A DPI spokesperson said removal from the list was based on accountability data released earlier today.
Halifax County Schools Superintendent Eric Cunningham was not immediately available for comment this afternoon.
The DPI spokesperson said state Superintendent June Atkinson made the announcement during a meeting of the state Board of Education this morning. The Raleigh News & Observer also tweeted the news saying, “Halifax County is no longer a low-performing district.”
“On behalf of the Halifax County Board of Commissioners, we feel very proud of the progress made by all three of our systems,” board of commissioners Chair Vernon Bryant said this afternoon. “A special congratulations goes to the Halifax County Schools district for being removed from the low-performing schools list. That says a lot of the hard work that has been done by administrators, teachers and students. The Halifax County Schools district needs to be commended for a job well done.”
State Representative Michael Wray said this afternoon, “I’ve enjoyed working hand in hand with DPI and Halifax County Schools to continue striving towards providing a strong education for all children in Halifax and Northampton counties.”
According to the state’s data, Everett’s Elementary, Inborden Elementary and Southeast Halifax High School exceeded expected growth.
Aurelian Springs Elementary, Enfield Middle, Hollister Elementary, Northwest Halifax High School and William R. Davie Middle met expected growth.
Dawson and Pittman elementary schools did not meet expected growth.

Roanoke Rapids

The Roanoke Rapids Graded Schools District reported in a statement North Carolina students continue to make gains on most measures of student learning, according to school accountability data released today to the state Board of Education for the 2015-16 school year.
According to state reports, at least two Roanoke Rapids Graded Schools met their goals.
Belmont Elementary met its growth goal and Manning Elementary exceed growth.
The state also gives letter grades to each school based on overall performance in reading, math, science, and graduation rates. Roanoke Rapids High School was 6 points away from earning a “B.” Chaloner Middle School was 5 points from reaching a letter grade of “C.”
Dain Butler. who took over as superintendent on July 1 said, “I certainly believe our students are capable of doing better. We started working this summer to put plans in place to benefit our academic achievement this school year.”
Belmont received a final score of “D” and met its growth for last school year while Manning received a final score of “C” and exceeded its goal.
Chaloner received a final score of “D” and did not meet its goal, while Roanoke Rapids High School received a final score of “C.”
The RRGSD Board of Education recently adopted a formal benchmark process that will allow teachers to use data to drive instruction. “Evaluating students’ progress is essential,” Butler added. Benchmarks administered throughout the school year inform teachers of students’ individual strengths and areas of need.
According to Butler, “Our instructional practice needs to become more prescriptive if we are to improve academically.”
The district also plans additional professional development to staff regarding the best instructional practices to help students learn and look at ways to integrate technology and connect learning with real life to provide them with the necessary skills to prepare them for success.
“Our graduation rates are slightly higher than the state average and we want to see that continue as well as look at ways to improve education for every child in our care,” said board Chairman Jay Carlisle.
Additionally, the district recently hired a school psychologist to address the emotional, social, and academic needs of students and will hire community outreach liaisons to address the environmental and socio-economic needs of students.
Butler stated, “We must have a laser focus on what our students need outside the classroom just as we have when they are in our classrooms. Supporting students to be ready to come to school will benefit their performance while in school.”

Weldon City Schools

“We’re moving in the right direction,” Superintendent Anitra Wells said this afternoon.
As is the case across the state, she said, “There are issues in reading and math. We want to improve reading and math performance. If you take a look at school performance, it’s much better than it was last year. I’m happy to see we didn’t have an F or failing schools. We don’t want any school lower than a C. I think the high school should be at A and B. We’ve put things in place and I believe in the next two years we’re going to be there.”
Roanoke Valley Early College, Weldon Elementary Global Academy and Weldon STEM High School Career Academies all met expected growth. Weldon Middle School exceeded expected growth.