Education Information
The Burke County School system works closely with the
Burke County Chamber of Commerce, Western Piedmont Community College,
non-profit organizations and the faith based community in a partnership
that brings all community resources together for the benefit of its
children. The system provides a “seamless education” from
pre-kindergarten through high school grades and beyond. Because of Burke
County’s strong education system, it continues to be an education and
economic leader in the state, and furthers its legacy of offering
quality services to its citizens.
Successful education is a top priority at each of the 28 (soon to be 30)
schools in the public school system. Two new high schools will open in
2007 and 2008. The District provides first-rate educational
opportunities for each student, challenging programs, safe campuses and
friendly, direct and respectful interaction for it 15,000 students. The
BCPS system is committed to furthering education by providing students
with the tools they; need to harness the power of learning for success
in Burke County as well as the global marketplace.
The Burke County Public School system was recently awarded national
first place honors for a pre-kindergarten program. Numerous state awards
have been received for career and economic development, reading,
leadership and excellence awards at the state level, and nationally
published articles highlighting the school system’s achievements.
The school system is equally proud of its reduced class size in grades
K-3, its in-school smaller learning communities, its progressive
programming to meet each student’s needs, its test scores and its new
construction and facility improvements.
There is a brand new educational opportunity in Burke
County called Burke Middle College. It is funded by a federal grant.
Burke Middle College opened in the fall of 2006 with
a student body of approximately 50 rising high school juniors. The
students are enrolled in core academic courses that will meet high
school graduation requirements. In addition, the students will be dually
enrolled in college courses for which they will receive both high school
and college credit. The class size will be small, permitting students to
receive more individual attention and create supportive relationships
with teachers. Burke Middle College is located on the campus of Western
Piedmont Community College and follows the yearly calendar of Western
Piedmont Community College. Students have access to college resources
and other educational experiences.
The Burke Middle College student is an academically
capable individual who will be more successful in a non-traditional high
school setting. The student must possess maturity, independence, and
self-discipline in order to meet the challenges of this innovative
program.
The Burke County Chamber of Commerce assists the
school system with recruiting teachers. Volunteers and staff members
assist at the Annual Teacher Job Fair to help teachers find housing in
the community and to answer any and all questions regarding employment
for spouses, recreational opportunities, special services needed and
making them feel welcome in their new location.
To help teachers attain their requirements for continuing education
credits, the Chamber sponsors an all expense paid weeklong leadership
training program to help teachers gain knowledge of community resources
and build confidence in themselves as they participate in team building
and problem solving exercises.
Two Year Scholarships
The Burke County Alliance, a 50l(C)(3) non-profit corporation to
support and encourage public education in Burke County, has launched an
ambitious campaign to generate a community scholarship endowment fund.
It is the goal of the Burke Alliance to generate sufficient funding in
order to provide every Burke County high school graduate the opportunity
to attend Western Piedmont Community College and earn a college degree
The New
Dimensions School
The New Dimensions School is Burke County’s only public charter
school. It is a small tuition-free school that serves children in
kindergarten through fifth grades. The mission of NDS is to create
learning environments that support students’ interests, talents and
abilities as the building blocks for academic achievement. The New
Dimensions School is located at 501 East Concord Street near downtown
Morganton For information, call 828-437-5753.
Morganton
Day School
Morganton Day School is an independent, non-sectarian, coeducational
day school that has exemplified excellence in education for over 25
years. Serving grades K-8, students of different faiths and heritages
are welcomed. MDS seeks to maintain a relaxed, small school atmosphere
and a challenging academic environment so each student can succeed
academically, physically and socially. Students have consistently scored
at or above the 90th percentile on the California Achievement Test and a
high percentage of students have been selected for the Duke TIP program.
For more information, call 828-437-6782
Morganton Christian Academy
Serving Pre-K thru 12, Morganton Christian Academy offers
one-on-one, high quality Bible-based curriculum. For more information,
call 828-437-1897.
Silver Creek Adventist School
Serving grades 1 – 8, Silver Creek Adventist School offers small
teacher to student ratios in order to provide a more individualized
teaching program.
North Carolina School
for the Deaf
The North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD), established in 1894
is a day/residential facility for the education of children who are deaf
and hard of hearing. It is located on a beautiful and historic 160 acre
campus in Morganton. The School Director of the facility is Dr, Linda
Lindsey
The North Carolina School for the Deaf is dually
accredited by the Conference of Educational Administrators Serving the
Deaf (CEASD): an organization of executive heads of educational programs
for deaf or hard of hearing students in the United States and Canada
(and) by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS): a
regional committee under the National Study of Schools
NCSD is under the jurisdiction of The Office of
Education Services (OES) Organizationally, the school functions under
the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Western Piedmont Community
College
Chartered in 1964, Western Piedmont Community College supports
annual enrollments of more than 14,000, and is accredited by the
commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of College and
Schools to award the associate degree.
The College has revised its Master Campus Plan and has undertaken a
series of bold expansion plans. The most recent addition is a 25,000
square foot continuing education facility that was recently named the
Jim A. Richardson Campus. Previous additions include a 42,000 square
foot Business Technologies Center and a 46,000 square foot Phifer
Learning Resources Center which contains a library, conference rooms,
drama studio, audio visuals center, faculty offices and classrooms.
Adult education opportunities are available through Western Piedmont
Community College. The college offers classes for senior citizens 55
years and older. The cost of each class is $25 for individuals 55-64
years of age. Individuals 65 and over are exempt from fees.
Hickory Metro Higher
Ed Center (HMHEC)
The Hickory Metro Higher Ed Center is a collaborative partnership
among Appalachian State University, Catawba Valley Community College,
Lenoir-Rhyne College, Northwest AHEC, UNC Charlotte, UNC Chapel Hill,
and Western Carolina University. The mission of the HMHEC is to support
and enhance the educational attainment and economic development of the
region by offering a broad range of programming in targeted areas of
study as needed and requested by the community.
Higher Education
Four-year degree programs are offered in Burke County by
Gardner-Webb University, Appalachian State University, Lees-McRae
College, and Western Carolina University offers classroom programs at
Old Rock School in Valdese and on line programs are also available.
Degrees in Business Administration, Criminal Justice and Human Services
are offered in the classroom. On line programs include Accounting,
Computer Information Systems and Health Management.
Gardner-Webb
University
Contact information: 1-800-288-GOAL
Classes held at Old Rock School in Valdese:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration
Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice
Bachelor’s degree in Human Services
On Line programs:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems
Bachelor’s degree in Health Management
Appalachian State
University – classes held at Western Piedmont Community College
Contact information: 1-800-355-4084
Bachelor’s degree in Business Management
Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education
Bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education
Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Bachelor’s degree in Special Education (Grades K-12)
Master’s degree in Elementary Education
Master’s degree in Middle Grades Education
Master’s degree in Public Administration
Master’s degree in Reading Education
Master’s degree in School Administration
Educational Specialist degree in Higher Education, Adult Education
Lees McRae –
classes held at Western Piedmont Community College
Contact information - 1-800-280-4562
Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice – New cohort begins every January
and accepts about 20 students per cohort.
Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education – New cohort begins every
January, and accepts about 20 students per cohort.
Western Carolina University - classes held at Western Piedmont
Community College
Contact information – 1-800-280-4562 or 828-438-5581
Bachelor’s degree in Business – major in Entrepreneurship
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology will begin Spring, 2007 and
Fall, 2007
Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Bachelor’s degrees in Birth to Kindergarten (and Teacher Licensure)
Master’s degree in Gerontology
(A Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is also available)
Master’s degree in Two-Year College Administration |
