Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Excel Despite Challenges
Amidst a backdrop of financial turmoil and significant staffing challenges, several schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County district have achieved remarkable academic progress. This comes as a surprise given the severe constraints faced over the past year.
The financial crisis resulted in numerous educators being laid off, forcing the remaining staff to adapt and manage increased workloads. Despite these challenges, the district reported notable improvements in academic performance. According to a recent press conference held by WS/FCS officials, end-of-course exam results did not reflect the adverse conditions.
One of the district’s most significant achievements was recording its highest third-grade reading scores in a decade. Additionally, six schools successfully shed their low-performing status, with many improving their letter grades. A standout performer, Walkertown Middle, achieved the highest growth rate in the district and ranked in the top 1% of schools statewide.
Principal Monica Comer expressed pride in the community’s resilience, stating, “Our staff dug in. And our students rose to the occasion. Our community wrapped around us and they never pulled back. And because of that tenacity, we did not just survive this year; we grew double-digit growth. I mean, that is huge.”
Overall, 52% of students across the district were deemed proficient at their grade level, which is around seven percentage points below the state average. However, district officials highlighted the importance of looking beyond these one-time test scores as the sole indicators of student success.
