Weddington Middle School - Matthews, NC

Weddington Middle strives to provide a positive learning environment that makes every effort to meet the needs of all students through diverse settings and to focus on the success of students as individuals. While students can be placed in certain classes based on testing, most teams are a heterogeneous blend of students and abilities. This still allows for individualized instruction but in an environment that sets high expectations for each student, without an academic label. This philosophy has proven successful in building positive, supportive relationships between students and teachers and is validated by our Blue Ribbon-worthy academic records. Each year since opening its doors in 1998, Weddington Middle School has been named an Honor School of Excellence, meaning at least 90% of students performed at grade level and the school made adequate yearly progress. For the past several years WMS’s test scores have been the highest in the state among traditional, public middle schools.

Beyond academic achievements, Weddington Middle provides a varied and comprehensive offering of electives and extracurricular activities. There are many sports teams that meet after school. The school also offers a club program for every student. By providing an outlet for both academic and supplementary interests, WMS aims for success for each child.

What makes the school even more worthy of Blue Ribbon recognition is the fact that these accomplishments were often times achieved during extreme situations. During the 2005-2006 school year, our student population exceeded 1700 (in a school designed to house 850). This time period demonstrated the high quality of staff and students at WMS as well as their dedication to achievement, no matter the circumstances.