From Staff Reports 

While a recent state report shows North Carolina public educators are leaving classrooms “in droves” and “at a rising rate,” the report also indicated that the Asheville school system has the highest teacher attrition rate in the state — at 30.7 percent, Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on April 9.

“The 2022-23 school year showed that in Western North Carolina, all but two local districts had an attrition rate at or above 10 percent,” News 13 noted.

“I wish I could say I was shocked, but I’m really not,” Asheville City NCAE President Timothy Lloyd was quoted as saying by News 13. “There’s a lot of pressure within school staff. They feel really squeezed.”

The TV station added, “On average, North Carolina public schools saw an attrition rate of 11.45 percent. However, multiple local districts experienced higher numbers last school year. Swain County Schools was at 15.5 percent, Buncombe County Schools at 16.1 percent, McDowell County Schools with 16.6 percent, and Jackson County Schools sat at 18.3 percent.

“On top of that, the school district with the highest attrition rate in the entire state was Asheville City Schools, which topped the list with an attrition rate of 30.7 percent.

“There’s not enough pay,” Lloyd told News 13. “There’s too much work for not enough pay. That’s really felt strongly here in Asheville.”

The TV station noted that “a district’s attrition takes two main areas into account. Those who are leaving education entirely or moving on to another school system.

“Statewide, the main reasons cited for teachers leaving the profession had to do with personal reasons, trying a new career or retirement.

“Lloyd believes another reason played a role in ACS being at the top of the report.”

He told News 13 that “I don’t think it’s any more difficult in Asheville or Buncombe (County),. I think living is more difficult in Asheville and Buncombe (County).”

Included in the “comment bubble” at the end of News 13’s report were the following:

• ATruthTeller – “A merger of the two local school districts could eliminate a lot of bureaucracy and provide money for raises.” 

• DCB1999 — “They are leaving because the racist right is pulling funding out public schools and putting it places it do not belong.  It is on you if you want to home school your kid because they have to go to school with gays and blacks. Does not mean my tax money should go to them or private schools. Sorry if the racist do not want their kids learning the true history of this country.”

• FAFO — “People are also pulling their kids out of public schools in Asheville at a huge rate. Because they don’t want them being indoctrinated in the wokeness. Homeschooling is making a huge comeback. Kids ‘graduating’ from high school are severely behind these days. Math is racist, let’s learn CRT. LOL.”

• DCB1999 (in a reply to FAFO) — “Define ‘woke’? Stop drinking the Kool-Aid.”