From Dr. Hartness...

As we reflect on our lives, there are always highs and lows. As I work with our staff and students, I hear of success and tragedy on a daily basis. It excites me to hear about the birth of a child in the family of one of our staff, and saddens me to hear about the loss of a family member. I am thrilled to hear about one of our students being honored with an award, or accepted into the college of their choice. It breaks my heart to hear about personal tragedy or family situations that add tremendous stress to the life of a child. Life is filled with highs and lows, and as a school family, we celebrate in times of success and support each other in times of tragedy. That is just like your family works! Over the past several months, I have seen another set of highs and lows; ones that are all positive, and all excite me about our future as a community.

The Highs

Did you know that Davie County Schools had the highest SAT scores among any of our neighboring school districts, and ranked 11th highest out of 115 school districts in NC?  

Did you know that the 2011-12 Cohort Graduation rate for Davie County Schools was 83.2%, the highest recorded since first tracking this rate in 2005-06?

Did you know that Mocksville and Cornatzer Elementary Schools were recently recognized as Reward Schools? These elementary schools are two of the highest performing Title One schools in the state!

The Lows

Did you know that our number of dropouts is lower this year than last?

We just completed our preliminary count of dropouts from last school year (the number of students who were enrolled last school year, but not enrolled by the 20th day of school this year, and not verified as a transfer to another school.) In 2010-11, there were 81 students who dropped out of school; in 2011-12, 69 students dropped out, a 15% decrease in drop outs. That is great news, but we are not satisfied, and will continue to strive to have all of our students graduating and prepared to continue their education, or be successful in the workforce.

Did you know that the unemployment rate in Davie County is the lowest in the region? This chart was published in the Winston Salem Journal last week.

http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2012/sep/28/8/triads-jobless-rate-drops-to-98-percent-ar-2647236/

Education is an important part of economic development. I am not suggesting a cause and effect relationship between the highest SAT scores and the lowest unemployment rate in the region, but I do find the correlation interesting. These data lead me to believe we have a bright future in Davie County.

We must continue to reform and refine our school district, but we should be proud of the return on investment our citizens are receiving from the fine public education system in Davie County.

Student Enrollment Changes in 2012-13 

On the 20th day of school, there were 6482 students enrolled in Davie County Schools. From 2011-12 to 2012-13, enrollment in grades K-5 and 6-8 each declined less than 1% from last school year, and grades 9-12 increased by 49 students or 2.6%. Total enrollment increased by 12 students from 2011-12.

20th Day Enrollment Summary