The motto of Wilson County Schools is “learn, create, inspire” and that is exactly what our 10,165 students and 1,650 staff members strive to do each day. Our district consists of 25 schools - 13 elementary schools, five middle schools, three high schools, two early colleges, one alternative school and one virtual school. Students are empowered to stay engaged in their education and to graduate as responsible citizens who are prepared to participate in the global economy. More details can be found in the graphics. Below is our mission, vision, beliefs and most recent accountability highlights.

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Mission: The mission of Wilson County Schools is to provide an educational environment which creates success for all students through the community working together.

Vision: Wilson County Schools is a place where students participate in an educational environment in which they are engaged and empowered in their learning and graduate as responsible citizens prepared to compete in the global economy.  Collectively, students, educators, families and community members commit to becoming lifelong learners and ensuring students are prepared for success and equipped with the skills to pursue their dreams.

Commitment Statements:
1. Every student can learn and succeed. 
2. Student success will not be predictable by race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status. 
3. Education, employment or enlistment are all honorable pursuits after graduation. 
4. Strong educators are keys to accelerating student achievement. 

2023-2024 Accountability Highlights  

WILSON, NC – Wilson County Schools continued to experience huge gains in proficiency and growth for the 2023-2024 school year! The district is now ranked 37th out of 115 districts in the state in overall proficiency compared to 41st in the state last school year. This is the highest state ranking the district has ever achieved. Wilson County Schools is now in the TOP THIRD of school districts and just 3.8 percentage points away from being one of the TOP 20 performing districts in the state.

“I want to recognize our students, teachers, support staff and administrators for all of their hard work. I am so proud of them and the sustained progress of our school district. This pattern of high performance is not easy to achieve,” said Wilson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Lane Mills. “It’s another really strong year. We held our own and moved up. I think our folks have done an amazing job again, focusing on day-to-day instruction, the needs of students, and doing the work every day. They should be extremely proud and our community should be extremely proud.”

Students scored at 56.1% proficient overall, an increase of 0.9% compared to the previous year. The top district in the state was at 69.6%. For the second year in a row, Wilson County Schools performed above the state average for overall proficiency, which was 54.2%.

The proficiency gains, which refers to the percent of students achieving at grade level on the End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) tests, by subject were: 

• Reading EOG: down by 0.1% to 53.3% proficient

• Math EOG: up by 1.6% to 55.5% proficient

• Science EOG: down by 0.3% to 70.2% proficient

• English 2 EOC: up by 2% to 61.8% proficient

• Math 1 EOC: up by 1.3% to 51.5% proficient

• Math 3 EOC: up by 10.1% to 69.6% proficient

• Biology EOC: down by 0.9% to 47.9% proficient

The district’s growth scores indicate the tremendous work of students and staff. Growth is a measure based on achieving one year’s worth of learning for students. Nineteen out of 24 schools met or exceeded growth this year, which included all of our high schools. Fourteen of our schools ranked in the top half across the state for growth. The schools that exceeded growth were: Lee Woodard Elementary, Rock Ridge Elementary, Wilson Academy of Applied Technology and Wilson Early College Academy. The schools that met growth were Beddingfield High, Forest Hills Middle, Frederick Douglass Elementary, Gardners Elementary, Hunt High, Lucama Elementary, New Hope Elementary, Stantonsburg Elementary, Vick Elementary and Vinson-Bynum Elementary. 

The cohort graduation rate (students who graduate in four years) remained in the 80% range for the second year in a row. The rate was 80.4% compared to 83% the previous year.

Regarding School Performance Grades, Wilson Early College Academy maintained its grade of an A, which it has earned since the inception of the School Performance grading system in 2013-2014. Rock Ridge Elementary and Wilson Academy of Applied Technology also earned an A. Wilson County Schools also had several schools that earned a School Performance Grade of B. Those schools were: Gardners Elementary, Lucama Elementary and New Hope Elementary. Three schools narrowly missed the cutoff score for a B. The full list of Performance Grades, which are letter grades assigned to schools by the state based on proficiency and growth, are below: 

• Schools that earned an A: Rock Ridge Elementary, Wilson Academy of Applied Technology and Wilson Early College Academy

• Schools that earned a B: Gardners Elementary, Lucama Elementary and New Hope Elementary.

• Schools that earned a C: Frederick Douglass Elementary, Jones Elementary, Lee Woodard Elementary, Stantonsburg Elementary, Vinson-Bynum Elementary, Wells Elementary, Elm City Middle, Forest Hills Middle, Speight Middle, Springfield Middle, Beddingfield High, Fike High and Hunt High

• Schools that earned a D: Barnes Elementary, Hearne Elementary and Vick Elementary 

• Schools that earned an F: Darden Middle

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About Wilson County
Wilson County Schools is located in Wilson County, North Carolina, which is 45 minutes east of the capital city of Raleigh, two hours from the beach and roughly four hours from the mountains. Once known as “the world’s largest tobacco market,” Wilson leaders have worked to redefine Wilson as a place with all the charm of a small town and all the amenities of a larger city. In Wilson, front porch rocking chairs and whimsical whirligigs coexist with entrepreneurial pathways and a world-class broadband system. Visit www.discoverwilson.com to find out more about our incredible town.