Caldwell County Schools is a PKâÂÂ12 graded school district serving Caldwell County, North Carolina. Its 25 schools serve 12,811 students as of the 2010âÂÂ2011 school year.
Its boundary is that of the entire county.
While some subscription and church schools existed in the area before Caldwell County was founded, the history of public education really begins in July, 1841, just a few months after the county was established. The first Superintendents of Common Schools were appointed that year.
School building commenced and eventually the county had as many as eight high schools. In 1977, school consolidation plans reduced the number to three main high schools.
For the 2010âÂÂ2011 school year, Caldwell County Schools had a total population of 12,811 students and 872.39 teachers on a (FTE) basis. This produced a student-teacher ratio of 14.68:1. The same year, out of the student total, the gender ratio was 50% male to 50% female. The demographic group makeup was: White, 82%; Hispanic, 8%; Black, 6%; Asian/Pacific Islander, 1%; and American Indian, 0% (two or more races: 4%). For the same school year, 54.79% of the students received free and reduced-cost lunches.
The primary governing body of Caldwell County Schools follows a councilâÂÂmanager government format with a seven-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 Seventh District.
The seven members of the Board of Education generally meet on the second Monday of each month.
The current members of the board are:
The current superintendent of the Caldwell County Schools system is Thomas Howell.
Caldwell County Schools has 25 schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. Those 25 schools are separated into six high schools, fourmiddle schools, three combined elementary/middle schools, and eleven elementary schools, and one online academy
According to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, for the 2012âÂÂ2013 school year: