Eastern North Carolina

Schools

Rural Eastern North Carolina is home to some of the poorest school districts in the country. In a state that traditionally faces severe teacher shortages – in 2007, there were over 10,000 teaching vacancies in North Carolina – low-income schools have difficulty attracting excellent teachers, particularly in high-needs subject areas. In the past two years, Teach For America has been able to fill about 50 percent of requests for high school math teachers and special education teachers. All ten districts in which Teach For America places corps members experience some of the lowest achievement rates and highest poverty levels in the state.

Teach For America • Eastern North Carolina is working to overcome these challenges by recruiting more corps members to provide excellent educational opportunities to all students. According to a recent independent study, 100 percent of North Carolina principals who manage Teach For America corps members believe that these teachers make a positive difference in their school environment, and would hire Teach For America corps members again. Our corps members have developed new high school courses and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, served as department chairs, sponsored extracurricular clubs and sports, and organized international field trip opportunities for their students.

View a map of our placement areas.

At a Glance

School Districts:
Bertie County Public Schools
Durham County Public Schools
Edgecombe County Public Schools
Granville County Public Schools
Halifax County Public Schools
Johnston County Public Schools
Nash County Public Schools
Northampton County Public Schools
Vance County Public Schools
Warren County Public Schools
Weldon City Schools (located in Halifax county)

Ethnic Breakdown-Student Population (Compiled from all school districts)
70% African-American
22% Caucasian
6% Latino and Hispanic
1% Asian-American
1% Native American
< 1% Other

Ethnic Breakdown-Eastern North Carolina (Counties Included: Durham, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Northampton, Vance, and Warren)
49% African-American
45% Caucasian
1% Latino and Hispanic
4% Asian-American
1% Native American
< 1% Other

Percentage of Students Qualifying for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch
73% (in Teach For America placement schools)

Placements
22% elementary teachers
78% secondary teachers
95% teach at a school with another corps member or alumnus
K-12 grade level placements: general subject elementary specific subject secondary special education arts education