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Recent federal policy changes have removed previous guidance that discouraged immigration enforcement actions in schools. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) now has the authority to conduct enforcement actions—including arrests, interviews, and document requests—on school property.

5 students posing in front of their presentation

The Destination Imagination (DI) team at Heritage Middle School, under the guidance of 7th-grade teacher Michael McQuaid, is making waves with a groundbreaking service learning project that merges STEM education and community service. Responding to the lasting impacts of Hurricane Helene, the team is focusing their efforts on aiding displaced and abandoned animals while promoting sustainable solutions for pet welfare.

a teacher sitting on the floor reading with students and laughing

Burke County Public Schools has teamed up with Western Piedmont Community College, Appalachian State University and Work in Burke to host a career fair focussed on work in the education field. The event is planned for Feb. 11, 2025, at 4:45 p.m. at Patton High School. Work in Burke is sponsoring a free hot dog supper, and the event will include door prizes.

Save the Date February 11, 2025.  Education Career Expo.  Adults & Youth Middle school and Up

Save the date.  February 11, 2025 at Patton High School at 4:45pm.

Adults & Youth (Middle School and Up)

RSVP deadline is January 27th. (828) 439-4323

Spelling bee winners holding their trophies while standing in front of school personnel

For the second year in a row, Sam E., now an eighth grader at East Burke Middle School, is the Burke County Public Schools Spelling Bee winner. This year’s winning word was “gelatinous.” Sam outspelled 18 other elementary and middle school top spellers to keep the traditional Lillian Butler Trophy at his school. Runner-up was Annabel M. from Liberty Middle School. The school-level winners and district participants were:

The principal of the year posing with a banner and other staff members

Burke County Public Schools has named Draughn High School Principal Charles Williams the 2024-2025 Principal of the Year for the district. William’s fellow Burke County Public Schools principals nominated him for the honor, and he is now chosen to represent the district at the regional Principal of the Year level.

Donation Drive flyer

BCPS will host a hurricane relief donation drop off event from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Burke County Schools Warehouse 412 Kirksey Dr. Morganton NC, 28655. After conducting a student and staff survey of needs, here are the Top 5 our families have asked for:  Non Perishable Food, Hygiene Products, Batteries, Propane Canisters, Formula/Diapers

Additional needs include blankets, gently used/new clothing (child through adult sizes) and socks and shoes.

Then on Monday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon students and staff will be able to receive donated items at the same location.

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During an emergency called meeting at noon today, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, via phone, the Burke County Board of Education heard a district-wide update from Superintendent Dr. Mike Swan following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

four student holding signs that state "we are the future"

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a seven-year, $35 million GEAR UP grant to Appalachian State University's College Access Partnerships in the Reich College of Education. The award represents the largest single grant ever awarded to the university and extends the GEAR UP program in Burke County Public Schools.

Board member Seth Hunt

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has announced the appointment of Burke County resident Seth P. Hunt, Jr., to the N C State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (NCSBENHA). The term of Hunt’s appointment is three years. The Board is responsible for, but not limited to, the exclusive authority to determine the qualifications, skill, and fitness of any person to serve as an administrator or administrator preceptor of the over 400 nursing homes in North Carolina

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Burke County Public Schools is in the “Examination Period” phase for purchasing a new property at 305 W. Union St., Morganton, to relocate Central Office. The Board of Education has shown its commitment by voting to make an offer on this location at its May meeting.

Patton student posing with his mother, sister and father

Daniel K., a rising senior at Patton High School, has achieved a remarkable feat by earning a perfect score on the ACT, a standardized test widely used for college admissions. This impressive score of 36 came on his very first attempt.

BCPS food services worker serving a meal to a parent from the district's foor truck

Burke County Public Schools and Chartwells K12 will offer free lunch to children in the community all summer long. Starting Monday, June 10, the BCPS Summer Meal program will serve lunch Monday through Thursday each week at the Valdese Elementary School cafeteria and the Mountain View Elementary School cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

superintentdent Dr. Mike Swan talking with two ladies amongst pallets of canned foods

As the country and the world counted down to Super Bowl LVIII and wondered if Taylor Swift would touch down from her Tokyo concert in time to watch her boyfriend’s team repeat as champions, our schools were busy tackling hunger. The 10th Annual BCPS Souperintendent’s Souper Bowl Canned Food Drive scored big this year by helping five local food pantries restock their shelves...

the superintendent, and board member and media coordinator posing with the donated books

A Freedom High School graduate’s illustrated books have found themselves on the shelves of Burke County Public Schools elementary school media centers, thanks to a generous donation from her parents.  Katie Kath is a 2007 graduate of Freedom and has a master’s degree in illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design. She has gone on to illustrate children’s books from authors such as...

  • Elementary Schools
four women posing with awards

The North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) has honored Burke County Public Schools for excellence in communications. BCPS earned a total of seven Blue Ribbon Awards for outstanding and effective communication. NCSPRA presented the awards during a special ceremony held in High Point, North Carolina on Feb. 9, 2024.

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt presenting a check with a large presentation check

Burke County Public Schools is receiving a $42 million school construction grant. North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt visited Burke County on Friday to announce the grant award from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, which is revenue from the NC Education Lottery.

Board of Education 2022

The Burke County Board of Education has adopted updates to policies and procedures on how school library and supplementary materials are selected and made available to students, how parents can review the material and the process for handling concerns about the material. The updates came during Monday’s regular board meeting...

six students and 2 adults the students are posing for with their awards

BCPS hosted the district-wide Elementary School & Middle School Speech Contests on Wednesday at the Old Rock School in Valdese.  50 contestants gave speeches in four categories in the Elementary contest, and 31 contestants gave speeches in five categories in the Middle School contest.  Please "Read More" to see the results.

poet Phillip Shabazz

Phillip Shabazz, a poet, author and teaching artist, was a special guest at East Burke High School recently for a poetry workshop in four English classes. In the workshops, he taught students different forms of poetry and challenged the students to get out of their comfort zones when writing.

  • EBHS
logos for Burke County commissioners and school board

With the passing of Senate Bill 68 into law (SL 2023-143), Burke County Public Schools plans to increase supplemental pay for teachers. The Burke County Board of Education and the Burke County Board of Commissioners came together in early September for a joint resolution to repeal 40-year-old legislation that restricted funding streams for Burke County Public Schools.

spelling bee winner posing with trophy and school administrators

Sam E. from East Burke Middle School is the winner of the 2023 Burke County Public Schools Spelling Bee. After 11 rounds followed by another 21 words, the seventh grader correctly spelled the winning word, “skirmish.” Runner up was Madelyn H., last year’s Spelling Bee winner. The evening started with 20 spellers from elementary and middle schools who were the winners of their school-level spelling bees.

  • EBMS
from left to right: Dr. Mike Swan, Debbie Jennings, Dillon Sain, Dr. Karen Auton

Burke County Public Schools has named Patton High School Principal Dr. Dillon Sain the 2023-2024 Principal of the Year for the district. Sain’s fellow Burke County Public Schools principals nominated him for the honor, and he is now chosen to represent the district at the regional Principal of the Year level.

a teacher and students giving a thumbs up toward the camera

State test results from the 2022-23 school year presented to the State Board of Education today show that North Carolina students continued to recover ground lost to the COVID pandemic, with gains across virtually all grades, subjects and student subgroups.
In Burke County Public Schools, district leaders are celebrating how far students have come since COVID-19.

Office of Governor seal

Today, Governor Roy Cooper hosted a roundtable discussion about the extreme NC General Assembly legislation that would undermine and underfund public education. At Western Guilford Middle School, the Governor was joined by school board leaders, superintendents, educators and local elected officials to discuss how these bills would have devastating impacts for North Carolina students, families and businesses.