WINTON – A change in the curriculum at one of the county’s oldest schools will open the doors for new opportunities for Hertford County students.

Beginning with the 2013-14 academic year, C.S. Brown High School in Winton will transform into a S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) school.

According to Hertford County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Perry, all details for the magnet school will be developed during this transitional year.

“Starting with the coming school year 2012-2013, we are tailoring C.S. Brown High School for students who want a small academically challenging environment.  The students who commit to enrolling this school year will be eligible to remain for the opening of the S.T.E.M school in the fall of 2013-2014 school year,” Perry said.

Perry stated that the school has more than accomplished its goal in assisting students to reach many successes, while simultaneously impacting the graduation rate in Hertford County from 60 percent to 78 percent.

“Having only 11 students left to take advantage of this opportunity, the administration and teachers at C.S. Brown were to be commended for working themselves out of a job,” Perry said.  “The administration is quickly looking in another direction for continued opportunities for our students.”

C.S. Brown reopened its doors in 2008 as one of three high school options for Hertford County students.  At that time the school served students who were at least 16 years old and two years behind their graduating cohort.  The school board at that time created this opportunity for students who needed a non-traditional route to a high school diploma.

Since its reopening, C.S. Brown High School has gone beyond the expectations of its inception.  Its graduation rate has increased from 60 percent in 2009 to 93 percent in 2012.  Under the leadership of Nora Artis, the high school opened with 56 students who needed an environment that a larger populated school could not offer.  Not only did 90 percent of the senior class graduate with a high school diploma, but the school’s increase in student academic achievement has been noted, skyrocketing from 17 percent proficiency to 94 percent during the 2011-2012 school year, thus earning the North Carolina State’s ABC projected status of “School of Excellence.”

“We have more than just great expectations for our new school that will specialize in science, technology, engineering and math,” Perry said.

For questions or interest in registration, call 358-2852 or attend an interest meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22.