Rockingham County Public Schools - General Information

General Information

• RCPS has received nearly $2 million in 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants from the U.S. and VA Depts. of Education to operate before- and after-school programs at five elementary schools in cooperation with Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.
• The three high schools offer students a variety of opportunities to earn college credit while in high school, including dual enrollment classes, as well as Advanced Placement (AP) classes in all major content areas.
• Al high schools offer alternative education programs for at-risk students.
• All high schools have multi-purpose computer labs that remain open to students until 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, during the school year.
• A Smaller Learning Communities grant for $300,000 was received from the U.S. Dept. of Education to improve programs such as middle to high school transition.
• The Character Counts program has been implemented in all elementary, middle and high schools.
• RCPS has over 4,000 computers, which are deployed in every classroom, office, library, and computer lab. Middle school students take two year-long computer technologycourses.
• The Career Cluster Program provides a focused program to assist participating students with a seamless transition from school to work. RCPS is supported privately by the Rockingham Educational Foundation, Inc. During the 2006-2007 school year, the Foundation will contribute approximately $75,000 in support of a variety of school initiatives and student scholarships.
• The Rockingham Educational Foundation provides a Teacher Supply Depot for classroom teachers. The Depot is a warehouse where teachers can select hundreds of free items for classroom usage.
• Summer Science Camps are conducted at all elementary schools through a contribution from Merck & Company, Inc. to the Rockingham Educational Foundation, Inc.
• The three high schools collaboratively publish a monthly community newspaper called, etc... It has a circulation of about 30,000.
• During 2005-2006, 3,524 parents, college and high school students, business people, members of civic groups, and others volunteered in our schools. They donated over 113,786 hours of service.
• All teachers are required to possess eight Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel.
• Many teachers have achieved certification based on the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers.
• Over 37% of Rockingham County teachers have master’s degrees.
• Elementary and middle schools provide after-school tutoring and homework assistance.
• Each high school sponsors a Future Educators Association and teaching mentorships for credit.