A TALE OF FOUR SCHOOLS

A BRIEF HISTORY OF QUALITY EDUCATION SCHOOLS

It was 1991 when a group of dedicated and concerned citizens in the community of Winston-Salem, NC recognizing the need for improved quality in the education of children and the value of having parents actively involved in all aspects of the education of their children, began the pursuit to provide a school where children could receive an affordable state-of-the-art academic education that would also be tailored to their cultural needs, learning styles, and had a proactive approach to teaching self discipline. This seemed to be an impossible task for the then Governing Council who would seize the opportunity to make this dream a reality. After months of needs assessments, forming of coalitions and partnerships in the community, securing licenses, and 501(C) 3 tax status, in July 1992, Quality Education Institute (QEI), a private elementary school opened.

The community celebrated the beginning of a new era in education. At last there is an educational institution where parents, school staff members and the community comes together in a partnership of self determination designed to bridge the ever-increasing gap of cultural and academic voids that were so evident in the education of our youth especially of those who are most at risk of failure. With one teacher, Ms. Crystal Pearson, and 14 kindergarten students, under the direction of Simon Johnson , Executive Director, housed in the modern edifice of the Carver Road Church of Christ, whose minister was Cloys Cecil, Sr., a new age of education in this community began.

Word of the success of the school quickly spread around the community. The word of the outstanding performance of the students on standardized tests, the satisfaction of parents with the caring and loving focused learning, parents’ opportunity to participate in the decisions about the education of their children, and the networking with other community organizations was out.

By 1995 all 75 of its students in then grades K-2, were scoring 2 or more grades above grade level on the California Achievement Test.  QEI received full accreditation from the renowned Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1996. The school continued to grow numerically so that by 1997 when it moved into its newly constructed state-of-the-art facility of 20 technologically equipped classrooms, computer lab, and office space, the student population had risen to over 100 students in grades K-5 (the school added an additional grade each year).

Seeking to broaden its success to the middle school grade levels, this group of citizens organized Quality Education Academy (QEA), one of the 34 original Charter Schools chartered in North Carolina in 1997 based on legislation passed by the General Assembly in 1996. Quality Education Academy, grades 6-8, was an immediate success in the community. The first year many students regrettably were denied admission due to overcapacity. The same successes experienced by QEI were now interfacing in the middle school arena. QEA adopted the same ideals, vision and mission as its predecessor QEI.  The student teacher ratio remained at 1/15 as more parents and community volunteers took active roles in all facets of the school's operation.

In 2000 Quality Education Schools Daycare opened.  This program offers a research based education curriculum for children 12 months to school age.  All students are nurtured is an educationally loving environment specializing in the individual needs of each child.

By the fall of 2007 the ninth and tenth grades of Quality Education High School moved into their sterling new high school facility.  The school will add the 11^th and 12^th grades in each of the next two years.  Situated on a sprawling eleven acre tract of rolling green hills and babbling streams, with a beautiful country house as its administrative building, the school is an impressive landmark in the community. Equipped with their own individual wireless laptops furnished by the school, students are able to take advanced courses through a partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Quality Education Schools (QES), as the schools are affectionately referred to, is located in the heart of the predominately African American section of Winston-Salem, N C, serving a student population where 70% of its students (approximately 250) qualify for free or reduced lunch. With the ever-increasing diversity in the community, QES is proud of its approach to the individualized education for every student. Each student's academic, physical and social needs are assessed at the beginning of each year and the lessons are tailored to that student's passion for learning. In addition to its academic pursuits in this safe and secure environment, Quality Education Schools offers opportunities for after school care, band and choral instruction, mentoring, tutoring, parenting classes, English classes for non-English speaking adults and children, state of the art technology for parents and children, family literacy, enrichment mathematics and science programs, to name a few.  The school has a competitive sports program in girls and boys basketball, cross country track and field, volley ball and softball. 

The mission of the Quality Education Schools (QES) is to maximize the educational potential of children in small group setting by providing a stimulating educational environment that will develop each student's intellectual, cultural, emotional, physical and social potential to the fullest, and to effectively educate and utilize parents, communities, and community organizations in the education of children.

Quality Education Schools is known for its holistic approach to the high academic achievement of its students and its strong emphasis on academic excellence, family involvement, cultural awareness and personal responsibility. Its motto is, "We will raise the quality of life of everyone we touch."

The governance of the school is strong and sturdy. The Board of Directors is comprised of various upstanding community volunteers, businesses, and parents of students who attend the school, all of whom have a stake in the education of children. At the heart of any successful endeavor of this magnitude is the cause for which it stands.

The Executive Director of the schools, Simon Johnson, stated, “This is the culmination of a large part of our vision.  We are now capable of providing a safe, loving, and user friendly learning environment for all children from one year old through high school.  The value of establishing long term deep rooted relationships cannot be over estimated as it pertains to the impact on the development of emotional intelligence and student achievement”.

At Quality Education Schools, we believe everyone has something to offer that will help this world be a better place. We invite the community and businesses to roll up their sleeves and get involved in the education of our community. With this passion, the students, parents, staff, Board of Directors, and community have united in this effort designed to benefit the entire society.