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Waldo C Falkener Sr Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Ferndale Middle | 06-08 |
Guilford County Schools | Cyrus P Frazier Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Gillespie Park Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Otis L Hairston Sr Middle | 06-08 |
Guilford County Schools | Irving Park Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Jackson Middle | 06-08 |
Guilford County Schools | Jamestown Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Johnson Street Global Studies | 0K-08 |
Guilford County Schools | Madison Elementary | 0K-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Ronald E. McNair Elementary | 0K-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Northeast Guilford Middle | 06-08 |
Guilford County Schools | Northwood Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Oak View Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Peeler Open Elementary | 0K-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Reedy Fork Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Rankin Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Union Hill Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Washington Elementary | PK-05 |
Guilford County Schools | Welborn Middle | 06-08 |
Guilford County Schools | Wiley Accel/Enrichment | PK-05 |
Halifax County Schools | Everetts Elementary | PK-05 |
Weldon City Schools | Weldon Middle | 05-08 |
Harnett County Schools | Johnsonville Elementary | 0K-05 |
Harnett County Schools | Overhills Middle | 06-08 |
Harnett County Schools | Overhills High | 09-12 |
Henderson County Schools | Edneyville Elementary | 0K-05 |
Henderson County Schools | Balfour Education Center | 06-12 |
Hertford County Schools | Ahoskie Elementary | 04-06 |
Hertford County Schools | Hertford County Middle | 07-08 |
Hoke County Schools | Scurlock Elementary | PK-05 |
Hoke County Schools | East Hoke Middle | 06-08 |
Hyde County Schools | Mattamuskeet Early College High | 06-13 |
Iredell-Statesville Schools | N B Mills Elementary | PK-05 |
Iredell-Statesville Schools | North Iredell High | 09-12 |
Iredell-Statesville Schools | Scotts Elementary | PK-05 |
Iredell-Statesville Schools | Statesville High | 09-12 |
Iredell-Statesville Schools | West Iredell Middle | 06-08 |
Jackson County Schools | Blue Ridge Early College | 07-13 |
Johnston County Schools | Cooper Elementary | PK-05 |
Johnston County Schools | North Johnston Middle | 06-08 |
Johnston County Schools | Smithfield Middle | 06-08 |
Johnston County Schools | Smithfield-Selma High | 09-12 |
Jones County Schools | Comfort Elementary | PK-06 |
Lee County Schools | Broadway Elementary | 0K-05 |
Lee County Schools | East Lee Middle | 06-08 |
Lee County Schools | Lee County High | 09-12 |
Lee County Schools | Southern Lee High School | 09-12 |
Lee County Schools | West Lee Middle | 06-08 |
Lenoir County Public Schools | E B Frink Middle | 06-08 |
Lenoir County Public Schools | Kinston High | 09-12 |
Lenoir County Public Schools | North Lenoir High | 09-12 |
Lenoir County Public Schools | Northwest Elementary | 0K-05 |
Lenoir County Public Schools | Rochelle Middle | 06-08 |
Lenoir County Public Schools | Woodington Middle | 06-08 |
Lincoln County Schools | Battleground Elementary | PK-03 |
Macon County Schools | Mountain View Intermediate | 05-06 |
Macon County Schools | Union Academy | 07-12 |
Madison County Schools | Brush Creek Elementary | 0K-05 |
Madison County Schools | Madison High | 09-12 |
Martin County Schools | E J Hayes Elementary | 03-05 |
Martin County Schools | East End Elementary | PK-05 |
Martin County Schools | Jamesville Elementary | PK-06 |
Martin County Schools | Rodgers Elementary | 0K-05 |
Martin County Schools | Riverside High | 09-12 |
McDowell County Schools | Eastfield Global Magnet | PK-05 |
McDowell County Schools | McDowell High | 09-12 |
McDowell County Schools | Pleasant Gardens Elementary | PK-05 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Whitewater Middle | 06-08 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Briarwood Elementary | 0K-05 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Cochrane Collegiate Academy | 06-12 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Eastway Middle | 06-08 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Huntingtowne Farms Elementary | 0K-05 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Turning Point Academy | 04-12 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | McClintock Middle | 06-08 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Northeast Middle | 06-08 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Oakdale Elementary | 0K-05 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Quail Hollow Middle | 06-08 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Sedgefield Middle | 06-08 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Stoney Creek Elementary | 0K-05 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Sterling Elementary | PK-05 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Tuckaseegee Elementary | 0K-05 |
Community Charter School | Community Charter School | 0K-05 |
Crossroads Charter High | Crossroads Charter High | 09-12 |
Montgomery County Schools | Candor Elementary | PK-05 |
Montgomery County Schools | West Middle | 06-08 |
Montgomery County Schools | West Montgomery High | 09-12 |
Moore County Schools | Robbins Elementary | PK-05 |
Moore County Schools | Southern Middle | 06-08 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Baskerville Elementary | 0K-05 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Benvenue Elementary | 0K-05 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Cedar Grove Elementary | PK-05 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Nash Central Middle | 06-08 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Englewood Elementary | 03-05 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | G R Edwards Middle | 06-08 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | M B Hubbard Elementary | 0K-05 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | J W Parker Middle | 06-08 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Rocky Mount Middle | 06-08 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Tar River Academy | 06-12 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Nash Central High | 09-12 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Nashville Elementary | PK-05 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Northern Nash High | 09-12 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Rocky Mount High | 09-12 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Southern Nash Middle | 06-08 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Southern Nash High | 09-12 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | Spring Hope Elementary | PK-05 |
Rocky Mount Preparatory | Rocky Mount Preparatory | 0K-12 |
New Hanover County Schools | R Freeman Sch of Engineering | PK-05 |
New Hanover County Schools | Gregory School of Math Science and Tech | 0K-05 |
New Hanover County Schools | Mary Sidberry Mosley PLC | 09-12 |
New Hanover County Schools | A H Snipes Academy of Arts/Des | 0K-05 |
New Hanover County Schools | Williston Middle | 06-08 |
New Hanover County Schools | D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy | 06-08 |
Island Montessori Charter | Island Montessori Charter | 0K-06 |
Northampton County Schools | Conway Middle | 05-08 |
Northampton County Schools | Gaston Elementary | 01-04 |
Northampton County Schools | Gaston Middle | 05-08 |
Onslow County Schools | Hunters Creek Middle | 06-08 |
Onslow County Schools | Jacksonville Commons Middle | 06-08 |
Onslow County Schools | Northwoods Park Middle | 06-08 |
Onslow County Schools | Parkwood Elementary | 0K-05 |
Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology | Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology | 0K-06 |
Orange County Schools | Efland Cheeks Elementary | PK-05 |
Pamlico County Schools | Pamlico County High | 09-12 |
Pasquotank County Schools | Elizabeth City Middle | 06-08 |
Pasquotank County Schools | Pasquotank Elementary | 0K-05 |
Pasquotank County Schools | P W Moore Elementary | 0K-05 |
Pender County Schools | Burgaw Middle | 06-08 |
Perquimans County Schools | Perquimans County High | 09-12 |
Person County Schools | Northern Middle | 06-08 |
Person County Schools | South Elementary | PK-05 |
Person County Schools | Southern Middle | 06-08 |
Pitt County Schools | Ayden-Grifton High | 09-12 |
Pitt County Schools | C M Eppes Middle | 06-08 |
Pitt County Schools | Falkland Elementary | 0K-05 |
Pitt County Schools | E B Aycock Middle | 06-08 |
Pitt County Schools | Sam D Bundy Elementary | 03-05 |
Pitt County Schools | South Greenville Elementary | 0K-05 |
Pitt County Schools | Wellcome Middle | 06-08 |
Randolph County Schools | Southeastern Randolph Middle | 06-08 |
Richmond County Schools | Leak Street High | 07-12 |
Richmond County Schools | Richmond Senior High | 10-12 |
Richmond County Schools | Richmond 9th Grade Academy | 09-09 |
Richmond County Schools | Rohanen Middle | 06-08 |
Robeson County Schools | Janie C Hargrave Elem | PK-04 |
Robeson County Schools | L Gilbert Carroll Middle | 04-06 |
Robeson County Schools | Littlefield Middle | 04-08 |
Robeson County Schools | Lumberton Junior High | 07-08 |
Robeson County Schools | Lumberton Senior High | 09-12 |
Robeson County Schools | Magnolia Elementary | PK-08 |
Robeson County Schools | Orrum Middle | 05-08 |
Robeson County Schools | Pembroke Elementary | PK-05 |
Robeson County Schools | Pembroke Middle | 06-08 |
Robeson County Schools | Peterson Elementary | PK-04 |
Robeson County Schools | Piney Grove Elementary | PK-06 |
Robeson County Schools | Prospect Elementary | PK-08 |
Robeson County Schools | R B Dean Elementary | PK-04 |
Robeson County Schools | South Robeson High | 09-12 |
Robeson County Schools | Southside/Ashpole Elem | PK-05 |
Robeson County Schools | Townsend Middle | 05-08 |
Robeson County Schools | W H Knuckles | PK-04 |
Robeson County Schools | Purnell Swett High | 09-12 |
Rockingham County Schools | J E Holmes Middle | 06-08 |
Rockingham County Schools | John M Morehead High | 09-12 |
Rockingham County Schools | Reidsville Middle | 06-08 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Erwin Middle | 06-08 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | China Grove Middle | 06-08 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Koontz Elementary | 0K-05 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Isenberg Elementary | PK-05 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Hurley Elementary | 0K-05 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Landis Elementary | PK-05 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | North Rowan Elementary | PK-05 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | North Rowan High | 09-12 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Southeast Middle | 06-08 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | South Rowan High | 09-12 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | West Rowan High | 09-12 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Woodleaf Elementary | PK-05 |
Rutherford County Schools | Chase Middle School | 06-08 |
Rutherford County Schools | R-S Middle School | 06-08 |
Sampson County Schools | Lakewood High | 09-12 |
Sampson County Schools | Union Middle | 06-08 |
Clinton City Schools | Clinton High | 09-12 |
Scotland County Schools | Carver Middle | 06-08 |
Scotland County Schools | Shaw Academy | 06-12 |
Scotland County Schools | I E Johnson Elementary | PK-05 |
Scotland County Schools | Scotland High School | 09-12 |
Stanly County Schools | Albemarle High | 09-12 |
Stanly County Schools | East Albemarle Elementary | 0K-05 |
Stanly County Schools | Millingport Elementary | PK-05 |
Stanly County Schools | Norwood Elementary | 0K-05 |
Stanly County Schools | Oakboro Elementary | PK-05 |
Stokes County Schools | West Stokes High | 09-12 |
Surry County Schools | Meadowview Magnet Middle | 06-08 |
Swain County Schools | Swain County High School | 09-12 |
Tyrrell County Schools | Columbia Middle | 06-08 |
Union County Public Schools | East Union Middle | 06-08 |
Union County Public Schools | South Providence | 06-12 |
Vance County Schools | Eaton-Johnson Middle | 06-08 |
Vance County Schools | Henderson Middle | 06-08 |
Vance County Schools | New Hope Elementary | PK-05 |
Vance County Schools | E O Young Jr Elementary | PK-05 |
Vance County Schools | E M Rollins Elementary | PK-05 |
Vance County Schools | Southern Vance High | 09-12 |
Vance County Schools | Western Vance High | 09-12 |
Vance County Schools | Northern Vance High | 09-12 |
Wake County Schools | Barwell Road Elementary | PK-05 |
Wake County Schools | Carroll Middle | 06-08 |
Wake County Schools | East Garner Middle | 06-08 |
Wake County Schools | East Millbrook Middle | 06-08 |
Wake County Schools | East Wake Middle | 06-08 |
Wake County Schools | Fox Road Elementary | 0K-05 |
Wake County Schools | Hodge Road Elementary | PK-05 |
Wake County Schools | Vandora Springs Elementary | PK-05 |
Wake County Schools | Walnut Creek ES | PK-05 |
Wake County Schools | Wendell Middle | 06-08 |
Wake County Schools | East Wake School of Engineering | 09-12 |
Hope Charter Leadership Academy | Hope Charter Leadership Academy | 0K-05 |
Warren County Schools | Warren County Middle | 06-08 |
Washington County Schools | Creswell Elementary | PK-06 |
Washington County Schools | Pines Elementary | PK-05 |
Wayne County Public Schools | Brogden Middle | 05-08 |
Wayne County Public Schools | Carver Elementary | PK-04 |
Wayne County Public Schools | Dillard Middle | 05-08 |
Wayne County Public Schools | Eastern Wayne Elementary | PK-05 |
Wayne County Public Schools | Eastern Wayne High | 09-12 |
Wayne County Public Schools | Goldsboro High | 09-12 |
Wayne County Public Schools | Rosewood High | 09-12 |
Wayne County Public Schools | School Street Elementary | PK-04 |
Wayne County Public Schools | Southern Wayne High | 09-12 |
Wayne County Public Schools | Spring Creek High | 06-12 |
Wilkes County Schools | C C Wright Elementary | PK-05 |
Wilkes County Schools | Central Wilkes Middle | 06-08 |
Wilkes County Schools | East Wilkes High | 09-12 |
Wilkes County Schools | North Wilkes Middle | 06-08 |
Wilkes County Schools | North Wilkesboro Elementary | PK-05 |
Wilkes County Schools | Wilkes Central High | 09-12 |
Wilson County Schools | B O Barnes Elementary | 0K-05 |
Wilson County Schools | Beddingfield High | 09-12 |
Wilson County Schools | Forest Hills Middle | 06-08 |
Wilson County Schools | John W Jones Elementary | 0K-05 |
Wilson County Schools | Lee Woodard Elementary | 0K-05 |
Wilson County Schools | Margaret Hearne Elementary | 0K-05 |
Wilson County Schools | Speight Middle | 06-08 |
Wilson County Schools | Toisnot Middle | 06-08 |
Wilson County Schools | Vinson-Bynum Elementary | 0K-05 |
Wilson County Schools | Wells Elementary | 0K-05 |
Wilson County Schools | Winstead Elementary | 0K-05 |
The state has a number of ways it tries to help low-performing schools improve. One way is to send school transformation coaches from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to the schools with the most need.
Dan Davis is one of the coaches. He works with seven schools in Edgecombe, Wilson and Wayne counties. He has worked with Principal Archer at West Edgecombe Middle and Principal Gregory at Phillips Middle since January.
"I drive around the countryside and go and see what I can do to help," said Davis, who spent 15 years as a middle school principal in New Mexico and retired before moving across the country to help North Carolina schools.
A large part of the job, he says, is gaining the trust of principals and getting them to open up about their struggles. He takes a "What you say here stays here" approach, which he says allows school leaders to be more candid with him.
"I'm here to support them and help them do their best," Davis said. "It really is a difficult – I won't say impossible – but it really is a difficult role these principals and teachers find themselves in."
When he's working with a principal who has lost a lot of teachers, he advises them to find out why their staff is leaving. Exit interviews are especially important because it gives schools a chance to ask teachers, "What would it take to keep you?"
"If somebody's teaching seventh grade math in my building and they go down the street and teach seventh grade math, I want to know why," Davis said. "Some teachers said, 'I would have stayed, but nobody asked.'"
Davis says he has met teachers who stayed in challenging positions because they felt respected.
Respecting teachers who choose to work in struggling schools is especially important, says State Board of Education member Becky Taylor.
Taylor began her teaching career in Edgecombe County and says she often encourages new teachers to start out in a rural community, like she did. One of the challenges, she admits, is that rural school districts often don't pay as much as larger school systems.
"Their funds are limited. They do have a hard time recruiting staff," she said. "But I think there are a lot of things that good administrators can and are doing to try to retain these teachers."
In North Carolina, baseline teacher salaries are set by the state government. Many counties add a local supplement.
Last school year, Wake County schools paid the highest average teacher supplement in the state at nearly $7,000. Durham Public Schools paid the second highest at nearly $6,800, followed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, which also paid nearly $6,800.
Edgecombe County paid its teachers an average of about $2,100 last school year.
Seven school systems in the state did not pay their teachers any extra money.
NC school districts' average teacher supplements

School district | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alamance-Burlington Schools | $1,649 | $1,723 | $1,750 | $1,699 | $1,772 | $2,151 | $2,343 | $2,822 | $3,173 | $3,140 | $3,132 | $3,127 | $3,237 | $3,497 | $3,877 | $4,201 |
Alexander County Schools | $1,116 | $1,161 | $1,159 | $1,310 | $2,122 | $2,333 | $2,401 | $2,495 | $2,541 | $2,545 | $2,515 | $2,515 | $2,469 | $2,429 | $2,616 | $2,588 |
Alleghany County Schools | $0 | $125 | $124 | $125 | $200 | $200 | $200 | $205 | $204 | $208 | $262 | $212 | $206 | $200 | $200 | $200 |
Anson County Schools | $543 | $551 | $564 | $560 | $693 | $566 | $616 | $619 | $804 | $642 | $676 | $625 | $621 | $594 | $786 | $1,091 |
Ashe County Schools | $150 | $150 | $250 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $500 |
Avery County Schools | $1,213 | $791 | $887 | $1,212 | $1,206 | $1,222 | $1,212 | $1,386 | $1,234 | $1,088 | $1,259 | $1,332 | $1,223 | $1,229 | $1,300 | $1,300 |
Beaufort County Schools | $439 | $440 | $441 | $634 | $770 | $909 | $1,061 | $1,272 | $1,458 | $1,474 | $1,473 | $1,488 | $1,486 | $1,490 | $1,510 | $1,608 |
Bertie County Schools | $1,129 | $1,123 | $1,130 | $1,178 | $1,321 | $1,037 | $1,120 | $1,453 | $1,189 | $1,229 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $780 | $912 |
Bladen County Schools | $1,344 | $1,295 | $1,295 | $1,308 | $1,482 | $1,469 | $1,603 | $1,649 | $1,593 | $1,608 | $1,622 | $834 | $1,615 | $804 | $1,724 | $1,806 |
Brunswick County Schools | $1,975 | $2,081 | $2,317 | $2,334 | $2,238 | $2,303 | $2,359 | $2,421 | $2,442 | $2,920 | $3,247 | $2,773 | $2,824 | $2,438 | $2,729 | $2,763 |
Buncombe County Schools | $2,772 | $2,853 | $2,716 | $2,893 | $3,510 | $2,407 | $3,120 | $3,475 | $3,898 | $3,475 | $3,731 | $3,779 | $3,785 | $3,662 | $3,757 | $3,721 |
Asheville City Schools | $3,210 | $3,394 | $3,772 | $3,874 | $4,062 | $4,042 | $4,256 | $6,133 | $4,003 | $4,217 | $3,252 | $3,693 | $3,650 | $3,524 | $3,894 | $3,951 |
Burke County Schools | $1,407 | $1,424 | $1,431 | $1,434 | $1,454 | $1,479 | $1,591 | $1,874 | $1,888 | $938 | $1,426 | $1,870 | $2,247 | $2,225 | $2,246 | $2,195 |
Cabarrus County Schools | $1,750 | $1,851 | $1,899 | $1,977 | $1,899 | $1,944 | $1,940 | $2,058 | $2,165 | $2,281 | $2,245 | $2,626 | $2,626 | $2,509 | $3,029 | $3,053 |
Kannapolis City Schools | $1,731 | $1,856 | $1,889 | $1,840 | $1,862 | $1,832 | $1,806 | $1,788 | $1,797 | $1,839 | $1,861 | $1,851 | $1,882 | $2,107 | $2,112 | $2,511 |
Caldwell County Schools | $677 | $634 | $1,792 | $2,566 | $1,033 | $1,399 | $1,433 | $1,229 | $1,528 | $1,964 | $1,374 | $1,904 | $2,326 | $1,674 | $1,725 | $1,751 |
Camden County Schools | $863 | $865 | $870 | $1,004 | $1,022 | $1,112 | $1,216 | $1,415 | $1,489 | $1,523 | $1,513 | $1,540 | $1,707 | $1,864 | $1,560 | $1,812 |
Carteret County Schools | $1,834 | $1,849 | $1,746 | $1,746 | $2,312 | $2,061 | $2,344 | $2,322 | $2,421 | $2,363 | $2,643 | $2,420 | $2,329 | $2,311 | $2,982 | $2,635 |
Caswell County Schools | $966 | $812 | $818 | $687 | $883 | $793 | $794 | $738 | $760 | $0 | $2,300 | $2,300 | $2,300 | $0 | $937 | $821 |
Catawba County Schools | $2,557 | $2,600 | $2,610 | $2,816 | $2,816 | $2,674 | $2,877 | $3,039 | $3,024 | $3,000 | $2,960 | $2,944 | $2,925 | $2,913 | $3,544 | $3,787 |
Hickory City Schools | $2,482 | $2,533 | $2,534 | $2,641 | $2,564 | $2,573 | $2,780 | $2,856 | $2,963 | $2,962 | $2,896 | $3,052 | $2,701 | $2,837 | $2,993 | $2,481 |
Newton Conover City Schools | $2,499 | $2,597 | $2,545 | $2,504 | $2,509 | $2,650 | $2,735 | $2,802 | $2,804 | $2,910 | $2,865 | $2,847 | $2,712 | $2,742 | $2,717 | $2,908 |
Chatham County Schools | $2,909 | $2,886 | $2,888 | $2,969 | $2,984 | $3,082 | $3,044 | $3,324 | $3,979 | $3,951 | $4,009 | $3,957 | $3,990 | $4,000 | $4,007 | $4,692 |
Cherokee County Schools | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $0 | $0 |
Edenton/Chowan Schools | $566 | $773 | $765 | $761 | $759 | $774 | $805 | $1,357 | $1,374 | $469 | $1,112 | $1,131 | $1,200 | $1,158 | $1,276 | $1,299 |
Clay County Schools | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Cleveland County Schools | $805 | $1,029 | $1,063 | $1,048 | $1,205 | $1,350 | $1,342 | $1,335 | $1,349 | $1,333 | $1,454 | $1,502 | $1,638 | $1,635 | $1,632 | $1,641 |
Kings Mountain District | $1,003 | $1,078 | $1,068 | $1,216 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Shelby City Schools | $816 | $820 | $824 | $754 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Columbus County Schools | $598 | $609 | $633 | $682 | $677 | $994 | $1,439 | $1,469 | $1,457 | $1,439 | $1,428 | $1,424 | $1,380 | $1,403 | $2,412 | $2,123 |
Whiteville City Schools | $1,121 | $1,134 | $1,175 | $1,146 | $1,144 | $889 | $2,111 | $2,199 | $2,237 | $2,242 | $2,201 | $2,186 | $2,131 | $2,136 | $3,206 | $1,923 |
Craven County Schools | $1,100 | $1,200 | $1,300 | $1,400 | $1,500 | $1,600 | $1,700 | $1,800 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,100 | $2,200 | $2,200 | $2,300 |
Cumberland County Schools | $3,086 | $3,117 | $3,117 | $3,117 | $3,323 | $3,335 | $3,596 | $3,670 | $3,758 | $3,710 | $3,662 | $3,616 | $3,614 | $3,569 | $3,569 | $3,523 |
Currituck County Schools | $1,414 | $1,414 | $1,461 | $1,460 | $1,434 | $2,056 | $3,623 | $3,567 | $3,341 | $3,335 | $3,385 | $3,275 | $3,252 | $3,234 | $3,529 | $3,541 |
Dare County Schools | $2,217 | $2,230 | $2,241 | $2,247 | $2,422 | $2,654 | $2,687 | $3,087 | $4,193 | $4,170 | $4,074 | $4,096 | $4,233 | $4,196 | $4,191 | $4,211 |
Davidson County Schools | $1,529 | $1,833 | $1,806 | $1,924 | $2,109 | $2,212 | $2,467 | $2,537 | $2,570 | $2,553 | $2,515 | $2,499 | $2,502 | $2,448 | $2,639 | $2,670 |
Lexington City Schools | $2,303 | $2,717 | $2,666 | $3,040 | $3,296 | $3,017 | $3,423 | $3,906 | $3,830 | $3,507 | $3,413 | $3,405 | $3,437 | $3,265 | $3,536 | $3,621 |
Thomasville City Schools | $1,163 | $1,618 | $1,864 | $2,390 | $2,313 | $2,416 | $2,273 | $2,475 | $2,232 | $2,271 | $2,155 | $2,181 | $2,179 | $2,308 | $2,360 | $2,195 |
Davie County Schools | $1,459 | $1,608 | $1,836 | $1,853 | $1,771 | $1,928 | $2,244 | $1,952 | $2,331 | $2,250 | $2,208 | $2,245 | $2,300 | $2,200 | $2,466 | $2,413 |
Duplin County Schools | $400 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $1,800 | $2,473 | $2,469 | $2,995 | $3,240 | $1,905 | $0 | $1,568 | $1,498 | $1,905 | $3,110 | $3,110 |
Durham Public Schools | $4,302 | $4,428 | $4,589 | $3,931 | $5,500 | $5,042 | $5,226 | $5,366 | $5,294 | $5,294 | $5,733 | $5,205 | $5,227 | $5,195 | $5,494 | $6,790 |
Edgecombe County Schools | $1,433 | $1,416 | $1,450 | $1,474 | $1,469 | $1,439 | $1,516 | $1,658 | $1,668 | $1,627 | $1,596 | $1,582 | $1,556 | $1,570 | $1,575 | $2,141 |
Forsyth County Schools | $3,040 | $3,479 | $3,746 | $3,619 | $3,879 | $4,055 | $4,304 | $4,312 | $4,658 | $4,961 | $4,945 | $4,986 | $4,268 | $4,555 | $3,847 | $3,717 |
Franklin County Schools | $1,300 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,800 | $2,100 | $2,400 | $2,700 | $2,700 | $2,700 | $2,700 | $2,700 | $2,700 | $2,700 | $2,700 | $3,216 |
Gaston County Schools | $1,986 | $1,945 | $1,867 | $2,048 | $2,054 | $1,851 | $2,044 | $2,489 | $2,107 | $2,129 | $2,205 | $2,367 | $2,334 | $2,177 | $2,229 | $2,418 |
Gates County Schools | $550 | $550 | $550 | $550 | $547 | $550 | $550 | $550 | $550 | $939 | $550 | $550 | $550 | $550 | $550 | $550 |
Graham County Schools | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Granville County Schools | $1,974 | $2,016 | $2,142 | $2,390 | $2,460 | $2,784 | $2,836 | $2,738 | $3,057 | $3,188 | $2,188 | $3,314 | $2,854 | $2,752 | $3,252 | $3,268 |
Greene County Schools | $700 | $800 | $800 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,200 | $1,300 | $1,300 | $1,400 | $1,400 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Guilford County Schools | $2,988 | $3,487 | $3,538 | $3,759 | $4,102 | $4,085 | $4,443 | $4,574 | $4,994 | $4,899 | $4,912 | $4,762 | $4,656 | $4,653 | $4,746 | $4,746 |
Halifax County Schools | $450 | $500 | $250 | $250 | $2,000 | $4,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Roanoke Rapids City Schools | $1,183 | $1,218 | $1,197 | $1,234 | $1,236 | $1,557 | $1,766 | $1,765 | $1,764 | $1,795 | $1,727 | $1,719 | $1,912 | $2,081 | $2,214 | $2,133 |
Weldon City Schools | $494 | $200 | $200 | $300 | $720 | $755 | $792 | $896 | $591 | $373 | $3,514 | $500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Harnett County Schools | $1,678 | $1,892 | $1,882 | $2,075 | $2,077 | $2,084 | $2,094 | $2,315 | $2,268 | $2,274 | $2,260 | $2,271 | $2,266 | $2,238 | $2,261 | $2,266 |
Haywood County Schools | $615 | $635 | $790 | $970 | $1,176 | $1,155 | $1,433 | $1,574 | $1,853 | $1,973 | $1,955 | $1,938 | $1,840 | $1,816 | $1,925 | $1,967 |
Henderson County Schools | $1,853 | $1,903 | $1,895 | $1,896 | $2,469 | $2,028 | $2,042 | $2,163 | $2,465 | $2,424 | $2,437 | $3,092 | $3,109 | $3,029 | $3,663 | $3,705 |
Hertford County Schools | $1,064 | $1,051 | $1,089 | $1,072 | $1,113 | $1,100 | $1,215 | $1,256 | $1,255 | $1,251 | $1,255 | $1,233 | $1,214 | $1,124 | $1,292 | $1,289 |
Hoke County Schools | $1,306 | $1,270 | $1,292 | $1,428 | $2,270 | $1,908 | $2,584 | $2,277 | $2,275 | $2,086 | $2,237 | $2,442 | $2,153 | $2,675 | $2,715 | $2,706 |
Hyde County Schools | $711 | $571 | $1,062 | $554 | $571 | $475 | $600 | $735 | $595 | $471 | $1,389 | $645 | $603 | $650 | $737 | $653 |
Iredell-Statesville Schools | $2,023 | $2,326 | $2,266 | $2,602 | $2,841 | $3,008 | $3,316 | $3,300 | $3,816 | $3,307 | $2,592 | $2,281 | $2,334 | $2,477 | $2,255 | $2,575 |
Mooresville City Schools | $1,682 | $1,766 | $2,033 | $2,000 | $2,135 | $2,000 | $2,200 | $2,494 | $3,103 | $3,101 | $3,101 | $3,101 | $3,101 | $3,101 | $3,180 | $3,180 |
Jackson County Schools | $162 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $586 | $586 | $1,054 | $950 | $1,014 | $136 | $147 | $142 | $142 | $199 | $1,478 | $2,497 |
Johnston County Schools | $1,912 | $2,591 | $2,409 | $2,600 | $2,935 | $3,185 | $3,458 | $3,587 | $3,527 | $3,553 | $3,642 | $3,065 | $3,311 | $3,785 | $3,785 | $3,854 |
Jones County Schools | $200 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $500 | $750 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,192 | $2,051 | $1,954 | $2,230 | $2,230 | $2,200 |
Lee County Schools | $1,786 | $1,758 | $2,150 | $2,230 | $2,230 | $2,654 | $2,883 | $3,039 | $3,059 | $2,922 | $2,859 | $2,677 | $2,787 | $2,788 | $2,911 | $3,288 |
Lenoir County Schools | $915 | $1,015 | $1,016 | $1,013 | $1,013 | $1,215 | $1,223 | $2,327 | $2,218 | $1,020 | $1,069 | $1,069 | $1,071 | $1,500 | $1,600 | $1,700 |
Lincoln County Schools | $1,139 | $1,328 | $1,676 | $1,951 | $1,975 | $1,995 | $2,452 | $2,539 | $2,653 | $2,652 | $2,828 | $2,828 | $2,927 | $2,928 | $2,975 | $2,904 |
Macon County Schools | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $767 | $895 | $857 | $1,035 | $849 | $849 | $830 | $808 | $791 | $784 | $841 | $744 |
Madison County Schools | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $250 | $265 | $264 | $250 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Martin County Schools | $400 | $400 | $400 | $500 | $500 | $500 | $675 | $675 | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
Mcdowell County Schools | $757 | $775 | $800 | $825 | $850 | $875 | $900 | $900 | $925 | $925 | $2,775 | $925 | $925 | $923 | $921 | $927 |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | $4,747 | $5,069 | $5,089 | $5,084 | $5,079 | $5,066 | $5,517 | $5,697 | $5,827 | $5,685 | $5,627 | $5,471 | $6,376 | $6,083 | $6,632 | $6,764 |
Mitchell County Schools | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $200 | $50 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 |
Montgomery County Schools | $1,154 | $1,140 | $1,236 | $1,053 | $890 | $1,174 | $1,099 | $1,456 | $1,399 | $1,386 | $1,398 | $1,452 | $1,405 | $1,408 | $1,359 | $1,514 |
Moore County Schools | $1,759 | $1,880 | $1,880 | $3,007 | $3,300 | $3,346 | $3,595 | $3,756 | $3,756 | $3,807 | $3,535 | $3,335 | $3,197 | $3,144 | $3,378 | $3,657 |
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools | $1,622 | $1,669 | $1,713 | $1,695 | $1,740 | $2,283 | $2,545 | $2,597 | $2,587 | $2,603 | $2,430 | $2,444 | $2,463 | $2,542 | $3,612 | $3,927 |
New Hanover County Schools | $3,011 | $3,049 | $3,588 | $2,866 | $3,040 | $3,077 | $3,256 | $3,253 | $3,941 | $3,449 | $3,449 | $3,449 | $2,858 | $3,101 | $3,441 | $3,476 |
Northampton County Schools | $1,089 | $1,065 | $1,067 | $1,047 | $1,083 | $1,129 | $1,085 | $1,178 | $948 | $1,352 | $1,196 | $1,182 | $1,191 | $1,148 | $1,225 | $1,225 |
Onslow County Schools | $1,155 | $1,480 | $1,989 | $2,129 | $2,129 | $2,881 | $3,427 | $3,732 | $4,008 | $3,995 | $3,916 | $3,885 | $3,794 | $3,742 | $4,033 | $4,109 |
Orange County Schools | $3,264 | $4,156 | $2,775 | $4,040 | $4,623 | $5,297 | $4,240 | $5,163 | $5,630 | $4,996 | $5,030 | $5,001 | $4,964 | $4,881 | $5,197 | $5,200 |
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools | $5,480 | $5,520 | $7,122 | $5,755 | $5,903 | $6,080 | $6,580 | $6,456 | $6,650 | $6,650 | $5,922 | $6,072 | $6,441 | $6,441 | $6,892 | $6,315 |
Pamlico County Schools | $598 | $700 | $700 | $987 | $1,300 | $1,400 | $1,400 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,600 | $1,600 |
Pasquotank County Schools | $976 | $1,135 | $825 | $825 | $1,108 | $1,106 | $1,708 | $2,185 | $2,039 | $1,698 | $1,668 | $1,678 | $1,674 | $1,687 | $1,644 | $1,678 |
Pender County Schools | $2,104 | $2,119 | $2,121 | $2,110 | $2,140 | $2,232 | $2,317 | $2,701 | $2,308 | $2,439 | $2,796 | $2,203 | $2,416 | $2,381 | $2,771 | $2,791 |
Perquimans County Schools | $746 | $762 | $767 | $748 | $745 | $740 | $728 | $788 | $776 | $891 | $932 | $823 | $792 | $802 | $865 | $913 |
Person County Schools | $2,237 | $2,527 | $2,616 | $2,616 | $2,807 | $2,901 | $3,147 | $3,147 | $3,314 | $3,344 | $3,219 | $3,183 | $3,199 | $3,744 | $4,235 | $4,270 |
Pitt County Schools | $1,551 | $1,680 | $1,620 | $1,840 | $1,854 | $1,861 | $2,026 | $2,090 | $2,099 | $2,081 | $2,037 | $2,047 | $2,061 | $1,808 | $1,912 | $1,884 |
Polk County Schools | $1,622 | $1,700 | $1,883 | $1,883 | $1,748 | $1,817 | $1,842 | $1,958 | $2,232 | $2,312 | $2,355 | $2,381 | $2,381 | $2,409 | $2,661 | $2,721 |
Randolph County Schools | $553 | $1,792 | $1,739 | $1,363 | $1,847 | $1,815 | $1,638 | $2,081 | $2,130 | $2,092 | $2,736 | $2,833 | $2,772 | $2,645 | $2,657 | $2,670 |
Asheboro City Schools | $1,498 | $1,574 | $1,505 | $2,725 | $2,323 | $2,288 | $2,502 | $2,673 | $2,624 | $2,524 | $2,548 | $2,444 | $2,312 | $2,506 | $2,626 | $2,767 |
Richmond County Schools | $772 | $729 | $768 | $762 | $927 | $938 | $997 | $1,198 | $1,123 | $1,021 | $1,147 | $1,054 | $990 | $1,005 | $1,003 | $999 |
Robeson County Schools | $1,471 | $1,520 | $1,517 | $1,533 | $1,482 | $1,647 | $1,446 | $1,884 | $1,984 | $2,047 | $2,100 | $2,356 | $1,919 | $1,819 | $2,343 | $2,349 |
Rockingham County Schools | $1,566 | $1,891 | $1,872 | $1,915 | $1,933 | $1,930 | $2,032 | $2,117 | $2,161 | $2,140 | $2,121 | $2,088 | $2,076 | $2,043 | $2,145 | $2,301 |
Rowan-Salisbury Schools | $2,350 | $2,290 | $2,356 | $2,269 | $2,279 | $2,300 | $2,486 | $2,269 | $2,138 | $2,163 | $2,271 | $2,164 | $2,206 | $2,297 | $2,297 | $2,267 |
Rutherford County Schools | $565 | $600 | $600 | $600 | $600 | $700 | $800 | $900 | $900 | $1,000 | $1,100 | $1,100 | $1,100 | $1,100 | $1,100 | $1,100 |
Sampson County Schools | $713 | $700 | $750 | $1,750 | $2,879 | $2,508 | $2,498 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,535 | $2,648 | $2,648 | $3,126 | $3,126 | $2,785 | $3,080 |
Clinton City Schools | $1,886 | $1,614 | $2,101 | $2,235 | $3,500 | $4,188 | $3,641 | $4,164 | $4,294 | $4,163 | $4,006 | $3,784 | $4,269 | $4,010 | $4,512 | $4,045 |
Scotland County Schools | $926 | $1,282 | $1,326 | $1,326 | $1,284 | $1,926 | $1,942 | $1,912 | $2,052 | $1,922 | $1,918 | $1,838 | $1,926 | $1,998 | $1,906 | $1,961 |
Stanly County Schools | $1,819 | $1,816 | $1,823 | $1,862 | $1,855 | $1,862 | $1,836 | $1,824 | $1,851 | $1,849 | $1,853 | $1,954 | $1,950 | $1,872 | $1,897 | $1,913 |
Stokes County Schools | $1,079 | $1,092 | $1,101 | $1,092 | $1,296 | $1,469 | $1,588 | $1,661 | $1,683 | $1,673 | $1,626 | $1,627 | $1,624 | $1,613 | $1,664 | $1,593 |
Surry County Schools | $1,055 | $1,053 | $1,054 | $1,026 | $972 | $1,000 | $1,078 | $1,197 | $1,200 | $1,122 | $1,158 | $1,243 | $1,284 | $1,256 | $1,216 | $1,258 |
Elkin City Schools | $1,303 | $1,993 | $1,885 | $1,882 | $1,865 | $1,846 | $2,003 | $2,152 | $2,072 | $2,000 | $2,691 | $3,237 | $2,229 | $2,100 | $2,667 | $2,238 |
Mount Airy City Schools | $1,413 | $1,494 | $1,508 | $1,523 | $1,473 | $1,498 | $1,498 | $1,493 | $1,499 | $1,531 | $1,581 | $1,590 | $1,589 | $1,594 | $1,474 | $1,452 |
Swain County Schools | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,500 | $3,167 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $2,000 | $0 | $0 |
Transylvania County Schools | $1,489 | $1,729 | $1,838 | $2,034 | $2,054 | $2,234 | $2,741 | $3,123 | $3,212 | $3,152 | $3,140 | $3,098 | $3,213 | $3,220 | $3,699 | $3,507 |
Tyrrell County Schools | $800 | $800 | $800 | $800 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $990 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Union County Schools | $1,804 | $1,802 | $2,216 | $2,429 | $2,380 | $2,635 | $2,677 | $2,722 | $2,785 | $2,695 | $2,677 | $2,539 | $2,989 | $3,065 | $3,516 | $3,953 |
Vance County Schools | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,218 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,540 | $2,537 | $2,500 | $2,498 | $2,530 | $2,512 | $2,474 | $2,468 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
Wake County Schools | $4,642 | $5,040 | $5,055 | $5,283 | $5,292 | $5,287 | $5,859 | $6,115 | $6,049 | $6,173 | $6,031 | $5,930 | $6,318 | $6,204 | $5,994 | $6,975 |
Warren County Schools | $1,404 | $1,525 | $1,737 | $1,787 | $1,888 | $1,712 | $1,663 | $1,663 | $1,931 | $1,931 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $633 | $950 | $1,900 |
Washington County Schools | $450 | $453 | $0 | $0 | $444 | $458 | $448 | $434 | $460 | $457 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $661 | $600 |
Watauga County Schools | $1,045 | $1,081 | $1,081 | $1,370 | $1,562 | $1,753 | $1,956 | $2,155 | $2,355 | $2,355 | $2,355 | $2,355 | $2,355 | $2,355 | $2,355 | $2,355 |
Wayne County Schools | $1,267 | $1,292 | $1,279 | $1,275 | $1,833 | $2,744 | $2,605 | $1,106 | $2,774 | $1,373 | $2,627 | $2,609 | $2,543 | $2,607 | $2,817 | $2,715 |
Wilkes County Schools | $1,827 | $1,991 | $1,880 | $1,941 | $1,943 | $1,950 | $2,035 | $2,165 | $2,224 | $2,042 | $2,100 | $2,195 | $2,149 | $2,151 | $2,138 | $2,173 |
Wilson County Schools | $1,861 | $2,029 | $2,040 | $2,030 | $2,451 | $2,799 | $2,695 | $2,818 | $2,844 | $2,855 | $2,402 | $2,444 | $3,154 | $3,466 | $3,461 | $3,453 |
Yadkin County Schools | $1,302 | $1,309 | $1,309 | $1,349 | $1,780 | $1,834 | $1,977 | $2,017 | $2,009 | $1,992 | $2,366 | $2,366 | $2,515 | $2,925 | $2,424 | $2,423 |
Yancey County Schools | $225 | $225 | $225 | $225 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $334 | $334 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $300 | $300 |
Edgecombe's superintendent says increasing teacher pay has been one of his top priorities. With help from county commissioners, teachers' supplemental pay in the county has risen from 4 percent to 7 percent in the past two years.
"We wanted to get 10 percent, but we'll take 7," Farrelly said. "The supplement is certainly part of the solution (to teacher turnover) because there's no question that there's a financial aspect of teachers making decisions about where they want to go."
Source: N.C. Department of Public Instruction
Can West be the best again?
Teacher pay hasn't swayed Jalene Bullock. She has taught at West Edgecombe Middle School since 2003 and has no plans to leave.
"Why have I stayed?" Bullock says. She points in the direction of her house. She lives nearby.
"This is my home. My parents are here, so I just want to be close to them," she said. "You just have to tough it out. It's like I say, principals come and go, preachers come and go. You stay with your church. You stay with your school."
Bullock grew up in Edgecombe County and has seen West Edgecombe Middle through good and bad times. In her 13 years with the school, she has worked for nearly half a dozen principals. She has watched the school's test scores slide and students' bad behaviors escalate. She has also seen many coworkers come and go.
"There's no consistency, and that hurts the kids. I don't know how many band teachers they've had. I don't know how many art teachers they've had," Bullock said.
"When I first came here, West Edgecombe was referred to as the flagship of the middle schools of the county, which meant they were the best," she said. "We want to get back to hearing that again. We use that term, 'West is the best,' and I want it to be true."
Principal Archer hopes to make that come true. West Edgecombe's teachers appear to be more satisfied with the school this year than they were two years ago, according to the state's latest Teacher Working Conditions survey, which is given every two years.
West Edgecombe Teacher Working Conditions survey

Survey statements | 2014 % agree | 2016 % agree |
---|---|---|
Students follow rules of conduct | 42.3% | 80.8% |
School administrators consistently enforce rules for student conduct | 58.3% | 88.5% |
School administrators support teachers' efforts to maintain discipline | 62.5% | 92.3% |
The faculty work in an environment that is safe | 76.0% | 96.2% |
There's an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect between school leadership and teachers | 56.0% | 80.8% |
Teachers feel comfortable raising issues & concerns that are important to them | 62.5% | 84.6% |
"If it ever gets back to me as an administrator that I lost staff members because I was not supporting them, I did not allow them to grow and have a voice, then as an administrator, I'm not doing my job," Archer said. "Because it's my job to keep this staff. It's my job to make sure that they're happy."
It's that kind of leadership that's going to make a difference for West Edgecombe, the superintendent says.
"Mr. Archer is the perfect example of a high-quality administrator. He's come in in a very short amount of time, and he really turned the school culture around dramatically," Farrelly said. "(He's) demonstrating that dreams can come true and that turnaround can happen."
The big test for Archer is how many teachers return when school starts on Monday. Has he managed to keep most of his staff from last year?
Yes, Archer says. At last check, 95 percent of the teachers are coming back.
"I won't leave them, and I honestly believe that they won't leave me, simply because of what we're building," Archer said. "I love the staff that I have."
Triangle Area Special Offers
-
NC WantedDurham Most Wanted
-
WeatherYour pics: Light snowfall northwest of Triangle
-
WRAL TVRemembering Sky 5 pilot Steve Wiley
-
OpinionDRAUGHON DRAWS: Editorial Cartoons from CBC Opinion
-
WeatherIce accumulating on surfaces north of Triangle
-
EntertainmentLady Gaga's dogs recovered safely after theft, shooting
-
Political NewsHere's what you can expect to get from the $1.9 trillion House stimulus
-
Local NewsWake residents demand neighborhood management stop towing their cars
-
Lottery ResultsEvening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5
-
WeatherWRAL WeatherCenter Forecast
-
OpinionPOINT OF VIEW: Death, Through a Nurse's Eyes
-
Local NewsOnly on WRAL: Col. Glenn McNeill Jr. speaks about retiring from NC Highway Patrol
-
Political NewsHere's what you can expect to get from the $1.9 trillion House stimulus
-
Local NewsWhy your water might taste like a swimming pool in the coming weeks
-
Highschool OTLocal high school scores & schedules
-
Local NewsRaleigh homeowner shares her horror after crane crashes through roof
-
EntertainmentFilm about Black Rocky Mount brewer featured in Sundance Film Festival
-
Local NewsHarnett County doctor 'honored' to vaccinate daughter in heartfelt moment
-
Health TeamAmid COVID-19 pandemic, flu has disappeared in the US
-
Local NewsYour Voice: Is the move to roll back pandemic restrictions happening too soon?
-
Local NewsLocations, phone numbers to get your COVID shot in central NC
-
RootShare the Love: Share Your Video
-
WRAL TVWRAL streaming TV apps get a fresh, intuitive design
-
WRAL TVNHL Outdoor and NASCAR not available to DISH subscribers
-
Lottery ResultsEvening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5
-
WeatherWRAL WeatherCenter Forecast
-
OpinionPOINT OF VIEW: Death, Through a Nurse's Eyes
-
National NewsScandal continues for mom who sold photos online
-
National NewsPrincipal cuts student's hair in viral photo
-
Lottery ResultsDaytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing
-
NewsWRAL Late News