Thank you for choosing Guilford County Schools!

In GCS, It's Personal

GCS is the third-largest district in North Carolina, serving nearly 70,000 students across 124 schools in urban, suburban and rural areas. Because we are a larger district, we are able to offer opportunities that smaller districts, charter and private schools just can't. We have 48 magnet and choice schools with 66 programs, from Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to performing or visual arts, advanced academics, Spanish immersion, Montessori, health sciences or aviation.

We also offer more than 260 Career and Technical Education courses in 49 schools, including programs in culinary arts, business, nursing, computers, and automotive technology, among others.

High schools across GCS offer more than 30 Advanced Placement courses. These college-level classes prepare students for the higher-level courses they will take after graduating from high school and moving on to colleges and universities.

GCS also offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate program at four high schools - and it's open to all students who qualify. Only a small number of districts in North Carolina are authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer the Diploma Programme, and GCS has been a part of it since 1996.

Nine early and middle colleges allow students to earn up to two years of college credit while attending high school - and it's free.

Personalizing learning is what we are all about, and we are committed to personalizing learning for each of our students. 

GCS and Proud

GCS is celebrating great success, including achieving GCS's four-year graduation rate of 89.1 percent in 2020. 

GCS is also a National District of Character and North Carolina District of Character. The compassion and generosity of our students and staff earned GCS the United Way Spirit of North Carolina Award each year since 2013.

Our employees have earned fellowships, state and national awards, and we are ranked 10th in the country for the number of teachers with national board certifications. Tenth!

GCS is achieving educational excellence, inside and outside the classroom. We are proud to be GCS.

Mission

Guilford County students will graduate as responsible citizens prepared to succeed in higher education, or in the career of their choice.*

*This mission was adopted by the Guilford County Board of Education on December 12, 2000.

Core Values

DIVERSITY - We are committed to creating an educational organization where a variety of persons and perspectives are welcome. We are committed to providing an environment where students and staff from all cultures and backgrounds may succeed.

EMPATHY - We are committed to developing a culture where our employees identify with and understand the feelings of our students and parents as well as their colleagues.

EQUITY - We are committed to creating equitable and inclusive schools where adults take ownership for student learning outcomes and make sure students have what they need to succeed in school and in life. We will acknowledge and dismantle systems, processes and mindsets that perpetuate race, poverty, disability and English language status as predictors of achievement. We will align resources to create equitable opportunities for students and employees. We will eradicate achievement gaps.

INNOVATION - We are committed to fostering a work environment where the goal is not to manage innovations but to become innovative. Problems are identified, adults in the district assume ownership of the problems, and everyone works together as agents of the solution until the problems are solved. We will not stop until obstacles are removed, solutions are found, and clear and compelling goals are established.

INTEGRITY - We are committed to creating a school district that acts with honesty and forthrightness, holding ourselves to high academic and ethical standards and treating everyone with respect.