All students at the following schools will receive free breakfast and lunch during the 2026–2027 school year through the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program:
Conover School
North Newton Elementary
Newton-Conover Middle School
Shuford Elementary
South Newton Elementary
Newton-Conover High School
Student participation is vital to the continued success of this program, so take advantage of these healthy meal options every day!
Board of Education Meeting Schedule Update
The Newton-Conover City Schools Board of Education updated its meeting schedule during the regular meeting held on August 17.
September 14, 2026 has been designated as the Board’s Fall Work Session.
December 7, 2026 will now be the date of the December Board meeting.
Please make note of these changes to the 2026 Board of Education meeting calendar.
Go to https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/north-carolina/districts/newton-conover-city-schools/discovery-high-school-14628 to see more info regarding this tremendous accomplishment.
#WeAreDiscoveryHighSchool
🎉 School starts Monday, and we can’t wait! 🎉
We are so excited to welcome back our students and kick off a fantastic school year full of positive energy, growth, and good vibes!
⏰ Bell Schedules:
Elementary Schools: 8:10 AM – 3:20 PM
Middle & High Schools: 7:40 AM – 2:50 PM
Conover School: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
🎒 Kid Connection: Before care opens at 6:00 AM | After care runs until 6:00 PM
Let's make this year incredible! See you Monday!
Our challenge and charge for this year? Good Vibes Only! Bright smiles, positive energy, and unwavering support for every single student, every single day.
We are so inspired, energized, and ready to make the 2026–2027 school year our best one yet. Thank you to everyone who made today so special!
We can't wait to welcome students and families back! Here are the dates and times for Open House across our schools:
👉 Conover School: August 18th from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
👉 Discovery High School: August 20th - New Student Orientation
👉 Newton-Conover High School: August 18th from 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
👉 Newton-Conover Middle School: August 19th from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
👉 North Newton, Shuford, & South Newton: August 19th from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Here is a look back at a fantastic week of welcoming our newest team members:
✨ BT Bootcamp: Preparing our beginning teachers with the tools, strategies, and foundation for a successful school year ahead.
🤝 Buddy Teacher Day: Connecting our new educators with experienced mentors to foster collaboration, guidance, and lifelong friendships.
☕ New Hire Morning Mingle: Wrapping up with great conversations, warm smiles, and strong community connections as everyone settled into their new roles.
To all of our new hires and beginning teachers: we are so proud and excited to have you as part of the Newton-Conover family. Thank you for your dedication to our students and community. Let’s make this school year the best one yet!
A message from our superintendent, Dr. Emily Shaw:
Dear Newton-Conover City Schools Families and Community,
Today, the North Carolina State Board of Education met, and while the proposed merger of Newton-Conover City Schools, Hickory City Schools, and Catawba County Schools was not a scheduled agenda item, the proposal was briefly discussed.
During the discussion, State Board members shared that they will carefully review the merger proposal and all accompanying materials using the criteria established in North Carolina law. They expect to discuss the review process, timeline, and next steps at their September meeting.
Chairman Eric Davis also acknowledged that the State Board has already received hundreds of letters regarding this proposal. Let's continue to flood the inbox! I believe we can make it thousands!
This is our opportunity to ensure the State Board hears directly from the people who know Newton-Conover City Schools best: our students, parents, employees, alumni, business partners, retirees, and community members. Our schools are thriving because of the commitment of our teachers, staff, families, and community. Together, we have built a district that offers outstanding academic opportunities, strong extracurricular programs, innovative initiatives, and a culture where students are known, supported, and challenged to succeed. Those accomplishments are worth protecting.
We need every supporter of Newton-Conover City Schools to make their voice heard. Tell the State Board why Newton-Conover City Schools matters to you. Tell them about the teachers who changed lives, the opportunities your children have received, the pride you have in our schools, and why you believe our district should remain independent. Personal stories from our community will help the State Board understand what is at stake and why preserving our district matters. Share with them the financial impact the merger will make with our students and families.
I remain fully committed to advocating for what I believe is in the best interest of our students, our employees, and our community. Thank you for your continued support of Newton-Conover City Schools and for standing alongside us as we work to preserve the district that has served generations of students with excellence.
Together, we can send a powerful message that Newton-Conover City Schools should remain independent. Together, let's make sure the State Board hears us loud and clear.
Public comments may be emailed to:
Tiffany Lucas, General Counsel
tiffany.lucas@dpi.nc.gov
Here is the clip from the State Board of Education Meeting - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TtwXNDwofglySP9Pvl-SOXRCsQw7X1ir/view
Counting down the days until these hallways are noisy again! 🎒✨ We’re missing our students big time, but our teams are busy getting everything ready for an amazing year ahead. Enjoy these last few weeks of summer—we can't wait to see you back!
I want to provide you with a brief update regarding the proposed merger of the Catawba County school districts.
Later this week, the North Carolina State Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled meeting. While the proposed merger is not listed as an agenda item for public discussion, it is possible that the State Board may discuss the process it will use to consider this matter. We will know more after the meeting, and I will share updates as soon as I am made aware.
Although there are still many questions about the process, please know this: Newton-Conover City Schools remains fully committed to advocating for our students, our staff, and our community. We will continue to oppose the merger and will utilize every appropriate opportunity available to present the facts, share our story, and demonstrate why maintaining a strong, independent school district is in the best interest of our students and our community.
The support of our community continues to make a difference. I encourage you to remain engaged by continuing to reach out to members of the North Carolina State Board of Education. As you communicate with them, I ask that you encourage the Board to carefully examine all available information before making any decisions and to support a comprehensive, independent study that fully evaluates the educational, financial, operational, and community impacts of this proposal. Decisions of this magnitude deserve a thoughtful, transparent process grounded in data and focused on what is best for students.
I remain confident in the strength and resilience of our district; and I am deeply grateful for the steadfast support of our students, employees, families, alumni, and community throughout this journey. Together, we will continue to stand united in advocating for Newton-Conover City Schools, always putting our students first and remaining steadfast in our commitment to creating a culture of academic excellence.
As additional information becomes available, I will continue to keep you informed.
Thank you for your continued support of Newton-Conover City Schools.
Sincerely,
Emily Y. Shaw
Superintendent
Newton-Conover City Schools
This is a tremendous milestone for our students, staff, families, and community. While today's news is certainly worth celebrating, it also represents the culmination of months of hard work, collaboration, and unwavering commitment. Since the state's announcement earlier this spring, we have worked diligently and intentionally to secure the future of Conover School and ensure that students continue to receive the exceptional services they deserve. It has been a long and emotional journey, but through it all, we remained united in our focus on doing what was best for students.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who played a role in making this possible. This achievement is a testament to what can happen when people come together around a shared purpose. Our three school districts worked side by side, supported by our state and local legislators, school board members, parents, employees, community partners, and, most importantly, our students. Every conversation, every meeting, every phone call, and every act of advocacy helped move us one step closer to this moment.
I am especially grateful to our Conover School staff and to all district employees who continued to serve students with professionalism, compassion, and unwavering dedication despite the uncertainty. Your resilience and commitment never wavered, and because of your efforts, we are prepared to begin the new school year seamlessly.
Thank you for all that you do each and every day for the students of Newton-Conover City Schools.
With gratitude,
Emily Shaw
Superintendent
📅 Important Testing Dates (Please avoid planning trips during these times):
December 14–18
May 7–20
Check out the planner to spot upcoming 3-day weekends, holiday breaks, and teacher workdays so you can plan your family time worry-free. Thank you for helping us keep your kiddos in school and ready to learn!