Burke County Public Schools

The Burke County Public School system believes there is a successful student in every child.

Through community involvement, the schools ensure that quality education exists for each student. This includes collaboration and partnerships with business, industries and colleges. This partnership works educational and economical growth.

Burke County’s strong public education system continues to be an education and economic leader in the state. This includes strong preschool programs including three community mobile classrooms, nationally acclaimed programs, reduced class sizes, smaller learning communities in the high schools, a creative and integrated curriculum, a strong technology program, comprehensive educational programs, academically gifted programs and programs designed and implemented to match each child's learning style.

Burke County Public Schools’ commitment to the best education for every child can be seen through consistent and continual improvements in test scores. Many schools in the system have received awards on the state and national level.

Awards on the state level include Liberty Middle School’s honor as one of the 25 most improved schools in the state. Many schools in the county were named NC Schools of Distinction and Honor Schools of Excellence for achieving high end-of-grade test scores.

Rutherford College Elementary School received two national awards in 2005. The school was named a Title I Distinguished School and a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. It is one of only 10 schools in the state to receive the Blue Ribbon distinction.

The New Dimensions School

As Burke County’s only charter school, New Dimensions offers students a tuition-free education.

New Dimensions teaches kindergarten through fifth grade. Multi-age classrooms are taught through an interest-based project approach.

First, teachers help students narrow down a topic. Second, students conduct their own research. Finally, students demonstrate what they have learned through the product

The school also operates English/Spanish dual-language immersion preschool and elementary classes.

New Dimensions School is located at 501 E. Concord St. near downtown Morganton. For more information call 828-437-5753 or visit www.newdimensionsschool.com.

Private Educational Opportunities

The Children’s School

For more than 27 years, The Children’s School has offered a unique educational environment.

The school was founded in 1978 by eight parents with the goal of getting the best education possible for their children.

The school community sees parental involvement, individualized instruction and experience-based education as the essence of its philosophy. North Carolina’s Standard Courses of Study and national guidelines greatly influence the curriculum.

The co-educational, non-sectarian school teaches kindergarten through eighth grade. During the 2005-06 school year, 74 students were enrolled at The Children’s School.

Morganton Christian Academy

Morganton Christian Academy offers the full range of basic education, pre-k through 12th grade, through a Bible-based curriculum affiliated with a Baptist church.

Teachers work one-on-one with students and offer an assisted learning program for students needing a more concentrated education.

The school has been in operation since 1973.

Silver Creek Seventh Day Adventist School

Silver Creek Seventh Day Adventist School offers small student-to-teacher ratios to provide individualized teaching in first through eighth grades.

College Education

For more than 40 years, Western Piedmont Community College has been committed to the educational needs of the people of Burke County.

The college was chartered in 1964, founded on the principles of quality education and training.

The college seeks to meet the needs of each individual student and the education and training needs of the community it serves.

A replica of U.S. Sen. Sam J. Ervin’s home library and the annual Constitutional Issues Forum have drawn national attention to the college.

The college is directing campus development into the 21st century to meet the needs of the more than 13,000 students enrolled annually.

— Brianne E. Boykin

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