Burke County Education
Burke County Public Schools (BCPS)
The mission of Burke County Public Schools (BCPS) is to provide opportunities for its fourteen thousand students to acquire the knowledge and attitudes that will enable them to function successfully as responsible citizens and to choose careers commensurate with their interests, needs, and abilities. The Burke County Public School System is committed to excellence and through the dedication of an elected seven-member board, the superintendent and teamwork of the associate superintendents, directors, faculty and staff members, superiority is present at all the system’s 27 schools.
Symbolizing Burke County’s dedication to furthering education is the new community foundation program that guarantees every high school graduate two years free education at Western Piedmont Community College. Another sign of the high priority given to education in the county is the planned opening of two new high schools (Patton High School in Fall 2007 and Draughn High School in Fall 2008) to improve the quality of learning by reducing the sizes of student bodies elsewhere. New auxiliary gyms are slated for existing high schools and the school system has built a state-of-the-art culinary arts center to offer training to students interested in food service careers.
The schools in the system are united in their effort to offer students the best education from the pre-kindergarten years to high school. The nationally recognized school system is an integral part of the community as is shown by the dramatic results of bold innovation and leadership development.
Burke County began a pioneering project thirteen years ago to reduce class sizes to fifteen students per teacher in the early grades. The class size reduction program resulted from close cooperation between the school board and the community and benefited from local, state, and national funding. David Burleson, Public Schools Superintendent, said, “The best thing to come out of all this is that students are treated as individuals.” The change brought more focus on individual student needs, especially at-risk pupils who particularly benefit from smaller classes. Burke County’s schools are also keeping pace with national trends such as meeting the influx of students speaking English as a second language and meeting the requirements of the No Child Left Behind program.
The Burke County Public School System’s strong comprehensive programs include preschool community mobile classrooms, utilization of prioritized curriculum and standard course of study, work and career based learning, sports and extra curricular activities to build leadership and good citizenry. The overall school system is dedicated to small learning communities, the development of lifelong learning, strong technology programs, differentiated instruction and high expectations. Academically gifted programs are creative and available. With ten million dollars in grant resources and a devotion to teaching, it is not surprising that the BCPS system boasts consistent and continual improvement scores.
North Carolina School for the Deaf
The North Carolina School for the Deaf is a day/residential facility for the education of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Established in 1894 on a beautiful 160 acre campus in Morganton, the school’s mission is to offer “education opportunities for eligible students ages birth to 21 and their families so that students can develop the skills necessary to lead productive lives.”
The New Dimensions School
Burke County’s only public charter school, the New Dimensions School, is a small, tuition free school founded on the concept of individual growth through strong partnership between students, teachers, homes and community. Here, children in kindergarten through fifth grade engage in self-directed, often highly creative activity intended to foster this personal growth. The core values of the school emphasize the emergence of latent talents in each child by exploring new frontiers in learning, by learning through doing, and by
striving for competence wherever challenges arise. Academic excellence blossoms from the nutrient culture of student’s interests and abilities, nurtured by this special learning environment.
Private Educational Opportunities
Morganton Day School
A private co-ed elementary school based on a philosophy of “experiential, holistic education,” Morganton Day School emphasizes social awareness (through community service) as well as a stimulating educational environment. Founded by four families in 1978, MDS engages students through an integrated curriculum that includes the NC Standard Course of Study as well as outside resources. The school creates life-long learners able to integrate the lessons of the classroom with real-life challenges.
Morganton Christian Academy
A Bible-based curriculum and intensive one-on-one learning are the educational values offered by this private, Pre-K through 12 academy. Youth programs and athletics round out the faith-directed program here.
Silver Creek Adventist School
As part of the faith-based Seventh Day Adventist educational system, the Silver Creek School is dedicated to “spiritual nurture and educational excellence.” The 1-12 grade curriculum holds Christ and the Scriptures as its core values.
Western Piedmont Community College
With annual enrollments surpassing 13,000, WPCC is the seat of higher education in Burke County, whose motto is “Where Learning is a Lifestyle.” Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offering associate degrees, the four academic divisions at WPCC consist of: Business Technologies, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Engineering. The college’s Law Enforcement Training program is another major focus of enrollment as is WPCC’s various occupational training and small business courses leading to licensure and certification. Lifelong learning programs such as adult basic education attract many retirees from the local community. The college is a thriving and rapidly expanding part of Burke County, a vital contributor to both businesses and state agencies located here.
Phifer Learning Resource Center
This bright, open, 46,000 square foot library located on the main campus has an online catalog, offers support to distance learning, and contains classrooms, conference center, and audiovisual facilities as well as a large circulating collection. The PLRS maintains an online “Ask a Librarian” reference service and multiple computer stations for Internet access.
Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr. Library
Located on the main floor of the Phifer Learning Resource Center, the Senator Sam Library houses 7,500 items of books, papers, furniture, and personal memorabilia of the late senator, renowned as the Chairman of the Watergate Investigation Committee and astute political observer.
COMMUNITY LEARNING RESOURCE CENTERS
The Burke County Public Library system is the community’s free source of information services in formats ranging from books and periodicals to the latest electronic technology.
Through its libraries in Morganton, Valdese and Hildebran the county library system keeps its members in touch with their community and the world. With its mission of meeting its user’s “informational, educational, and recreational needs,” the library offers adult, young adult and children’s programs throughout the year. As a case in point, take the adult summer reading program called “Kick Back and Read.” The library also schedules speakers and book signings on a regular basis, free and open to all.
North Carolina Room
The rich history of Burke Country and Western North Carolina is preserved among the many books, periodicals, microfilmed newspapers, family genealogies and other media maintained in this special room of the Burke County Public Library. Here, researchers perform much of the groundwork for new books and articles, for family research and other ventures. Whether the subject be aspects of mountain life in colonial times or statistics on furniture production, the NC Room is a “must visit” trove of information. d
SCHOOLS
Burke County Public Elementary Schools (K-5)
Chesterfield Elementary School...............................(828) 437-3026
Drexel Primary School ................................................(828) 437-3160
Forest Hill Elementary School ..................................(828) 437-5906
George Hildebrand Elementary School .................(828) 879-9595
Glen Alpine Elementary School ...............................(828) 584-0661
Hallyburton Elementary School ...............................(828) 437-4184
Hildebran Elementary School ..................................(828) 397-3181
Hillcrest Elementary School ......................................(828) 437-4258
Icard Elementary School ............................................(828) 397-3491
Mountain View Elementary School ..........................(828) 437-1584
Mull Elementary School .............................................(828) 437-5785
Oak Hill Elementary School .......................................(828) 433-1533
Ray Childers Elementary School .............................(828) 324-1340
Rutherford College Elementary School ..................(828) 879-8870
Salem Elementary School .........................................(828) 437-5901
Valdese Elementary School ......................................(828) 874-0704
W. A. Young Elementary School ...............................(828) 584-0632
Burke County Public Middle Schools (6-8)
East Burke Middle School .........................................(828) 397-7446
Heritage Middle School .............................................(828) 874-0731
Liberty Middle School .................................................(828) 437-1330
Table Rock Middle School ........................................(828) 437-5212
Walter R. Johnson Middle School ...........................(828) 430-7340
Burke County Public High Schools (9-12)
East Burke High School ............................................(828) 397-5541
Freedom High School ................................................(828) 433-1310
Patton High School to open in 2007
Draughn High School to open in 2008
Burke County Public Alternative Schools (7-12)
Burke Alternative School East ..................................(828) 397-6175
Burke Alternative School West .................................(828) 433-1113
Burke County Public Special Needs School (K-12)
North Liberty School ...................................................(828) 437-9656
Burke Middle College at WPCC ...............................(828) 430-7100
New Dimensions (Charter) School (K-5) ................(828) 437-5753
Private Schools
Morganton Christian Academy (Pre-K-12) .............(828) 437-1897
Morganton Day School (K-8) ....................................(828) 437-6782
Silver Creek Adventist School (1-12) ......................(828) 584-3010
North Carolina School for the Deaf ..........................(828) 432-5200
Broughton Hospital-Enola School ............................(828) 433-2302
Western Piedmont Community College...................(828) 438-6000
Burke County Public Special Needs School (k-12)
North Liberty School ...................................................(828) 437-9656
Middle College
Burke Middle College at WPCC ...............................(828) 430-7100
Community College
Western Piedmont Community College ..................(828) 437-5753
Burke County Charter School
New Dimensions (Charter) School (K-5) ................(828) 437-5753
Private Schools
Morganton Christian Academy (Pre-K-12) .............(828) 437-1897
Morganton Day School (K-8) .....................................(828) 437-6782
Silver Creek Adventist School (1-12) ......................(828) 584-3010
State School for the Deaf
North Carolina School for the Deaf .........................(828) 432-5200
State Institution School
Broughton Hospital - Enola School .........................(828) 433-2302
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