School System
Local and National headlines of our School System's Success
Fox News Charlotte discussion on Mooresville's Digital Conversion
National recognition has become a hallmark of education in Mooresville and Iredell County, with both public school systems consistently earning accolades.
Excellent facilities, outstanding teachers and cutting-edge technology have combined to place both the Iredell-Statesville Schools system and the Mooresville Graded School District at the head of the class.
In 2008, the Iredell-Statesville system received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in recognition of its ongoing and extensive efforts to meet all student needs, and the resulting strong test scores and graduation rates that reflect its success.
“It is a testament to the hard work of our students, teachers and other staff,” says Dawn Creason, public relations director for the system. “It’s nice to be recognized for the gains the district has made over the years, but in the end, our focus is still about how many students walk out of our doors ready to be productive, contributing members of society. What the Baldrige criteria did for us was provide a framework to help us ensure that we were all traveling toward the same goal; that our work was aligned and that our processes were clear and focused.”
Both systems are known for heavily integrating technology into the classroom and plan to continue enhancing those efforts.
The Mooresville Graded School District’s Digital Conversion Initiative has been gaining national recognition.
“It basically means we have a ratio of one computer to every child,” says Dreisa Sherrill, director of human resources and public information. “Every student in our district from grades four through 12 receives a MacBook laptop computer to keep for the year, and their teachers have received professional development in learning how to teach with digital content.”
The program has been phased in over the last couple of years and now includes Smart Board technology in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms, so that all students are being taught using digital platforms to some degree.
Both Mooresville and Iredell have ambitious construction programs, bringing new facilities online in 2009-10.
Iredell added approximately 400,000 square feet with Cloverleaf Elementary, a math, science and technology magnet school in Statesville, and Coddle Creek Elementary in Mooresville, Creason says. The system also completed renovations and additions at five other schools as part of a $83 million program, and shifted resources to allow for two new International Baccalaureate schools on former elementary campuses. Mooresville opened the new Rocky River Elementary School, a K-3 campus, and also has cut the ribbon on Mooresville Intermediate and renovated its former building to create a new middle school.
