at Morgan Elementary
Get a glimpse of the student experience and the community-centered and learner-centered approach Morgan Elementary takes to support learners in this short video.
Morgan Elementary, a rural K-8 school in central North Carolina, shows what’s possible when community care and rigorous learning reinforce each other. By moving away from traditional grade levels and fixed timelines, Morgan has built a competency-based model where students progress by demonstrating mastery—tracking their own growth, celebrating milestones, and staying focused on their individual learning journeys. This approach is made possible by the deep community roots and culture of belonging that have long defined the school. At Morgan, care and learning aren’t separate priorities—they’re two sides of the same coin. Read the first post of this blog series here.
Community Schools in Practice
At Morgan Elementary, community isn’t a program—it’s the foundation everything else is built on. In this post, we explore how Morgan enacts the six key practices of community schools:
- Powerful student and family engagement
- Collaborative leadership and shared power and voice
- Expanded and enriched learning opportunities
- Rigorous, community-connected classroom instruction
- Culture of belonging, safety, and care
- Integrated systems of support
From families who fought to keep their beloved school building to students leading daily broadcasts and earning interpersonal skills “superstar” recognition, discover how Morgan Elementary brings these practices to life in ways that are deeply rooted in its rural North Carolina community.
at Morgan Elementary
Learn more about the other community school sites here