Cleveland County Schools


Cleveland County Schools is a PK–12 graded school district serving Cleveland County, North Carolina. The system was formed from the merger of Kings Mountain City Schools, Shelby City Schools and the former Cleveland County Schools system in 2004. Its 29 schools serve 16,417 students as of the 2010–2011 school year.

History

Originally, the cities of Kings Mountain and Shelby had their own school districts separate from Cleveland County Schools. In 2000, the school boards and the Cleveland County Commission approved a merger plan to consolidate the three systems into one. The State Board of Education approved the measure, however, the school board of the Kings Mountain School District filed suit to stop the merger. The courts did not accept their positions and the merger officially occurred in 2004.

Student demographics

For the 2010–2011 school year, Cleveland County Schools had a total population of 16,417 students and 1,130.81 teachers on a basis. This produced a student-teacher ratio of 14.52:1. That same year, out of the student total, the gender ratio was 52% male to 48% female. The demographic group makeup was: Black, 26%; White, 64%; Hispanic, 4%; Asian/Pacific Islander, 1%; and American Indian, 0%. For the same school year, 59.84% of the students received free and reduced-cost lunches.

Governance

The primary governing body of Cleveland County Schools follows a council–manager government format with a nine-member Board of Education appointing a Superintendent to run the day-to-day operations of the system. The school system currently resides in the North Carolina State Board of Education's Sixth District.

Board of Education

The nine members of the Board of Education generally meet on the second Monday of each month. The current members of the board are: Jack Hamrick, George Litton, Kathy Falls, Phillip Glover, Richard Hooker, Shearra Miller, Dale Oliver, Roger Harris, and Jerry Hoyle.

Superintendent

The current superintendent of the system is Dr. Stephen Fisher. He became superintendent July 1, 2014. He followed Dr. Bruce Boyles who became superintendent in 2007 after spending 26 years in various positions in the Mooresville Graded School District. Boyles replaces Gene Moore who resigned the position to accept a superintendent position in Lancaster County, South Carolina and the interim superintendent, Steve Borders. Moore was the first superintendent of the newly merged system.

Member schools

Cleveland County Schools has 29 schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. Those 29 schools are separated into five high schools, two alternative schools, four middle schools, and four elementary schools.

High schools

Alternative schools

According to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, for the 2012–2013 school year:
The Cleveland County Schools system has had three schools listed as Blue Ribbon Schools: Crest High School, Jefferson Elementary School, and East Elementary School. The system was included on the College Board's AP Honor Roll in 2013.
One teacher in the school system has been recognized as a North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Teacher of the Year: Frances A. Kiser.