Zebulon B. Vance High School

I love Vance high school I love my school . There isn't anything wrong with Vance . It's just that students come just to come with out any care about others time or education . Not only that but it's who you hang around and who you know. If you come to school to learn and do what you are told then you should fine. It's all up to you ,!!!!!! In high school they teach you life lessons and that is exactly what Vance is teaching me
—Submitted by a student

Vance is a great school. People shouldn't listen to rumors - come and Che k the school out for yourself. I am a teacher at Vance and we have good leadership now that focuses on instruction. There are high standards for students and faculty that cares. Vance is finally becoming the school it was meant to be!
—Submitted by a teacher

Vance's recent change in leadership has driven the majority of the "Rockstar" instructors away. Vance embraces "Minimum Grades", meaning, students can't earn lower than a 50%. . Administrators above the new principal say that, "Grading is at the principal's discretion...." These practices are not common knowledge. She has also rearranged the teachers, experienced / high performing teachers are placed with the lower performing students and vice versa. In some cases, advanced students are not being taught enough to even pass the AP exams. Vance has spent more time breaking up fights and increasing its percentage of school arrests (a 663% increase according to the news from last year to now) this year. The only major thing that has changed is the leadership. We have written and conferenced with her and those above her and still no help.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a senior at Vance and i love my school. i feel that vance can be a great school to thoese that make it great and get involved. i also feel that at any school a child can find bad things to do if he/she really wants to.
—Submitted by a student

I am a Vance parent and I think the school is great! My daughters are involved in the band program and here at Vance that is a very respected thing. The curriculum offered has something for everyone. They offer AP classes for those who want the challenge without being weighed down by the requirements at the IB programs offered elsewhere. The students that were taken out to attend a new high school are very much missing Vance and in fact want to come back 'home'. If that doesn't say everything I don't know what else will convince you that Vance is a great school!
—Submitted by a parent

Vance High School is a great school Im a senior, and so far Ive been doing great. I love my teachers and peers. the adminstrative staff is incredible. Cauthen is a great principal! =]
—Submitted by a student

I graduated from Vance in June of 2006. I started attending Vance as a sophmore and, coming from a private Chrisian school which I attended in my freshman year, I can honestly say Vance High school is a great school. The faculty that I came in contact with, whether it be acedemics, sports, clubs or other activities, were all friendly and helpful fully involved in what they did. I took Honors and AP classes which constantly challenged me to perform well in my high school career. I now am in my freshman year at NC State University and feel that Vance prepared me properly. Vance is an overall great school providing a welcoming community to its students which reach out into the community as the University City magazine does regular stories focused on Vance and its accomplishments that it makes through faculty or students. Ms.Rea and others are great people.
—Submitted by Doug Francavilla, a former student

As a sophomore this year [05-06] I feel that Vance is far from the lousy school it has been portrayed to be, but still needs a little ways to go. One thing I really like is the way the principal has handled getting the school's EOC grades up, but I also feel that in some ways this goal has been pursued in a highly ineffective fasion: the infamous 70/30 system. 60/40 would have been tough, 50/50 would have been fair, but I firmly believe 70% of your grade being tests, and homework accounting for only 30% is a bit harsh. One thing that seems to come up a lot in discussing Vance is the racial diversity. There is a wide array of races represented, but representation by percentage is grossly inequal. All my teacher's thus far have been wonderful, but I am chiefly in HN&AP classes, and cannot speak for the lower echelons.
—Submitted by a student

It is a shame how publicity has scarred the name of Vance. It is a fantastic school; while yes, I admit it has its problems, but so do all other CMS schools in the county. My daughter is currently a senior and taking plenty of AP classes. The teachers challenge her and educate her, I could ask for no more. Through their unwavering aid, she passed her AP exams and is now applying for great colleges and scholarships. Vance has made all this possible for her, and for this I am grateful. It provides its students with the top education and technology. It is up to the parents to convince their children to mack the best of Vance, its teachers, and resources,and it is up to the parent to remain actively involved in their child's life making sure they are doing their work and keeping up their grades!
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated from Vance in 2002. When I attended school there, in the beginning, Vance was exceptional. I feel that Vance has worsened as a school due to the absence of Ann Clark. The school is not racially balanced and is overcrowded. Parents need to take responisiblity of their children and provide better support for their children.
—Submitted by Amber Stabel, a former student

Our daughter graduated from Vance in June, 2004 having come from Cannon School her sophomore year. Very pleased with her education at Vance. She was very challenged in her AP classes and completed her 1st year at Florida State University - achieving a 4.0 GPA her 1st year. I found most staff and administrators very receptive to concerns I had from time to time. However, there are educators, issues, student problems that exist at all schools. If Vance is not for your child, I hope you have better experiences at another school. However, there are great things happening at Vance. I get tired of hearing parents bad mouth schools, when you have a choice! Terry Potts
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children at Vance, one is holding their own, independent learner, the second needs help and not only has not received any help after many visits by me begging, but was in a math class with no teacher until the last 2 weeks of the semester and also in an english class that the schedule only allows attendance at every other class period. This student was in another class that was cancelled and scheduling conflict(?) Allowed attendance to only some of the classes for this course! unbeleivable, not acceptable, should be accountble!
—Submitted by a parent

We have a son who is a Junior at Vance this year and overall we are very happy with the quality of teachers and classroom instruction. Kit Rea, who has been the Principal at Vance since October 2003, has provided wonderful leadership, vision, and direction which has virtually eliminated a number of the issues that resulted in very negative publicity during the 2002-03 school year and 1st quarter of 2003-04. Many of the problems resulted when CMS went to a choice plan (Vance had been a 50% workplace magnet school) and were compounded when Ann Clarke, the inaugural principal who was highly praised for her outstanding leadership, left to become a CMS department head. Despite the problems, our son has always loved going to Vance. As parents who value, expect and demand a quality education for our children, we definitely feel that Vance provides that and more. Connie & Mark Caulton
—Submitted by a parent

Vance HS - Very Poor We are doing whatever we can to keep out daughter from attending Vance high school. To improve this HS, CMS will need to provide more qualified teachers and especially qualified guidance counselors, which means, enough to handle all the students! Many of the students are being misdirected or given no career counseling at all. My husband & I have attended numerous meetings, spent countless hours at Vance HS, reported numerous staff, sent numerous emails, phone calls, letters, & now have a hearing with CMS. All this while working our own jobs! Unless you love teaching & are qualified to provide guidance counseling for your son or daughter, I suggest you avoid Vance HS. Our daughter is now attending Sylvan Learning Systems due to the incompetence of the CMS system & Vance HS. God Bless, Sandra & Marshall Lail
—Submitted by Sandy Lail, a parent