Stuart Nelms
Robbinsville – Testing at one local school paints the picture of a remarkable comeback.
At Tuesday’s Graham County Board of Education meeting, Robbinsville Middle School Principal Stuart Nelms delivered the news that ELA (English/Language Arts) testing showed 118% growth and
“I know we’ve put in a lot of work,” Nelms said. “A new curriculum was put in and we’ve had a little bit of a learning curve for teachers and parents, because students aren’t necessarily achieving the A and B stats like they used to.”
Nelms later said that math showed 77% growth, but added that one student showed 1,000% growth – advancing from a second-grade level to eighth-grade in one school year.
“We’re really seeing a lot of growth,” Nelms continued. “Now, are we getting a lot of kids that are on a second- or third-grade level? Most likely not, but the growth metric is where we want it to be.”
Overall school performance grades from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will be released later this year. Robbinsville Middle scored a “C” in 2019; a “D” in 2022 and 2023; and an “F” in 2024.
Following the sample data Nelms discussed Tuesday, the school should enjoy an increase in letter grade later this year.
Other news & notes
* Graham County Schools Counseling and Student/Staff Support Supervisor Latesha Wiggins revealed that the district is negotiating with Appalachian Mountain Community Health Center to re-open a school-based health clinic. Erlanger was the last hospital system to collaborate with Graham County Schools on such a venture, with a clinic stationed inside Robbinsville Elementary School. Wiggins presented a sample contract for the board to consider, but no action was taken.
* The 2025-26 local and capital-needs budgets were approved by the board. The budgets will now go before the Graham County Board of Commissioners for review. Among the various line items, the system listed the replacement of the chiller at Robbinsville Middle/High School, for a cool $100,000; a remodel to the science labs at the schools, which will carry the same cost; and the implementation a $10,000 security upgrade to the central office. The local budget showed a projected revenue of $2,017,725.
* Staff retirements were announced, which resulted in some reshuffling of administration. Robbinsville Elementary School Assistant Principal Brandy Carpenter was promoted to principal of the institution, as Kevin White will retire at the end of the school year; Robbinsville Middle School Assistant Principal Brent Icenhower will shift to the elementary school to fill the same role; and Robbinsville Middle School Transition Coordinator Shae Mullinax will move into the role of assistant principal at the middle school.