While school districts across the state are encouraged to follow the pillars of the SBE plan, Burke County Public Schools (BCPS) is a few years ahead, releasing its own strategic plan — All-in Promise — in 2022.

One of the biggest complaints surrounding the education system of today is the lack of real-world skills training, like home maintenance and money management. With the assistance of the State Employees Credit Union (SECU), Burke County high schools are tackling financial literacy in teens.

Corinne Smith was honored July 14, during the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships/GEAR UP Annual Conference in San Francisco.

The state board met and released test scores on Sept. 4, revealing that BCPS has made gains in reading, math, and the graduation rate. The results also show that five schools received a D - the same number of schools at that mark last year - and four fewer schools earned a B this year (four vs. eight).