Editor’s note: Asheville City Schools voted March 11 to close its STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) middle school, Montford North Star Academy in school year 2024-25. That will leave the district with one middle school — Asheville Middle School. ACS receives a more than $68,000 grant award from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Also in WNC, Madison County Schools is awarded a $50,000 award.
News release from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction:
Twenty North Carolina public school units (PSUs) will benefit from nearly $1 million dollars in grants intended to expand and enrich Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. The Increasing Engagement in STEM grants, included in the most recent budget by the General Assembly, provide funds to PSUs to engage grades 6-8 students in experiential STEM education programs.
The grant opportunity generated significant interest across the state, with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) receiving 68 applications – 43 from local education agencies (LEAs), or school districts, and 25 from charter schools.
“We know that STEM education is imperative for students to truly be competitive and keep up with workforce needs after graduation,” said State Superintendent Catherine Truitt. “Allowing educators the opportunity to experiment with new ways of learning STEM is an incredible way to not only get students involved, but to also get them excited about STEM and all the possibilities that come with an education in STEM.”
The 20 awardees include five charter schools and represent all eight educational regions of the state. The North Carolina public school units named as grant recipients are:
| Public School Unit | Grant Amount |
| Cape Fear Center for Inquiry | $23,551.00 |
| Chatham Charter | $14,345.00 |
| Guilford Preparatory Academy | $50,000.00 |
| Northeast Academy for Aerospace & Advanced Technologies | $41,000.00 |
| North East Carolina Preparatory | $80,000.00 |
| Alleghany County Schools | $26,674.00 |
| Asheville City Schools | $68,341.67 |
| Greene County Schools | $56,000.00 |
| Madison County Schools | $50,000.00 |
| Northampton County Schools | $59,975.00 |
| Columbus County Schools | $50,000.00 |
| Kannapolis City Schools | $41,300.00 |
| Moore County Schools | $50,000.00 |
| Vance County Schools | $50,000.00 |
| Wayne County Public Schools | $39,144.43 |
| Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | $49,900.00 |
| Iredell-Statesville Schools | $42,055.00 |
| Johnston County Public Schools | $50,000.00 |
| Wake County Schools | $125,200.00 |
| Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools | $28,060.00 |
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