Guilford County Schools

Three of the state’s top high schools are in Guilford County, according to this year's rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

The name honors Rev. Silas Peeler, former president of Bennett Seminary, now Bennett College, and Dr. William Hampton, Greensboro’s first Black City Council member.

The participating organizations are implementing a research-based tool called the Early Development Instrument, which measures how children are growing in areas like language, social competence and emotional maturity.

The Trump administration is withholding more than $6 billion in previously approved federal education grants to schools.

Officials say maintaining underutilized schools hurts the district’s already tight budget. They estimate the consolidation will save $1.7 million annually.

The recommended $842 million budget would keep the property tax rate flat, but is at odds with the school district's funding request.

Dual enrollment in Guilford County Schools increased by 46% last year. Superintendent Whitney Oakley says these students took more than 10,000 college courses, amounting to an estimated $2 million in tuition savings.

The four schools up for closure are Madison, Southern, Vandalia and Washington Elementary.

After the rally, attendees headed into a public hearing on the proposed budget, which includes a requested increase of nearly $44 million from the county.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aiming to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. State and local officials are working to determine what the impact will be on North Carolina’s public schools.