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The omctible
Volume40,Number2 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C THURSDAY, September 5, 2013
Principals:
We're
winning
the battle
Schools taking special
measures to keep
graduation rates solid
BY LAYLA GARMS
THE CHRONICLE
Four-year graduation rates are up in the
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School
District. The rate reached 82.1 percent in
2013, an improvement over its 2012 rate of
80.9 and a jump of more than 11 percent over
the rate in 2008.
While all high schools have seen some
improvement, those with large African
American and
Hispanic student rxxt
ies continue to experi
ence struggles. Carver
High School still has
the lowest four-year
graduation rate in the
county, although its
rate, 73.8 percent, is
more than a percentage
point higher than it
was in 2012. Jacket
Academy, a specialty
education program
within Carver's aca
demic structure,
enjoyed a 100 percent
graduation rate for the
first time in its history.
Carver Principal Ron
Travis said looking at
the two schools' rates
independently is mis
leading, because most
of the Jacket Academy
students are integrated
?E. J
Witt
Ltt
into the regular Carver instructional program
as well.
"It's not a separate entity; the teachers
share those kids," Travis explained. "These
students were hand picked horn the Carver
body of students ... because (academically)
they were middle of the road to high fliers at
that time."
Combined, the Carver Complex achieved
a 78.1 graduation rate, still the lowest in the
county, but within striking distance of R.J.
Reynolds and the Middle College, which
reached 80.6 percent and 80.3 percent,
respectively. Travis says that number is even
higher for students who spend their entire
high school career at Carver, adding that the
school's rate is sometimes hurt by students
who start out at Carver but transfer elsewhere
and don't finish, as schools are held responsi
ble for all students who start there in the ninth
grade, regardless of where they finish.
"The kids here are graduating for the most
part. If Carver gets a ninth grader - a true
freshman - there's more than a 90 percent
chance that that student is going to graduate
in four years," he said. "...Although we do
have some concerns, overwhelmingly we
have good, solid students here who go on to a
two-year and four year colleges or to the mil
itary."
Carver is striving for a 100 percent gradu
ation rate. Seniors meet with school coun
selors two to three times a year to identify and
address any issues that may keep the students
See Graduation on A8
Photos by La via (iarms
Carver Band Boosters Micheala Fair, Crystal Thompson and Mary Glenn show off their 'Jacket pride.
& Sound
Carver Nation comes to school's defense
BY LAYLA HARMS
THE CHRONICLE
Faculty members, students and
alumni of Carver High School have
begun picking up the pieces follow
ing an Aug. 30 shooting at the
school.
"Carver is a safe school,"
Superintendent Beverly Emory said
at the school Monday morning. "This
incident could've happened any
where."
She was joined by members of
the "Carver Nation." School Board
Member John Davenport and Police
Chief Barry Rountree. who said last
week's shooting, which resulted in
one student sustaining non life
threatening injuries, arose from a
conflict between two students with a
"past history and disputes."
"Bdsed on our investigation, the
incident that occurred this past
Friday was an isolated incident,"
See Carver on A7
Board of Education member John Davenport speaks as (from left) Principal Ron
Travis, Superintendent Beverly Emory and Police Chief Barry Rountree look on.
Church's bold plan for homeless vets
Ptwuo by Lay la Garm
Whole Man
Ministries
Pastor Barry
Washington
(right) with
ministers
Kenneth
Holly and
P e c o I i a
Breathette.
BY LAYLA GARMS
THE CHRONICLE
Whole Man Ministries has launched an ambitious
project to help local veterans get - and stay - on their
feet. .
Five duplexes on Cameron Avenue will soon be home
to as many as 10 residents through the Home for Our
Heroes program, a permanent housing solution for area
veterans.
"It was a concern of mine when 1 saw a number of
vets not having a place to stay," said Whole Man Pastor
Barry Washington, who volunteers at Samaritan
Ministries several times a year and operates food and
clothing ministries through the church. "With the way
the economy has turned, so many people have gone
through difficult times, and we found that there's more
people who are homeless because of that, but it's stressed
even more when you're talking about somebody who has
served."
See Veto on A10
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Grads still feel Camel Pride 52 years later
Claude tie Cook
Womack with Doris
Duncan Taylor
!BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
They were 18 - or close to it - when they
received their diplomas from the venerable
Atkins High School in 1961. Last week, many
of them came together again to celebrate a [
very different milestone - their 70th birth
?J days.
The Class of '61's reunion this year dou
See Atkins on All
Phrtcw by Todd
iMCk
Members
of the
Atkins
Class oj
19 6 1
Reunion
Committee.
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