𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿
MARTIN COUNTY, N.C. — Martin County Schools has once again earned one of North Carolina's highest honors in public education, being named the 2026 North Carolina Innovation and Excellence in Public Education Award winner by the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA). This marks the second consecutive year the district has received this prestigious statewide recognition.
The award recognizes school boards and school systems that develop innovative solutions to challenges facing their districts and demonstrate meaningful results. Receiving this distinction for a second consecutive year is a significant milestone and reflects the continued transformation taking place throughout Martin County Schools.
While the award itself is an extraordinary honor, the accomplishments behind it tell an even greater story: a rural school system challenging the status quo, expanding opportunities, improving student outcomes, and redefining what is possible for its children and community.
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁
Over the past several years, Martin County Schools has dramatically expanded educational and extracurricular opportunities for students. From beginning band, theater, robotics, orchestra, STEAM experiences, athletics, and Odyssey of the Mind to expanded course offerings, new career and technical education pathways, and additional early college opportunities, including increased dual enrollment options, the district is working to ensure students have access to experiences that prepare them for success in college, careers, and life.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁:
𝗔 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝟵𝟯.𝟰%, up from 69% two years ago and the highest in Martin County Schools history.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁'𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲, reflecting meaningful progress across the school system.
𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, marking an important milestone for the school and its students.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 for only the second time since the state accountability model was implemented in 2013-2014.
𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗕 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: Williamston Primary School, Rodgers Elementary School, and Martin Innovative Early College High School.
𝗔 𝟮𝟱𝟳% 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱, made possible in part through the district's partnership with Martin Community College, allowing students to earn valuable college credits at no cost to their families.
These accomplishments are not the result of a single initiative or one year's work. They reflect intentional decisions, strategic investments, dedicated educators, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to changing what is possible for children in rural Martin County.
The district has embraced innovation as a means of creating opportunity, recognizing that a student's future should never be limited by geography or circumstance. Through expanded academic pathways, workforce development opportunities, innovative instructional programs, and a continued focus on student achievement, Martin County Schools is building a stronger foundation for the next generation.
Dr. Michelle White, Superintendent of Martin County Schools, emphasized that the recognition represents the collective efforts of the entire community.
"This recognition is incredibly meaningful because it represents so much more than an award. It represents a community that believes in its children, educators who are willing to think differently, and a school system committed to ensuring that being a rural district never limits what is possible for our students. We have challenged traditional ways of thinking, expanded opportunities, raised expectations, and continued to push ourselves to do more because our children deserve every opportunity to succeed. None of this happens because of one person or one initiative. It is the result of a dedicated Board of Education, hardworking administrators, exceptional teachers and staff, supportive families, committed community partners, and a community that believes in the future of its schools. This award belongs to all of them. We are proud of the progress we have made together, but our greatest focus remains on the opportunities still ahead for the children and families of Martin County. We are just getting started."
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱. Martin County Schools remains committed to building on this momentum, expanding opportunities, strengthening academic outcomes, and ensuring every student has the support and resources needed to reach their full potential.
Two consecutive years of statewide recognition represent more than an award. They reflect a community moving forward together.
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲!