Haywood County Schools proposes ‘innovative middle school’
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Haywood County Schools is moving ahead with plans for a new “innovative middle school,” aimed at addressing longstanding concerns from families who feel traditional middle school offerings don’t meet every student’s needs.
The proposal, discussed during a June 2 Board of Commissioners meeting, includes a request for up to $900,000 in renovations that would help bring the new concept to life.
Assistant Superintendent Graham Haynes explained the rationale behind the new middle school model.
“Through listen-and-learns, we’ve learned that there are some families that don’t necessarily like our offerings for middle school. Our middle schools are great, but every kid is different, and some aren’t as focused on the social aspects or maybe athletics,” Haynes said. “They really just want to hammer down and learn and have an accelerated curriculum.”
The new middle school, developed in partnership with Haywood Community College, would be academically rigorous and somewhat analogous to Haywood Early College. Though it would not offer college courses — since students are still in middle school — the “innovative middle school” aims to accelerate their learning paths, giving them a head start on future college credit opportunities.
Haynes said the model could include advanced coursework like environmental science, typically taught in ninth grade, introduced as early as seventh grade. This would prepare students to take college-level Career and College Promise dual enrollment courses once they enter high school.
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The district plans to house the innovative middle school in the current Dogwood Building, home to Haywood Early College. That early college program, which serves high school students seeking both diplomas and associate degrees, would relocate to the Poplar Building, the former nursing building on the HCC campus.
“That building hasn’t been used in a while, it just needs some updates, nothing major, but some updates,” said Haynes.
Currently, the Early College enrolls about 160 to 170 students, Haynes said. That figure provides a rough framework for the potential size of the new middle school, but district officials are taking a measured approach.
“If we start with 50 or 60, then we start with 50 or 60, and we’ll grow from there,” Haynes said.
In addition to diversifying student offerings and creating opportunities for accelerated learners, the plan also creates room for growth at the Early College. By moving the Early College to a larger building, Haynes said the program could expand if the demand is there.
“Hopefully we’ll draw in some more students to Haywood County Schools with this offering. That’s our goal,” he said.
The proposal received support from commissioners, including those with firsthand knowledge of the benefits of dual enrollment.
“That early college option is a fantastic option for the right students, for sure,” said Commissioner Jennifer Best. “It really sets them ahead in their educational journey. As a parent, I can tell you, middle school is not a cake walk. It is tough, and so hopefully this will improve that for some of those kids and parents.”
Legislative support for initiatives like this may also be on the way. Commissioner Tommy Long, who also represents the seven western counties for the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, recently reviewed budget proposals in the House that would provide more funding for career education and early colleges.
“There are several things in the House budget that provide more funding for that,” Long said.
Despite the budget request, the district’s ambitions are long-term. Officials see the innovative middle school not as an experimental pilot, but as a new track to address shifting educational needs and augment academic achievement.
“It’s been a very successful program,” Haynes said, referring to the Early College. “I think it’s benefited us. It’s benefited Haywood County. So any more we can do to help along with that and get some students exposed to what HCC can offer and on an accelerated path, I think will be very beneficial.”
For the 2023-24 school year, Haywood County Schools was ranked sixth in the state out of 115 school districts — the highest in history.
