Home - Vance County Public Schools (2024)

Vance County Schools opened the Center for Innovation (CFI) in July 2021. The school was built in the 1930’s and in 2018 was surplused due to school consolidations. With the district's commitment to ensuring the use of the historic building and a substantial anonymous donation to kickstart the project, the Center for Innovation was born. Upon opening, CFI housed three of the district’s innovative schools: STEM Early High, Advance Academy, and Vance Virtual Village Academy. Additionally, innovative spaces were developed including the zSpace 3D/VR lab, the audio lab, the video lab, the Simulation Labs for Interactive Career Exploration (SLICE), and the Mindsphere MakerSpace lab. Soon after opening, the Wayne Adco*ck Auditorium was unveiled in January 2022 and Gargoyle Garden in April 2022. In August 2022, SLICE Medical was added to the experiences. The opportunities for students continued to grow in 2023 as EnTech and SparkNC joined the mix.

Vance County Schools recognized their March Student Spotlights for 2023-2024.Brisa Nunez of Ayco*ck Elementary, Michelle Reyes of Clarke Elementary, and Gabriella Fields of Pinkston have demonstrated exemplary qualities and contributions to their school communities. The Student Spotlight program, sponsored by Vance County Schools and the Vance County Public School Foundation, aims to celebrate outstanding students who are making a meaningful difference in their schools. These students have not only demonstrated excellence in their academics but also exhibited commendable qualities such as kindness, dedication, and a commitment to personal growth.

In Vance County Schools, aspiring chefs find their path through the innovative Culinary Arts program offered as part of the Career and Technical Education curriculum. Led by Chef Ebony Mitchell on the Center for Innovation campus, this program goes beyond the basics, providing students with comprehensive training for the commercial kitchen environment. “The skills that the students need to be successful in the culinary classroom are confidence, consistency, customer service, ambition and a willingness to learn. With these skills, the students will be great”, Chef Mitchell shares.