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18 WCPSS schools earn Purple Star Award for service to military-connected families

May 13, 2024

 

Eighteen WCPSS schools have received 2023-24 Purple Star Awards from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. The Purple Star Award recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation's military.

 

To earn this distinction, schools must designate a staff person who serves as the point of contact for military families, demonstrate an understanding of deployments and how that may impact a military-connected child, and conduct at least one school-wide activity showing appreciation for and raising awareness of military-connected students and families.

 

Our 2023-24 winners are:

  • Alston Ridge Elementary School

  • Alston Ridge Middle School 

  • Apex High 

  • Farmington Woods Magnet Elementary 

  • Fuquay-Varina Elementary 

  • Garner Magnet High 

  • Herbert Akins Road Middle 

  • Holly Grove Elementary 

  • Holly Springs High 

  • Lockhart Elementary 

  • Lincoln Heights Magnet Elementary 

  • Millbrook Magnet High 

  • Pleasant Union Elementary 

  • Poe Magnet Elementary 

  • Reedy Creek Magnet Middle 

  • Sanderson High 

  • Willow Springs Elementary 

  • Willow Spring High 

 

Twelve of those schools are first-time Purple Star Award winners: Apex High, Farmington Woods Elementary, Garner Magnet High, Herbert Akins Road Middle, Holly Grove Elementary, Holly Springs High, Lockhart Elementary, Lincoln Heights Magnet Elementary, Pleasant Union Elementary, Reedy Creek Magnet Middle, Sanderson High, and Willow Spring High.

 

N.C. DPI started the award in 2019.

 

Military families and school communities recognize this award as a valuable asset, with the frequent moves and other unique needs of our military-connected population. In fact, it is not uncommon for a family to ask if a school is a Purple Star school when looking for housing near military installations.

 

Superintendent Robert Taylor, WCPSS Director of School Social Work Michael Pesce, and Dawn White, a school social worker and member of the WCPSS Military Connected Committee, attended the award ceremony last week in Raleigh.

 

Congratulations to all Purple Star Award schools, and thanks to their staff members for working hard to meet the unique needs of military-connected students and families.