Schools in Wake, Durham, Cumberland among 69 struggling schools state is considering taking over

The schools are being considered for inclusion in the state's Innovative School District, a program started in 2016 with the goal of taking struggling schools from across the state and handing them over to outside groups, such as charter school operators, in an effort to improve their academic performance.

On Thursday, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released a list of 69 schools that qualify for consideration based on their poor academic performance. (See full list below.) Forsyth County had the most schools on the list – eight – followed by Guilford and Nash-Rocky Mount schools – seven each – and Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Robeson County schools – five each.

Two schools in Wake County – Bugg and Barwell Road elementary schools – two in Durham – C C Spaulding and Fayetteville Street elementary schools – and one in Cumberland County – Teresa C Berrien Elementary School – also made the list.

Schools that remain on the list for four consecutive years without showing enough improvement may be taken over by the state.

In a statement Friday, Durham Public Schools' Superintendent Pascal Mubenga said the district "has demonstrated a track record of decisive action in improving our schools, with a sharp decrease in our number of schools labeled ‘low-performing’ by the state."

"Our Restart model is revitalizing the schools previously targeted for a state takeover, with Lakewood Elementary in particular having had dramatic improvement. There is no need for the state to consider taking over any DPS school; we are showing that we take care of our own," Mubenga wrote.

Only one school has been placed in the ISD so far – Southside-Ashpole Elementary School in Robeson County. The school has shown little change since being taken over by the ISD a year ago, earning an F grade overall in 2018-19 and not meeting academic growth expectations. Other North Carolina public schools considered for the ISD have fought the state's takeover, preferring to stay under the control of their local school districts.

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In year one, schools are placed on a qualifying list, and the local school board and superintendent are be notified. If the school still qualified in year two, it would be put on a watch list. Following that, the local school board would hold a public hearing with parents and employees to explain the impact of being put on the watch list and improvement plans for the school.

If the school still qualified in year three, it would be put on a warning list. Another public hearing would be held, and the school board would have to present to the county commissioners about the school’s status.

If the school still qualified after the third year and was one of the lowest five qualifying schools in the state, it would be selected by the State Board of Education to join the ISD.