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Lenoir County schools report record scholarship totals and ramp up employer apprenticeship ties
Summary
Superintendent and staff reported preliminary four-year graduation above 90% and $37.4 million in merit scholarship offers; district highlighted signing-day partnerships with Crown Equipment, Smithfield and others that converted apprenticeships into jobs for graduates.
Superintendent Williams told the Lenoir County Board of Education on June 29 that preliminary four‑year graduation rates look to be above 90 percent and that graduates received a record $37.4 million in merit scholarship offers for 2026. "We had 636 students earn their high school diplomas," he said, noting final graduation figures will be certified in September.
In a follow-up presentation staff broke down scholarship totals by school: the Early College at about $2.4 million, Kinston High about $7.5 million, South High about $11 million and North Lenoir about $16.5 million, for a district grand total of $37.4 million.
Dr. Jones and district staff also reviewed the district's workforce-signing-day events, saying 47 students committed to internships or apprenticeships this spring and multiple employer partners — including Crown Equipment Corporation, Smithfield Foods and Lenoir County Public Schools — hosted students. Crown’s youth apprenticeship program was singled out: staff said 25 students have completed the Crown apprenticeship to date and 18 transitioned into full‑time employment; six graduates at this year's signing day signed employment agreements.
Board members and parents praised the initiative. One parent told the board the program had been “life‑changing,” giving a student a clear path after high school. District officials said workplace hosts sometimes hire interns directly after training and that students who complete summer programming can earn transcripted honors course credit and paid work experience.
District leaders said they will continue to expand the workforce initiative and noted partnerships with regional employers — including conversations with Airbus and Fleet Readiness Corporation East — that they expect will create local career opportunities for students.
The presentation closed with district leaders asking for continued board support to grow employer partnerships and work‑based learning programs.
The board took no formal vote on the presentation; staff said final graduation data will be reported in September.
