Significant Boost in School Construction Funding for North Carolina’s Economically Distressed Districts
In a substantial investment aimed at enhancing educational infrastructure, ten school districts across North Carolina, from Transylvania to Tyrrell, are set to receive over $392 million. These funds, sourced from state lottery revenues, are earmarked for key construction and renovation projects.
The grants will facilitate the building or replacement of several school facilities including seven elementary schools, two high schools, and a Career and Technical Education Center. This initiative also involves comprehensive renovations of two schools and the replacement of 14 existing ones.
Distributed through the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund (NBPSCF), these grants mark the largest annual allocation of capital funding derived from state lottery funds. Established in 2017 by the General Assembly, the NBPSCF provides application-based grants supplementing existing funds from the Public School Building Capital Fund and the Public School Building Repair and Renovation Fund, benefiting all 115 districts annually.
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green emphasized the transformative impact of these grants: “This funding is critical to support, sustain, and nurture continued excellence in North Carolina’s public schools,” he stated. “Students across the state will receive much-deserved safe, modern, and accessible learning environments through the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund. I’m incredibly thankful to award nearly $400 million to these districts as this is an important step forward in our journey to provide exceptional learning spaces for all North Carolina students and educators.”
Grant Allocations
- Caswell County Schools – $18.8 million
- Comprehensive renovation of Oakwood Elementary School to tackle major safety and operational challenges affecting the learning atmosphere.
- Duplin County Schools – $32.4 million
- Revamping East Duplin High School to enhance the educational environment and ensure safety and modernity.
- Greene County Schools – $42 million
- Replacement of West Greene Elementary School to accommodate rising student numbers and meet current educational, safety, and accessibility standards.
- Hertford County Schools – $7.1 million
- Renovation of Riverview Elementary School with a new gymnasium and additional classrooms to improve security and address infrastructure aging.
- McDowell County Schools – $42 million
- Construction of a new East Marion Elementary School to unify the East Global Magnet and Marion Elementary schools.
- Richmond County Schools – $42 million
- Complete overhaul of L.J. Bell Elementary School to replace aging facilities and ensure a conducive learning environment.
- Rockingham County Schools – $42 million
- Building of a new Reidsville Elementary School to merge two underfunded elementary schools.
- Transylvania County Schools – $62 million
- Transformation of the Brevard High School campus, merging Davidson River Alternative School with Brevard High and adding a new CTE facility.
- Tyrrell County Schools – $62 million
- Development of a new PK-13 CTE facility to replace outdated and flood-prone structures with a modern building.
- Wilson County Schools – $42 million
- Construction of a new Wilson Elementary School to combine two outdated schools into one safe, eco-friendly, and accessible facility.
Funding limits are set at $42 million for elementary schools, $52 million for middle schools, and $62 million for high schools. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction evaluated grant applications based on criteria outlined in the statute, including county development tier designation, revenue generation capability, debt-to-tax revenue ratio, and projects addressing critical deficiencies or consolidating multiple facilities. Districts that have not received a grant in three years were also considered.
In total, 92 applications were submitted, requesting nearly $2 billion in funding. The NBPSCF grant program receives annual funding through budget appropriations from the North Carolina Education Lottery revenue.
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