The State of Education in Halifax County, NC

"Unless Our Children Begin to Learn Together..."

A comprehensive analysis of the history, educational impacts and legal implications of maintaining three separate school districts in Halifax County, NC.

The primary focus of the report is the racial and educational disparities among the county's three school districts: Halifax County Public Schools (HCPS), Weldon City Schools (WCS) and Roanoke Rapids Graded School District (RRGSD). Examining history, educational data, and civil rights law, the report concludes that the maintenance of three separate, racially segregated school districts in Halifax County, North Carolina, is a continuing violation of the constitutional rights of all students and severely undermines the quality of public education throughout the county.

Following the release of this report, various community organizations have joined the Center in "Community Conversations" about racial isolation in rural schools, the reasons for maintaining three separate districts in Halifax County and the possibility of district unification. The Community Conversations provide the Center with opportunities to interact with those most impacted by the educational system in Halifax County and to collect feedback on the report.

• Executive Summary
• Full Report
• What People are Saying
• Press Conference Invitation
• Halifax County Schools Equity Report Card: 2009-2010
• "Community Conversations" Schedule, Summer 2011
• About the "Community Conversations"
• "Community Conversations" Session Evaluation

Upcoming Community Conversations

If you or your organization are interested in hosting a Community Conversation, please contact civilrights@unc.edu or call 919.843.3921.

Related Media and News

• "Consolidation in focus for Halifax commissioners," Roanoke Rapids Herald, Sept. 6, 2011
• "Pierce: Improvement, not merger, the next step," RR Spin, Sept. 6, 2011
• "Hot button topic: School Consolidation", Roanoke Rapids Herald, Sept. 4, 2011
• "Halifax education unification meeting Tuesday," Roanoke Rapids Herald, Aug. 15, 2011
• "Community education meeting Saturday," Roanoke Rapids Herald, Aug. 1, 2011
• "School districts don't need to blame, but compete with KIPP", Roanoke Rapids Herald, July 19, 2011
• "Schools' elephant clearly in view", Roanoke Rapids Herald, May 12, 2011
• "UNC Report Focuses on Schools in Halifax Count", WRAL, May 10, 2011
• Press Release, May 9, 2011
• "A Fresh Look at School Segregation", Op-ed by Managing Attorney, Mark Dorosin, May 7, 2011
• Press Advisory, May 2, 2011

Past Community Conversations

• January 16, 2012, 7:00 p.m.: Roanoke Rapids, NC; Hosted by the Halifax County NAACP.
• June 11, 2011, 1:00 p.m.: Braswell Memorial Library, Rocky Mount, NC, Hosted by the North Carolina Rural Education Working Group
• June 27, 2011, 6:00 p.m.: Scotland Neck Town Hall, Scotland Neck, NC, Hosted by the Halifax County NAACP, The Committee to Save Education in Halifax County (Brawley Chapter) and the Concerned Citizens of Tillery
• July 14, 2011, 6:00 p.m.: Families Supporting Families Office, Roanoke Rapids, NC, Hosted by Families Supporting Families
• August 6, 2011, 10:30 a.m.: White Oak Parent Child Center, Enfield, NC, Hosted by the Halifax County NAACP, The Committee to Save Education in Halifax County (Eastman Chapter) and the Concerned Citizens of Tillery
• August 16, 2011, 6:00 p.m.: Littleton Community Center, Littleton, NC, Hosted by the Littleton Community Center
• September 6, 2011, 9:30 a.m.: Halifax County Commissioners Regular Meeting, Historic Courthouse, Halifax, NC
• September 6, 2011, 6:00 p.m.: Ivory Hill Baptist Church, Enfield, NC, Hosted by the Halifax County NAACP, The Committee to Save Education in Halifax County, and the Concerned Citizens of Tillery
• September 12, 2011, 7:00 p.m.: Halifax County School Board, Southeast Halifax High School, Halifax, NC
• September 27, 2011, 6:00 p.m.: Hosted by Halifax Community College
• November 21, 7:00 p.m.: Roanoke Rapids, NC Hosted by the Halifax County NAACP.

If you attended one of our Community Conversations Sessions, please complete an evaluation and send it to civilrights@unc.edu.