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Guilford County Schools, North Carolina
| Guilford County Schools |
|---|
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| Guilford County, North Carolina |
| District details |
| Superintendent: Whitney Oakley |
| # of school board members: 9 |
| Website: Link |
Guilford County Schools is a school district in North Carolina.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Budget
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
 |
This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
Whitney Oakley is the superintendent of Guilford County Schools. Oakley was appointed acting superintendent in June 2022, and started serving as permanent superintendent on August 31, 2022. Oakley's previous career experience includes working various administrative roles within the district, including as chief academic officer, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent.[1]
Past superintendents
- Sharon L. Contreras was the superintendent of Guilford County Schools from August 2016 until her retirement in June 2022. She left the district to accept a position with The Innovation Project.[2] Contreras' previous career experience includes working as a high school English teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent for pupil personnel service.[3]
- Maurice "Mo" Green was the superintendent of Guilford County Schools from 2008 to 2016. Green's previous career experience included working as general counsel, chief operating officer, and deputy superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.[4]
School board
The Guilford County Schools Board of Education consists of nine members elected to four-year terms. Eight members are elected by district and one member is elected at large.[5]
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilford County Schools, At-large | Alan Sherouse | Democratic | December 13, 2022 |
| Guilford County Schools, District 1 | T. Dianne Bellamy-Small | Democratic | 2016 |
| Guilford County Schools, District 2 | Crissy Pratt | Republican | December 13, 2022 |
| Guilford County Schools, District 3 | David Coates | Democratic | December 10, 2024 |
| Guilford County Schools, District 4 | Linda Welborn | Republican | |
| Guilford County Schools, District 5 | Deborah Napper | Democratic | December 8, 2020 |
| Guilford County Schools, District 6 | Khem Irby | Democratic | 2018 |
| Guilford County Schools, District 7 | Bettye T. Jenkins | Democratic | December 8, 2020 |
| Guilford County Schools, District 8 | Deena A. Hayes | Democratic |
Elections
Members of the Guilford County Schools Board of Education are elected to four-year terms. Elections are held every even-numbered year.[5]
Four seats on the on the board were up for general election on November 5, 2024.
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The Guilford County Schools Board of Education maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[6]
| “ | Board meetings are conducted for the purpose of carrying on the official business of the school system. The public is cordially invited to attend board meetings to observe the Board as it conducts its official business except as provided by law. (See Policy 2321 Closed Sessions.)
The Board of Education, as an elected representative body of the school system, also wishes to provide a forum for citizens to express interests and concerns related to the school system. In order that the Board may conduct an orderly meeting while providing an opportunity for input, individuals or groups may be heard by the Board during one regular business meeting per month. If the Board does not hold a regular meeting during a month, the Board will not provide a time for public comment at any other meeting held during that month, unless a majority of the Board votes to allow public comment at the meeting or unless the purpose of the meeting is a public hearing. A. Public Comment 1. To respect the time and commitment of honorees and citizens who wish to address the Board, recognitions and public comments will be scheduled at the beginning of the meeting. 2. Each speaker will receive three (3) minutes to present comments; however, the public comment session will not exceed 30 minutes total except by majority vote of the Board. At the end of the three-minute limit, individuals will be asked to end their comments and leave the podium. 3. Individuals or groups wishing to address the Board must register to do so by emailing boardclerk@gcsnc.com or by calling (336) 370-8992 the day before the meeting beginning at 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. the day of the meeting. Each speaker must provide the following information: name, address, telephone number, and, if applicable, the group or organization the person represents. An individual may not sign up for another person. 4. During the public comment period, the board chair will recognize speakers in the order in which their request was received. 5. Substitute speakers will not be permitted, and speakers may not donate any portion of their time to another speaker. 6. If a speaker is unable to present all of their comments within the specified time limit or the speaker is presenting highly detailed or complex information, the speaker may provide the Board with the additional information in written form via email to boardclerk@gcsnc.com or by providing a paper copy to the Board Clerk. 7. If a large number of people request to speak, a majority of the Board may decide to reduce the time for each individual or to require the designation of a spokesperson for each group of persons supporting or opposing the same positions. At any time, the Board may establish additional procedures to ensure that public comment sessions proceed in an efficient and orderly manner. 8. Board members will not respond to individuals who address the Board. If community members wish to receive an answer to a specific question or send written comments, inquiries should be directed to boardclerk@gcsnc.com. 9. In order to maintain appropriate meeting decorum, follow appropriate protocols, protect the confidentiality of students, and ensure the impartiality of the Board, the Board will not entertain comments on matters involving individual students, parents or the character, professional competence, or the physical or mental health of an individual. The Board will not take public comment on personnel matters that specifically include the names or titles of employees; this includes but is not limited to: contract non-renewals, position abolishment, the hiring or firing of staff, and investigative proceedings regarding allegations of misconduct. Communications regarding personnel issues should be sent in writing to: Guilford County Board of Education, 712 N Eugene St, Greensboro, North Carolina 27401 or via email at boardclerk@gcsnc.com. 10. Persons are expected to honor meeting decorum. Applause, cheering, jeering, or speech that defames individuals or stymies or blocks meeting progress will not be tolerated and may be cause for removal from the meeting or for the Board to suspend or adjourn the meeting. Those wishing to display place cards, signs and/or banners must remain behind the seating area, or on the side of the seating area, and may not block any attendee's view of the proceedings. Place cards, signs and banners may not have sticks or poles attached to them. Disruptions by any person or persons of a public meeting will be subject to action in accordance with G.S. 143-318.17. B. Reports of Complaints Complaints about the performance of school personnel, implementation of board policy, the quality of the educational program, or school facilities should be submitted initially for a response to the school system official responsible for the program or facility or to the Superintendent. Legal References: G.S. 115C-36, -51; 143-318.10, -318.17 Cross References: Student and Parent Grievances (policy 1740/4010), Constituent Services (policy 2015/5005) Adopted: June 27, 2024[7] |
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District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[8]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $115,526,000 | $1,649 | 14% |
| Local: | $232,412,000 | $3,318 | 28% |
| State: | $471,942,000 | $6,738 | 58% |
| Total: | $819,880,000 | $11,705 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $820,562,000 | $11,714 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $788,309,000 | $11,254 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $504,131,000 | $7,197 | 61% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $84,186,000 | $1,201 | 10% |
| Administration: | $81,461,000 | $1,162 | 10% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $118,531,000 | $1,692 | 14% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $12,684,000 | $181 | |
| Construction: | $9,362,000 | $133 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $329,000 | $4 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $14,271,000 | $203 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025[9] | $48,250 | $71,330 |
| 2023-2024[10][11] | $46,250 | $70,470 |
| 2020-2021[12][13] | $47,310 | $72,810 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[14]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 39 | 59 | 23 | 32 | 25-29 | 41 | 62 |
| 2018-2019 | 38 | 57 | 22 | 30 | 25-29 | 39 | 60 |
| 2017-2018 | 38 | 52 | 24 | 33 | 25-29 | 40 | 55 |
| 2016-2017 | 45 | 61 | 28 | 38 | 30-34 | 47 | 66 |
| 2015-2016 | 44 | 59 | 27 | 37 | 30-34 | 44 | 65 |
| 2014-2015 | 41 | 54 | 24 | 33 | 30-34 | 39 | 61 |
| 2013-2014 | 41 | 55 | 24 | 34 | 35-39 | 41 | 61 |
| 2012-2013 | 41 | 55 | 24 | 34 | 30-34 | 42 | 59 |
| 2011-2012 | 82 | 85 | 72 | 80 | 75-79 | 84 | 92 |
| 2010-2011 | 81 | 85 | 71 | 79 | 75-79 | 84 | 91 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 45 | 58 | 32 | 36 | 30-34 | 50 | 66 |
| 2018-2019 | 44 | 54 | 30 | 34 | 25-29 | 49 | 66 |
| 2017-2018 | 43 | 51 | 29 | 33 | 30-34 | 48 | 65 |
| 2016-2017 | 43 | 51 | 28 | 32 | 30-34 | 48 | 65 |
| 2015-2016 | 43 | 50 | 29 | 32 | 30-34 | 45 | 65 |
| 2014-2015 | 43 | 46 | 28 | 30 | 30-34 | 45 | 63 |
| 2013-2014 | 43 | 48 | 28 | 30 | 35-39 | 45 | 64 |
| 2012-2013 | 43 | 48 | 27 | 30 | 30-34 | 46 | 63 |
| 2011-2012 | 70 | 68 | 58 | 60 | 60-64 | 73 | 86 |
| 2010-2011 | 68 | 67 | 55 | 58 | 60-64 | 72 | 84 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 89 | 93 | 87 | 84 | 60-79 | 80-84 | 94 |
| 2018-2019 | 89 | 91 | 88 | 82 | >=80 | 85-89 | 93 |
| 2017-2018 | 89 | 91 | 88 | 80 | >=80 | 85-89 | 94 |
| 2016-2017 | 90 | 94 | 88 | 83 | 80-89 | 90-94 | 93 |
| 2015-2016 | 89 | 90 | 88 | 80 | 70-79 | 90-94 | 93 |
| 2014-2015 | 89 | 88 | 88 | 85 | 80-89 | 75-79 | 93 |
| 2013-2014 | 89 | 88 | 87 | 83 | 80-89 | 85-89 | 92 |
| 2012-2013 | 86 | 84 | 84 | 81 | 70-79 | 75-79 | 91 |
| 2011-2012 | 85 | 85 | 81 | 78 | 60-69 | 75-79 | 90 |
| 2010-2011 | 83 | 84 | 78 | 75 | 70-79 | 70-74 | 90 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 68,894 | -0.4 |
| 2021-2022 | 69,173 | -1.3 |
| 2020-2021 | 70,047 | -3.8 |
| 2019-2020 | 72,682 | -0.4 |
| 2018-2019 | 72,950 | -0.4 |
| 2017-2018 | 73,210 | 0.2 |
| 2016-2017 | 73,059 | -0.1 |
| 2015-2016 | 73,151 | -0.4 |
| 2014-2015 | 73,416 | 1.8 |
| 2013-2014 | 72,081 | -2.9 |
| 2012-2013 | 74,161 | 0.1 |
| 2011-2012 | 74,086 | 1.2 |
| 2010-2011 | 73,205 | 0.6 |
| 2009-2010 | 72,758 | -0.3 |
| 2008-2009 | 72,951 | 0.8 |
| 2007-2008 | 72,389 | 0.9 |
| 2006-2007 | 71,722 | 3.9 |
| 2005-2006 | 68,951 | 1.1 |
| 2004-2005 | 68,220 | 1.8 |
| 2003-2004 | 66,971 | 1.9 |
| 2002-2003 | 65,677 | 1.7 |
| 2001-2002 | 64,546 | 1.7 |
| 2000-2001 | 63,417 | 1.5 |
| 1999-2000 | 62,486 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Guilford County Schools (%) | North Carolina K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.3 | 1.1 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 6.8 | 4.0 |
| Black | 42.2 | 24.8 |
| Hispanic | 18.2 | 20.4 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Two or More Races | 5.1 | 5.6 |
| White | 27.3 | 44.0 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2022-2023 school year, Guilford County Schools had 4,545.89 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 15.16.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 103.91 |
| Kindergarten: | 304.29 |
| Elementary: | 2,628.03 |
| Secondary: | 1,443.18 |
| Total: | 4,545.89 |
Guilford County Schools employed 96.88 district administrators and 275.86 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 96.88 |
| District Administrative Support: | 225.70 |
| School Administrators: | 275.86 |
| School Administrative Support: | 371.11 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 995.48 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 88.56 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 212.76 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 80.63 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 130.58 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 105.31 |
| Library/Media Support: | 4.00 |
| Student Support Services: | 641.99 |
| Other Support Services: | 1,651.96 |
Schools
Noteworthy events
Lawsuit filed over selection method for new member (2023)
In June 2023, Republican Michael Logan and two school board members, Linda Welborn and Crissy Pratt, filed a lawsuit against the other members of the board over how a vacancy on the board was filled earlier that year. The suit stated that other school board members disregarded the state's open meetings law in their appointment of member Bill Goebel, and that the six members illegally declined to seat Logan, who was the county's Republican appointee to the board.[15]
The vacancy was initially created in December 2022, when Pat Tillman (R) resigned from the board to serve on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Following Tillman's resignation, the county's District 3 Republican Party members nominated Michael Logan to fill the vacancy. Then, the Democratic members of the board declined to seat Logan.[16]
In response, state Rep. Jon Hardister (R) filed House Bill 88 that aimed to change the way the board fills vacancies. The bill passed. According to Guilford County Schools, "The amended law states that if the vacating board member was elected as the nominee of a political party, the county political party executive committee shall provide the name of an individual in writing within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy."[16]
On April 4, 2023, Logan attended the board's meeting with the understanding that he would be sworn-in to the board based on the newly passed legislation. The board's attorney, Jill Wilson, then informed Logan that her interpretation of the new law concluded that the county Republican Party did not nominate him as the law required. The board also said that because 30 days had passed since Logan was first nominated, they were allowed to appoint a new person. They then appointed Goebel and he was sworn in several minutes later.[15]
Due to confusion surrounding language in HB 88, Senate Bill 33 was filed and later passed. This new law resulted in a swearing-in date for Logan to be set for September 19. Goebel resigned on September 19, stating that he felt continuing the litigation would "further distract the Board, the staff and the public from the important job of educating our children." Logan was sworn in the same day.[17]
Contact information
Guilford County Schools
712 N. Eugene St.
Greensboro, NC 27401
Phone: 336-370-8100
About school boards
Education legislation in North Carolina
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| North Carolina | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Guilford County Schools
- North Carolina School Boards Association
- North Carolina State Board of Education
Footnotes
- ↑ Guilford County Schools, "Dr. Whitney Oakley Named Next Superintendent of Guilford County Schools," August 31, 2022
- ↑ [https://www.ednc.org/2022-01-27-superintendent-sharon-contreras-innovation-project-guilford-schools-incarcerated-youth/ EdNC, "Guilford Superintendent Sharon Contreras departing for new role: ‘I’m a better human being from being an educator’," January 27, 2022
- ↑ Guilford County Schools, "Office of Superintendent: Sharon L. Contreras, Ph.D., Superintendent," accessed April 28, 2021
- ↑ Guilford County Schools, "About Our Superintendent," accessed April 28, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Guilford County Schools, "Board of Education," accessed April 28, 2021
- ↑ Guilford County Schools, "Policy Code: 2310 Public Participation at Board Meetings," accessed April 21, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed June 17, 2024
- ↑ Guilford County Schools, "2024-2025 Salary Schedule Dashboard," accessed April 21, 2025
- ↑ Guilford County Schools, "2020-2021 Licensed Salary Schedule Teacher Bachelor's Degree Salary Schedule - National Board Certified," accessed February 4, 2024
- ↑ Guilford County Schools, "2023-2024 Licensed Salary Schedule Teacher Doctororal Degree - National Board Certified," accessed February 4, 2024
- ↑ Guilford County Schools, "2020-2021 Licensed Salary Schedule Teacher Bachelor's Degree Salary Schedule - National Board Certified," effective July 1, 2020
- ↑ Guilford County Schools, "2020-2021 Licensed Salary Schedule Teacher Doctororal Degree - National Board Certified," effective July 1, 2020
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 News & Record, "Lawsuit filed over Guilford County Board of Education seat," June 7, 2023
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 WFMY News 2, "Logan escorted out after fifth attempt at filling District 3 board seat, Goebel sworn in," April 5, 2023
- ↑ Fox8, "Guilford County school board swears in Michael Logan to represent District 3 after Goebel steps down," September 19, 2023
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