1991
To help schools cooperate better, the North Carolina General Assembly made a law to combine city and county schools in the same places. They wanted schools from Nash County and the City of Rocky Mount to join together. Also, schools from Edgecombe County and the City of Tarboro came together to form the Edgecombe County Public School District.
1992
The schools in The City of Rocky Mount and Nash County united to create a big school district named "Nash-Rocky Mount Schools." This meant that around 2000 students who lived in Edgecombe County's part of Rocky Mount were now part of the new school district called NRMS.
1992
Both Edgecombe County and the City of Rocky Mount wanted every student to get the same money for school. Edgecombe County paid its own amount for each student to Nash County. Then, the City of Rocky Mount paid extra money (called GAP) so that Edgecombe County students in Nash County schools had as much money as Nash County students to learn. This way, even though Nash County had more money for each student, all students had the same amount to help with their education.
2016
After the NC General Assembly made State Bill 382, it changed the rules from the 1992 merger. Edgecombe County leaders talked about letting their students in Nash County Public Schools go to Edgecombe County Public Schools.
2020
Edgecombe County commissioners provided funding for Edgecombe County Public Schools to hire an Executive Director of Transition and Redesign. This person would explore merging with the Edgecombe community.
2023
State Bill 248 got approved, making it a law that Nash County Public Schools and Edgecombe County students will separate in Fall 2024. The Bill says everyone involved - Nash County Commissioners, Nash County Public Schools, Edgecombe County Commissioners, and Edgecombe County Public Schools - must work together and make a plan for the change by November 15th, 2023.
2023-2024
ECPS is working with students, families, and staff from Nash and Edgecombe County to transition the schools, students, families, staff, and learning resources from the Nash County Public School System to the Edgecombe County Public School System.
