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 Ģ������ƵStories      October 6, 2025

By Julia Duvall

The Catamount School, a lab school operated by Ģ������Ƶ in partnership with Jackson County Public Schools, is celebrating a year of academic progress and a significant increase in student enrollment.

At its most recent advisory board meeting, TCS reported a 14.29% increase in enrollment, alongside strong gains in academic proficiency and student achievement. The school, which serves grades 6 through 8, is designed to meet the unique developmental needs of young adolescents through innovative teaching approaches and applied learning opportunities.

“Our staff spends time looking into students' response to instruction and level of mastery for each standard that is addressed,” said Sarah Tatham, principal of The Catamount School. “Because of the depth of the data that is collected and discussed, we can respond quickly to the needs of our students and adjust instruction to increase positive outcomes. This responsiveness is what makes it possible to see such high growth for all students, regardless of their unique learning needs.”

Overall proficiency increased by 13 points, and the school’s performance score rose by 10 points. The percentage of students who are grade-level proficient (GLP) increased by 10 points.

All students who took Math 1 earned high school credit, and 80% of 8th graders earned high school credit in Earth and Environmental Science. TCS students scoring a 3, 4, or 5 on end-of-grade tests—an important benchmark in the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s strategic plan—increased by more than 10%.

Compared to peer middle schools in the western region of North Carolina, TCS continues to perform strongly, despite serving a student population with unique needs. Notably, 25% of TCS students receive special education services, compared to 13% statewide and 15% nationally.

“What contributes most to student success at The Catamount School is our team of highly committed teacher leaders and comprehensive systems of support,” said Kim Winter, dean of WCU’s College of Education and Allied Professions and superintendent for TCS. “We support the whole child, which yields academic success in the long run. Our educators loop with students throughout their middle school journey, serving them in fully inclusive classrooms with rigorous, problem-based learning.”

The school’s data-driven approach includes tracking cohort growth over time, allowing educators to identify trends, implement early interventions, and foster a growth mindset among students.

“We are very proud of our students’ performance at the Catamount School last year. The performance data confirmed what we already know well: our teachers, staff, and parents work very hard to identify areas for improvement for each student and craft engaging and challenging classroom experiences to help them progress,” said Ģ������ƵProvost Richard Starnes. “That’s the kind of student-centered education that makes The Catamount School successful.”

As a lab school, TCS continues to serve as a model for innovative middle school education in North Carolina, preparing students for long-term academic success while contributing to the broader educational research mission of WCU.