Moving to a new area is one of the most stressful things you will do in your life. If you have children to consider, it makes for even more worry. When choosing a place to live, one of the most important aspects to consider is where your children will attend school.
Johnston County and Southern Wake County have a lot to offer on the educational landscape. From elementary school to high school, all the way up to Johnston Community College and the abundant university campuses, you can’t go wrong with the innovative programs being offered in this area.
Johnston Community College
Johnston Community College (JCC) was founded in 1969 and has been accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1977. It is a two-year, public college located in Smithfield. It awards associates degrees, certificates and diplomas to students interested in occupational, technical and continuing education.
JCC ranks 16th among the 58 colleges in the North Carolina Community College System. JCC has several off-campus centers, including the Cleveland Center, the Workforce Development Center and the Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center, which is a 2,800-acre wildlife preserve.
The top five fields of study at JCC based on popularity are Truck and Bus Driver, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Office Management Supervision, Electrician and Food Service Systems Administration. Student clubs at JCC are based on an interest in Cosmetology, Advertising and Graphic Design, and Greenhouse and Grounds Maintenance.
Johnston Community College also boasts a Child Development Center that opened in 1998 and is NAEYC accredited and carries a North Carolina five-star rating. It is an instructional preschool that works along with the Early Childhood Curriculum Program at the college. Another unique offering at JCC is the North Carolina Motorcycle Safety Education Program, which offers two courses: the Basic Riders Course and the Experienced Riders Course.
There is also the Small Business Center, which is located at the Workforce Development Center in Clayton. The Small Business Center’s mission is “to support the entrepreneur in starting a business and to provide assistance to business owners in being more successful.” The Small Business Center at JCC offers training, counseling and information services to the small business owners in the community at little to no charge and works in conjunction with the local chambers of commerce.
The community college provides students the opportunity for life-long educational pursuits and works to meet the needs of the area’s population. JCC strives to prepare graduates to succeed in regional and global communities.
“At Johnston Community College, we value our open-door policy and commitment to serving all students,” said Traci D. Ashley, media relations and public information officer at Johnston Community College. “For more than 40 years, JCC has provided affordable, convenient, and high-quality technical education while also serving as the first step for many students earning an advanced degree from a four-year college or university.
“Enrollment in our curriculum and community development and lifelong learning programs is growing by leaps and bounds, and we look forward to new opportunities and success as we strive to be a leader in education and in our community.”
For students interested in attending a four-year college, there are several to choose from. Located in and around the Johnston/Southern Wake County area are Peace College, Shaw University, St. Augustine's College, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina, Meredith College, as well as Duke University, which is a short drive away in Durham County.
The colleges and universities in the area offer a variety of degrees and majors, but what if you children are younger? What about the elementary, middle and high schools in the area? Not to worry, Johnston County and South Wake County have much to offer the younger generation as well.
Wake County Public Schools
Wake County Public Schools (WCPS) is the largest public school system in North Carolina with 163 schools, four of which opened in the 2010-2011 school year. WCPS includes Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wendell, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Morrisville and Zebulon. It is the 18th largest public school system in the country. Wake County incorporates traditional schools with year round schools, magnet schools and charter schools.
Currently 33 of the 156 schools in Wake County are magnet schools. Students who choose to attend magnet schools are placed in a modified lottery system. The lottery takes into account overcrowding in base schools as well as diversity of the student body and prior magnet status of a student. Rising Kindergarteners with siblings already in place in a magnet school are given priority placement so as to keep families together at the same school.
Some of the magnet schools in Wake County include Gifted and Talented, Academically Gifted, Active Learning and Technology, Creative Arts and Science, International Baccalaureate, International Studies, Montessori, Leadership Magnet and Museums Magnet. If a traditional school or a magnet program doesn’t fit into your education plan for your child, another choice is a charter school.
Charter schools are also public schools, funded by the government, but are not governed by the board of education. In a charter school setting, parents have more control over their child’s education and in some cases are also expected to put in a certain number of hours volunteering.
Wake County’s charter schools range from the Montessori-style Sterling School in Morrisville to the more traditional Magellan Charter School in Raleigh for high achieving 4th through 8th graders and everything in between. Some charter schools run on a traditional calendar, but some choose to run on a modified year-round calendar.
Forty-nine of the schools in Wake County are on multi-track year round schedules. Year-round schools traditionally function on a four-track system, with three of the tracks in attendance at one time and the fourth break. A nine-week on, three-week off schedule is followed. For many working parents, the concern of year round schools is where their child will be during a break.
There are many “track-out” camps offered around the area from the local YMCAs to private industry offerings. One advantage of this schedule for parents is the ability to take vacations at non-traditional times, lowering the cost of travel. If a student’s base school is a year round school and the parent does not wish for their child to attend on this schedule, the parent can opt for an alternate traditional school for their child.
For students entering Wake County, a good source of information can be found at www.wcpss.net/newcomer. Depending on where you settle in, Wake County Schools is not your only choice. Johnston County Schools are right around the corner with a lot to offer parents looking for the right educational atmosphere for their children.
Johnston County Schools
Johnston County Schools ranks in the top 50 school districts for the number of Nationally Board Certified teachers. The system also ranks in the top 20 percent of North Carolina districts for student achievement and are the second fastest growing school district in North Carolina.
Boasting 44 schools, including a center for academically gifted elementary school students, an Early College Academy and a Middle College High School, Johnston County Schools looks toward the future as a globally aware district.
It strives to provide students with opportunities to connect across the globe with such activities as a pen pal program reaching out to students in Tanzania, Japan, China and India. The system also provides a culturally aware environment for their students. The district is home to a diverse population speaking over 40 different languages. To embrace this diversity, the district engages students in such activities as “Global Fact of the Day,” “World Art/Music Events,” and “Holidays Around the World.”
Johnston County Schools’ mission statement is: “Johnston County Schools will foster a flame for learning within each child that will last a lifetime. To achieve this mission, we will improve continually our services of education and meet our community’s requirements for quality.”
To this end, the district offers many alternatives to the traditional educational atmosphere. The Academically Gifted Center for elementary students offers special options to support the unique strengths of its students. Such options in the curriculum include offering courses such as Composition, Literature and Culture, Computer Technology, Global Awareness, and Lego Technology.
All of the teachers at the Academically Gifted Center are Academically Intellectually Gifted Certified and trained in Quality Teaching and Learning Techniques. Students who qualify to attend the center attend one day per week and are provided with transportation to and from the center. If your child is in secondary school there are several choices to consider, such as the Early College Academy and the Middle College High School.
Johnston County’s Early College Academy is collaboration between Johnston County Schools and Johnston Community College. According to the Johnston County Schools Web site, Early College Academy is “funded by a grant through the N.C. New Schools Project and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, JCECA is a five-year school where graduates will receive a high school diploma and a two year Associates Degree in College Transfer from Johnston Community College.”
Several components of the Early College combine to create an atmosphere in which students can achieve success: the smaller class sizes, the later beginning to the school day and the location on the campus of the community college. In order to attend the Early College, students must aspire to higher achievement and have the ambition and the ability to commit to a higher level of learning.
Johnston County’s Middle College High School is also a partnership between Johnston Community College and Johnston County Schools. This program enables students in grades 10-12 to take college level courses and earn college credit while completing their high school curriculum. In order to attend Middle College High, students must complete an application, be contacted for an interview and be able to provide their own transportation.
Aside from the public school systems, there are also several private schools in the area from which to choose.
Wake Christian Academy
Wake Christian Academy was established in 1966 and is a Biblically-based, Christ-centered Christian Day School. The school serves students from Kindergarten through the 12th grade.
Parents who wish for their child to attend Wake Christian Academy must complete an application process, which will include their child’s previous school performance, personal references and personal interviews. Teachers and administrators will determine final acceptance. All faculty and staff members at Wake Christian must be Christian and members of a local Bible-believing Church as well as qualified in their teaching areas.
The philosophy of Wake Christian Academy is: “Scripture teaches that the human being is body, soul and spirit. Christian education addresses these needs: mental, emotional, and spiritual. The mission of Christian education is to provide the religious backdrop that reinforces values, theology, and guidance being taught at home. The goal is to disciple as well as to educate our children.” Wake Christian Academy is a member of the North Carolina Christian School Association. Parents interested in Wake Christian Academy can find more information at www.wakechristianacademy.com.
Along with Wake Christian Academy, other private schools in the area include, but are not limited to: Academy of Hope in Clayton, Hilltop Christian in Fuquay Varina, Heritage Christian in Zebulon, and St. Mary’s, Grace Christian, and St. David’s, all in Raleigh.
For more on this story, click here to order our magazine.