Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
|
Invited by N.C. Rep. Julia Howard of Mocksville, the group heard principal Andre Smith describe how his academy had lowered drop-out rates at the 2,000-student school.
Student test scores at Wake Forest-Rolesville outpace Davie.
Andrew Markoch, administrator of the academy, said the school motivates students.
“They are getting so much push from the teachers they feel like it’s nagging. They are going to pass courses just to get rid of us - and that’s fine,” he said. “We are a lot more nurturing at the 9th grade academy than we are at 10, 11, 12.”
Howard said she believes in the 9th grade academy concept and wanted to help jump-start a solution for Davie’s deadlock about the high school. She recommended the school system request a survey of the school’s facilities by the N.C. Department of Education, a service it offers free of charge. She said she hoped the General Assembly would include grant money in legislation this session that would benefit Davie.
The Wake Forest-Rolesville leaders didn’t make a recommendation for Davie, but they said the 9th grade academy had worked for them.
Smith said the school was working toward a 90 percent graduation rate.
Signs posted in the school read: “Failure is not an option.”
“If we tell them failure is not an option, we have to prove it every day,” said Smith. Students with failing grades must attend mandatory study hall. They are also placed on a “Do Not Admit” list and can’t attend dances, get a parking space or play sports.
“They fear it,” Markoch said. Those on the list scrambled to qualify for a recent dance.
“It was fantastic to watch - a thing of beauty,” he said.
Wake Forest-Rolesville High is on the old campus of Wake Forest ... subscribe to the Davie County Enterprise Record, P.O. Box 99, Mocksville, N.C. 27028.