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Elkin superintendent outlines plan to move sixth-graders full time to middle school
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Steve Hall told the Elkin City Schools board the district plans to transition sixth-graders to Elkin Middle School full time to reduce transportation costs and free up scheduling for CTE and encore classes; parents raised questions about student placement and intermingling with older students.
Superintendent Dr. Steve Hall told the Elkin City Schools Board on April 28 that the district plans to move sixth-graders to Elkin Middle School full time beginning in the 2025–26 school year, citing transportation costs and scheduling advantages.
At a parent meeting about the change, Dr. Hall said about 70 people attended and district calculations showed the practice of busing sixth-graders for afternoon encore classes cost the district roughly $10,000 to $12,000 per year. He said consolidating sixth-grade instruction at the middle school would free up time and space for additional CTE and encore offerings districtwide.
Dr. Hall outlined how the district plans to house the grades: math, science and social studies departments in the main middle school building, with two classrooms near the guidance office intended for sixth-grade ELA and shared English-area classrooms for eighth-grade ELA. Core classes will be year-long and encore/enrichment blocks will remain part of the daily schedule.
Parents and some board members pressed district staff for more detail on how sixth-graders will be kept from excessive interaction with high-school juniors and seniors. Parent Michelle Corcoran said she supports the program but asked the board to “limit how often sixth-graders are exposed to high schoolers, especially those in their junior and senior years.”
Dr. Hall said the district has already held meetings with principals, assistant principals and teachers to find space and to plan logistics; students were scheduled to visit the middle school for orientation on May 2. Board members requested additional parent meetings and clearer communication on daily placement and supervision, and Dr. Hall agreed to schedule follow-up sessions.
The board did not take a formal vote on the transition during the meeting; Dr. Hall described the item as part of district highlights and said more planning and parent engagement will continue over the summer.
Next steps: administrators will hold more parent meetings and finalize classroom assignments and schedules before the 2025–26 school year.
