The Wilkes County Schools system is a PK–12 graded school district in North Carolina covering nearly all of Wilkes County. The third-largest employer in the county, the district manages 22 schools that serve 10,374 students as of 2010–11.
The history of public education in Wilkes County really began shortly after the state passed its first common school law in 1839. The state was then divided into several school districts.[2]
As late as the 1930s, Wilkes county had as many as 151 one- or two-teacher schoolhouses. Over the next several decades, a general move toward school system consolidation, as well as racial integration, culminated in the merger of the county system with the North Wilkesboro City Schools.[3] Facing increasing expenses with school construction and repair, the two boards merged on July 1, 1975.[4][5]
The Wilkes County Schools system is the third-largest employer in Wilkes County.[6]
For the 2010–11 school year, Wilkes County Schools had a total population of 10,374 students and 639.52 teachers on a (FTE) basis. This produced a student-teacher ratio of 16.22:1.[1] That same year, out of the student total, the gender ratio was 51% male to 49% female. The demographic group makeup was: White, 81%; Hispanic, 11%; Black, 4%; American Indian, <1%, and Asian/Pacific Islander, <1%; two or more races: 3%).[7]
A five-member board of education governs the Wilkes County Schools system. The current members are as follows: Rudy Holbrook (Chairman), Hardin Kennedy (Vice-Chairman), Kirk Walker, Joan Caudill, and Jammie Jolly.[9]
The current superintendent of Wilkes County Schools is Mark Byrd. Byrd had previously been assistant superintendent and was appointed superintendent after Dr. Marty Hemric resigned.[10]
Total expenditures for the district for the 2009–10 school year totaled $93,091,000.[1] Public school districts in North Carolina do not have their own taxation authority, they are fiscally dependent on the State and their respective county Board of Commissioners. The county Boards of Commissioners vote on funding levels proposed by the school system.[11] The majority of the funding comes from State sources.[citation needed]
The schools for the system are members of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and compete in various sports in the Mountain Valley Conference. East, North, and West Wilkes are 1A schools and Wilkes Central is a 2A school. Wilkes Early college does not field athletic teams.[14]
U.S. News & World Report named Wilkes Central High School and West Wilkes High School in their list of "America's Best High Schools". Wilkes Central High School was awarded a Silver and West High a Bronze.[15]
