Waynesville Middle School has been selected to participate in the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative, a five-year, $25 million school improvement program focused on enhancing academic outcomes and career readiness for middle school students across North Carolina. The initiative is led by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation and in partnership with Marzano Resources.

Waynesville Middle will join a cohort of 15 schools across the state receiving intensive support to implement innovative instructional strategies, with a strong emphasis on mathematics and career development.

“We are honored by the opportunity the Golden LEAF grant provides our Mountaineers as we continue striving for higher student achievement and proficiency. This support empowers us to implement personalized, competency-based educational pathways for every student. We are excited to embrace this innovative, student-centered approach, equipping all learners with the future-ready skills they need to succeed in an ever-changing world said Principal Maggie King.

As part of the Personalized, Competency-Based Education (PCBE) Cohort, Waynesville Middle will benefit from focused coaching and support. This includes implementation of the Competency-Based Education Model and career development resources tailored to meet the unique needs of Waynesville Middle’s students and staff.  “The Golden LEAF Schools Initiative is a powerful first step toward our goal of ensuring that North Carolina’s public schools are the best in the nation,” said North Carolina State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. “By investing in middle school math instruction – especially in our rural and economically challenged communities – we are building a foundation that prepares every student for college, careers and lifelong community engagement.”

The selection process was highly competitive and included a rigorous application and interview process that involved key school and district leaders.  “Golden LEAF is proud to fund this bold, collaborative effort to improve student outcomes and build a stronger future for our state,” said Scott T. Hamilton, President
and CEO of the Golden LEAF Foundation. “By investing in middle schools through research-based strategies and intensive support, we are not only strengthening
academic achievement in critical areas like math but laying the groundwork for career readiness and long-term economic vitality in North Carolina’s rural communities.”  For more information about the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative, visit the Golden LEAF Schools website.

About the Golden LEAF Foundation:
The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities.  Since 1999, the foundation has supported projects that promote long-term economic advancement through grantmaking and strategic partnerships.