GCS Newcomers School

Jake Henry, Principal at GCS Newcomers School

The High School Ahead Academy

Michelle Hayes, Principal at The High School Ahead Academy

GCS Welcomes the GCS Newcomers School and The High School Ahead Academy

Guilford County Schools (GCS) welcomes new faces and new schools this year. One such new school is the GCS Newcomers School, appropriately named for “newcomers,” who are not only new to GCS, but also to the United States. GCS is proud of its diversity and realized the importance of having a school specifically to address the needs of students from other countries who do not speak English as their first language.

Across the district, GCS students speak 136 languages and dialects. Approximately 6,000 English language learners are enrolled in GCS, and those numbers are expected to increase. The GCS Newcomers School is the first of its kind in North Carolina and is designed for students in grades five through 12 who recently arrived in the United States and are considered novices on the North Carolina language test. The goal of the school and its staff is to accelerate literacy skills and prepare English language learners to bridge the gap between a newcomer setting and their assigned school. The capacity of the school is currently 325 students.

“For the last four years we have seen the need for sheltered English as Second Language (ESL) setting for new arrivals,” said Mayra Hayes, director of ESL department.  “The Newcomer Charter team has spent a lot of time developing a program that would be beneficial for our students and families.”  Curriculum is embedded with the English as a Second Language Standard Course of Study.  The family component includes Saturday Adult Literacy classes in adult English instruction, babysitting, K-12 tutoring and field trips. Other services include community referrals, counseling and health awareness. 

Jake Henry is the first principal of the Newcomers School.  He and his staff are committed to make the school a success. “We are excited about our first year at the GCS Newcomers School,” said Principal Jake Henry.  “We believe we can make a difference in the lives of children by providing focused instruction in English and helping them transition into their new surroundings.  The Newcomers School will provide a foundation for success in our school system as well as hope for a bright future for all new arrivals.”

Another newcomer to GCS is The High School Ahead Academy. The school is also a new concept for GCS and its purpose is to bridge the gap for middle school students who are not ready for high school but who are older than their classmates. Dr. David Roper, senior administrator who has overseen the task of implementing the High School Ahead Academy into a working school, explains, “This is one method for moving away from socially promoting a middle school student.”  “The High School Ahead Academy will help students build skills to ensure a successful transition to high school rather than just promoting a student and crossing your fingers that they are ready for high school. The old method was not successful.” 

The High School Ahead Academy’s first principal is Michelle Hayes. “I am thrilled to be apart of this pioneer experience in education that will help the students at The High School Ahead Academy find academic and social success.”  The first school year will start with approximately 100 students.

These two schools are one of many reasons that keep GCS Striving. Achieving. Excelling.