With a goal of Better Serving all Students and Families, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) has launched a two-year planning process to explore options for modernizing the District’s residential boundaries to increase socioeconomic diversity and enhance school transportation efficiency.

WS/FCS is the fourth largest school district in North Carolina, yet our residential boundaries have remained largely unchanged since we launched the School Choice Plan more than 30 years ago. As a result, our schools are less socio-economically diverse and student transportation is inefficient.

WS/FCS’s Fostering Diverse Schools initiative is supported by a unique two-year Fostering Diverse Schools Demonstration Grant from the U.S. Department of Education.. The nearly $1 million in funding from the federal Fostering Diverse Schools program enables WS/FCS to

• conduct an in-depth assessment of the district’s current residential boundaries with input from families, students, staff and the community

• develop a comprehensive plan designed to enhance socio-economic diversity in our schools and realize transportation efficiencies

WS/FCS is one of twelve school districts in the country that received this grant. Learn more about the grant  here.

Links to About the Grant page

Fall/Winter 2024

Collection of your feedback through Listening Sessions, Surveys and a Feedback Hotline.

Winter/Spring 2025

Sharing of residential boundary change proposals with families, students, staff and the community for additional feedback.

Summer/Fall 2025

Presentation of a final plan to the WS/FCS Board of Education.

A key aspect of the planning process is collecting  feedback from families, students, staff and the community. We want to hear from you throughout the planning process with a goal of reaching 8,000 individuals by the end of 2024. Here are three ways you can get involved:

• Attend a Listening Session – Be part of the conversation by attending one of our ongoing community listening sessions, available both in-person and virtually and in English and Spanish through December 2024. Share your experiences, insights, thoughts and concerns to help shape the future of our schools.

  • Current Listening Session Dates (dropdown menu as it is on current site)

  • Register for Listening Sessions

  • Download the Slides

• Survey will close on December 31, 2024 – We invite you to participate in the Fostering Diverse Schools survey (available in English and Spanish) to help us gather valuable feedback. Your responses will provide critical data that will guide our decision-making.

Note: Only one response is allowed per community member. If you click the survey link and see a message that indicates you have already taken the survey, and believe you are seeing this message in error and/or wish to update your responses, please email wsfcs@pluralconnections.org for further assistance.

If you prefer that your child not participate in the Fostering Diverse Schools survey, you may opt out by completing this short form.

• Parent Opt-Out Form

• Access Our Feedback Hotline – If you can’t make a session or want to share additional thoughts, hopes, and concerns about the project, please call our Feedback Hotline at 336-727-8029. We want to hear from you!

More Feedback Opportunities Coming!  In early 2025, the Fostering Diverse Schools team will share proposals for residential boundary changes and transportation efficiencies based on initial feedback. Families, students, staff and the community will have the opportunity to provide additional feedback before a final plan is presented to the WS/FCS Board of Education by late Summer/early Fall 2025.

Feedback Dashboard

The Fostering Diverse Schools Feedback Dashboard enables our community to learn alongside us as we gather insights through the surveys and listening sessions. This interactive platform provides a real-time look at who we are hearing from—and who we may still need to engage—ensuring that every voice is represented.

By visiting the dashboard, you can:

• Explore insights and trends from the diverse groups within our community

• Understand who we are and are not hearing from to promote inclusivity

• Stay informed and engaged as we continue our planning process

Feedback from Listening Sessions - English

Feedback from Listening Session - Español

Frequently Asked Questions

Another way that you can stay informed is to explore Frequently Asked Questions that are being collected from the listening sessions. Here are some of your top questions answered.

The Winston Salem Forsyth County Schools system is committed to creating equitable learning environments for all students and developing collaborative partnerships with families and stakeholders who represent our diverse community. Learn more about our equity commitments and investments here.

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) have been awarded the two-year Fostering Diverse Schools Demonstration Grants totaling $943,688. This grant aims to support WS/FCS in creating a comprehensive plan to modernize residential boundaries to enhance socioeconomic diversity and improve transportation efficiency across the district. Read the full grant application. The project will be carried out over four phases, culminating in the presentation of stakeholder-vetted models to the Board of Education for consideration and implementation.