Saved Schools

Phillips Middle School

Phillips Middle School, nominated by Transcend, is a middle school in Battleboro, North Carolina, that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily rural area.

Location Battleboro, North Carolina

Governance Public District School

Grades Middle

Students 124

Locale Rural

Principal Quarry Williams

Demographics

Percentage of students*

13%

English Learners

100%

Free/Reduced Lunch

13%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 68%

American Indian/Alaska Native

Asian

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Hispanic or Latino 20%

White 4%

2+ Races

Why Phillips Middle School was nominated

The North Phillips School of Innovation (NPSI) draws students and staff from Phillips Middle School and North Edgecombe High School. At NPSI, the work of learning and innovating is rich and busy. Students use the use the design process to study math, English, and science, all while working to understand themselves and their community. The learning is a highly structured experience, but one full of choices.

Student experience design

*A safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where all students feel valued *Engaging, standards-aligned instruction that promotes critical thinking and real-world application *Strong focus on student voice, ownership, and active engagement in learning *Development of the whole child, preparing students to be confident, responsible, and future-ready

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Assessments For Career Readiness

Less than a year

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Less than a year

Family And Community Support Services

1-2 years

Culturally Responsive Practices

1-2 years

Restorative Practices

1-2 years

All Practices

Advancement On Mastery

AI Literacy

AI For Learning Materials

AI For Teacher Productivity

Apprenticeships

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Career Advising & Support

Career Exploration

College Advising & Support

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Educators Have Industry Experience

Mental Health Services

1:1 Mentoring

SEL Curriculum

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Tutoring

Career Prep

key reasons for innovating

Improve academic achievement

Improve school culture

Improve student mental health

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.