As a result of its efforts to close the achievement gap, Greenwood Middle was recently recognized as a top 10 school for North Carolina in the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program. The school was recognized at a special awards luncheon in Greensboro hosted by the North Carolina Association of Federal Education Program Administrators.

“We congratulate the Greenwood Middle staff, administration, and especially the students for the school’s academic achievement,” states Dr. Marc Whichard, superintendent. “Being named a top 10 school in North Carolina in the National ESEA Distinguished School Program reflects the hard work happening in the classroom each day.”

The National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program is a project that publicly recognizes qualifying federally funded schools for positive educational advances and the outstanding academic achievement of their students. ESEA has three recognition categories. Greenwood Middle received a Category 2 recognition, which focuses on closing the achievement gap between subgroups consistently for at least two consecutive years.

Greenwood Middle principal, Nelson Cunningham, joined the school in July 2022. He states that the moving of the academic needle didn’t just happen within the traditional school day.  He has worked with staff and students to cultivate a safe learning environment, build school culture and pride, develop an active athletics and arts program, and launch a scholars tutoring program available to students during and after school.

“When I came to Greenwood, I brought a vision and a plan for our school, and was blessed to have the staff, the students, their parents, and even our community, both on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and in Goldsboro, jump on board,” said Cunningham. “High expectations and standing strong on those expectations was the real key. When teachers can teach, and students are excited and vested in learning, good things happen.”