Schools
FCS No. 8 Nationally in Large-District Use of Technology
Forsyth County Schools has again been recognized for its use of technology to govern the district, communicate with students, parents and the community, and to improve district operations.
For the sixth time, Forsyth County Schools has been named a top-ten Digital School District by the National School Boards Association and the Center of Digital Education.
For 2013-14, FCS captured eighth place in the large-sized (12,000 or more) student population district category behind Roanoke County Public Schools, VA.
In 2005, FCS won first place, along with second place in 2012, third place in 2008 and 2009, and sixth place in 2004. The Digital School Districts Survey showcases exemplary school boards’ and districts’ use of technology to govern the district, communicate with students, parents and the community, and to improve district operations.
Large Student Population District Category - Student population 12,000 or more:
1st Prince William County Public Schools, Va.
2nd Colorado Springs School District 11, Colo.
3rd Hampton City Schools, Va.
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3rd Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Ga.
3rd Township High School District 214, Ill.
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4th Houston County School System, Ga.
4th Richmond County School System, GA
5th Houston Independent School District, Texas
5th Kent School District, Wash.
6th Fayette County Schools, Ga.
6th Katy Independent School District, Texas
7th Klein Independent School District, Texas
7th Northwest ISD, Texas
8th Forsyth County Schools, Ga.
9th Cherokee County School District, Ga.
9th Hall County School District, Ga.
10th Blue Valley Unified School District #229, Kan.
Selected Survey Findings and Trends:
School Board Meeting Availability:
- Board meeting agenda and docs e-displayed on screen – 80%
- Televised – 31%
- Streamed and Archived – 32%
- Via Podcast – 22%
- Fifty-two percent of states allow Board members to participate/vote in school board meetings remotely.
The district allows alternatives to core content instruction in classrooms:
- Students can take fully online classes for core content credit - 79%
- Blended classes are offered and meet core content requirements through a combination of face-to-face and online instruction - 67%
- Core content is currently delivered online - 61%
- The "flipped classroom" concept is utilized- 61%
- Video conferencing for instruction is utilized as part of core content - 47%
- The district has developed plans to deliver core content online - 33%
- No alternatives to core content face-to-face instruction are being explored - 3%
Describe the district's strategy regarding mobility:
- District offers professional development for teachers on how to use mobile devices and apps for instruction - 88%
- Student-owned mobile devices can be used in the classroom - 83%
- District encourages the use of mobile apps for instruction - 81%
- District provides mobile apps for students to use for instruction - 67%
- District has successful actions in place regarding physical protection of district-owned devices - 65%
- District provides 1:1 mobile devices for students to use in the classroom - 46%
Status of BYOD:
- Implemented – 56% (up 22% from last year!)
- Of the 56% that have implemented, in which grades?
- 9th – 12th – 84%
- 6th – 8th – 74%
- 4th and 5th – 62%
- Pre-K – 3rd – 51%
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