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.”