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Three LCPS schools advance to site‑visit stage in North Carolina STEM School of Distinction process
Summary
District staff said three Lenoir County schools advanced in the state STEM School of Distinction application process and will receive site visits in April and May; presenters described the rubric, application steps and expected outcomes.
Lenoir County Public Schools staff told the board that three district schools have advanced to the site‑visit stage of North Carolina's STEM School of Distinction recognition program and will host review teams in April and May.
District staff described the STEM progress rubric used for evaluation, the multi‑step application and review process, and the program's emphasis on equitable, hands‑on STEM learning, community partnerships and clear post‑secondary pathways. The rubric assesses multiple elements (staff said high schools address 22 elements; middle and elementary schools address 20) and uses a scale from early to model to measure implementation.
Staff noted that Continuous Savannah K‑8 School previously piloted the program and was among the original North Carolina STEM Schools of Distinction in 2014–15; district presenters said recertification cycles have been updated and that some schools must complete the full application rather than a shorter recertification. The schools the district specifically named as advancing were Northwest Elementary, E.B. Frank Middle School and Continuous Savannah K‑8 School. The district said it will support the schools as they prepare artifacts, narratives and instruction observations for review teams.
Presenters said the site visits include classroom observation, interviews with students and teachers, and reviews of community partnerships and program artifacts; successful schools are recommended to the State Board of Education for designation. District staff described the program as rigorous and said it provides a framework for school improvement and for highlighting STEM instruction already underway in schools.
