History of the Wake County Public School System
The Wake County Public School System's long-standing tradition of excellence began as a result of a trend that affected many U.S. cities three decades ago. As Raleigh's urban area declined in the early 1970's, families migrated to the area's increasingly affluent suburbs resulting in the closing of several downtown schools. The community was divided, and leaders sought long-term solutions to educational and economic challenges that inhibited Wake County's progress.
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The merger of the city and county school systems was not an idea easily accepted by many Wake County residents; however, county and school leaders pushed forward with this courageous vision of a united community, full of educational opportunity, economic vitality, and an attractive quality of life.
As a result of visionary and bold leadership, the Wake County Public School System grew into one of the nation's finest large school districts in less than a generation, establishing a tradition of superior performance.
Today, poised to lead the nation in narrowing the achievement gap and attaining remarkably high academic goals for all, the Wake County Public School system celebrates its first 25 years.
Our entire community can look forward to an equally bright and progressive future, driven by our traditions of fold leadership, quality teaching, academic excellence, parental choice and community involvement.
The following stories and articles describes the road followed over the last 25 years to reach today's success.
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From 1976 to 2001: Ann Hooker Remembers When the City and County Schools Merged |
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September 11, 2001 - When her dad said she shouldn't go so far from home, Ann Hooker turned down a job with IBM in New York and became a math teacher at Martin Junior High where she was teaching when the Raleigh and Wake school systems merged. Today Hooker is an area assistant superintendent for the Wake County Public School System. |
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History: From 1976 to 2001: Superintendent McNeal Was Here at the Beginning |
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September 7, 2001 - As the Wake County Public School System celebrated its 25th anniversary, Superintendent McNeal reflected on the road that brought him to the Raleigh City Schools, the turbulent merger of that system with the Wake County system, and the changes he saw from the classroom and the administrator's desk. |
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Year-Round Education in the Wake County Public School System |
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A history of the year-round progam in the Wake County Schools. |
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Wake County Public School System Schools After the Merger in 1976 |
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A list of the schools (and their principals) that made up the newly merged school system in 1976. |
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From 1976 to 2001: Ray Massey has Witnessed the Growth of WCPSS First Hand Over the Past 25 Years |
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August 14, 2001- A lot has changed since Ray Massey first came to work in 1974 as the only member of the facilities staff for the Wake County Schools. Since that time, the Wake County and the Raleigh City school systems have merged into one, five bond referendums totaling over $1.2 billion have passed, more than 50 schools have been built, and the facilities staff has grown from a staff of one to a staff of 42. |
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From 1976 to 2001: Senior Director of Magnet Program Recounts a History Filled with Choice |
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August 10, 2001 - From her first days as a kindergarten teacher to her current role as senior director of the magnet program, Caroline Massengill has witnessed, first-hand, the development and growth of the Wake County Public School System's magnet program. As the school system prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary of the merger between the Raleigh City and the Wake County school districts, Massengill takes a look back over a career that has been all about choice. |
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August 10, 2001 - Of the almost 100,000 Wake County Public School System students starting school this year, 4,000 will be students whose native languages are not English. That's a big increase over the 400 students with limited English proficiency Timothy Hart found here 21 years ago when he arrived to direct WCPSS's English as a Second Language (ESL) program, whose teachers help these students learn the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and become proficient in English. |
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From 1976 to 2001, the Path to Success: Associate Superintendent Walt Sherlin |
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July 24, 2001 - When Wake County Schools Associate Superintendent Walt Sherlin sought a job in 1974, there were 3,000 applicants for 77 teacher vacancies in the Raleigh City schools. A month after school had started, Sherlin was hired to teach at Ligon Junior High. In his third year, Raleigh City schools and Wake County schools merged into one system. |
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School Leader from 1970s Helps Wake Schools remember 25th anniversary |
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August 3, 2001 - A pivotal school leader from the 1970s addressed the Wake County Schools Team Leadership Conference Wednesday (August 1) to mark the Wake County Public School System's 25th anniversary. Former state lawmaker and school board chair Casper Holroyd discussed the challenges school officials faced and encouraged today's educators to meet today's challenges with the same bold leadership. |
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Wray Stephens Reflects on 20 Years on the Board of Education |
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March 30, 2001 - The pinnacle of his 20-year stint on the Wake County Board of Education was the creation of the 95 percent goal for 2003, according to Wray Stephens honored last night (March 29) in a reception after stepping down from the board in February. |
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Wake County Board of Education and Superintendents 1976-2001 |