School Characteristics and History

     Spindale Elementary is nestled in the heart of an old textile milling town.  The town of Spindale is centrally located in Rutherford County (population of 67,000) in the southwestern section of North Carolina.  The town has a population of 4,022 people and was incorporated in 1923.  Formerly known as the textile center of the county, Spindale had four textile plants operating at one time (all of which are no longer in business).  As with many communities in recent year, unemployment rates have risen to over 14% in the area and have had a tremendous impact on our school families. 

     The present school building was completed in the winter of 2004.  The previous building, which housed students from 1937-2004, was torn down within days after the staff and the students moved into the new facility in March, 2004.  During the period 1937-2004, Spindale School had been under the capable leadership of only three principals:  Mr. Paul H. Huss, Mr. Clyde C. Harrill, and Mrs. Carolyn H. Keever.  Spindale Elementary is located within walking distance to the Main Street restaurants, the public library, the Spindale House recreation center, and both the local police and fire stations.  Over the years, the Spindale Police Department and the school have developed a strong and supportive relationship with each other. 

     With a student population of 450 PreK-5 students, approximately 80% of our students come from low-socioeconomic households.  As a school, our challenge has been not just to teach the children in our care, but to provide the students with a community of support which has enabled them to make great strides in achievement.  Communities in Schools has partnered with the school for several years and has been instrumental in helping us to achieve our goals.  Spindale Elementary was recently recognized as a “Title I Distinguished School for Closing the Achievement Gap.”  Spindale was one of eight schools selected in the state for this prestigious honor.  This current year, Spindale is proud of its designation as an “Exemplar School in the North Carolina Positive Behavior Intervention & Support Initiative.”