A message from Dr. Nicely |
Roanoke County team united in a common purpose |
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Dr. Ken Nicely Superintendent
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Have you ever stopped and thought about the geography of Roanoke County? I often compare it to a doughnut, given its circular shape with the large hole in the  middle where the independent cities of Roanoke and Salem sit. The geography and topography of Roanoke County create some interesting travel patterns and challenges and can also contribute to a psychology of isolation and disconnect. For example, did you know that if you are in Bonsack, it is physically impossible to drive to any other part of Roanoke County without leaving Roanoke County?
 As a school system, Roanoke County Public Schools is made up of 27 different schools spread all around the “doughnut”. Compared to school divisions in Virginia, RCPS is considered a mid-size district serving approximately 13,000 students in five high schools, five middle schools, 16 elementary schools and one specialty center. We do not have the challenges of scale that huge districts like those in Northern Virginia have, but nor do we benefit from the perceptions of closeness and connection that naturally exist in small districts with one high school. Therefore, we have to be intentional and purposeful in our efforts to create a sense of unity and connectedness as a school division. Each RCPS school is rightfully proud of its own distinctiveness and the smaller community where it is located, but we are all part of Roanoke County Public Schools and are equally proud of our larger community and the high standards our families expect across the county. There are so many variables that make each school, each family, each student, and each staff member different and unique, but there are also so many areas of common ground and shared sense of pride and responsibility that unite us as one community!
Since 2019, one way RCPS has been intentional in bringing people together in unity and common purpose, is through our faculty convocation held just before school starts for students. This is the one time of year that teachers and other staff members from all 27 schools come together to celebrate our students, our schools, and our staff as one big team. Teachers from each school love to stand and cheer when their school is called during the annual roll call of schools, but we also cheer on each other, regardless of the individual school, and celebrate our common points of pride as one school district.
From Convocation 2025, our themes are teamwork and deep kindness. At first glance, these themes may seem like two separate ideas, but they are actually inextricably connected. Most people would agree that there is tremendous power in teamwork; in working collaboratively to achieve goals in ways than we otherwise could not achieve individually. Working as a team, though, requires mutual respect and, yes, deep kindness: a commitment to treating others as we would like to be treated even when we disagree or when it is inconvenient or difficult. In Roanoke County, we are committed to working together as a team (schools, staff members, and families) to help our students succeed and become what we call Opportunity Ready. Just as our nation came together in incredible ways in the aftermath of the tragedies of September 11, 2001, we come together united in our common purpose centered on students and children. That is a vision worth getting behind and working together to achieve as one team.
Thank you, Roanoke County families, students, and staff for your continued support of our kids!
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Upcoming Important Dates and Events |
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| Sept. 24
Three (3) Hour Early Dismissal Elementary: 11:25 a.m. Secondary: 12:25 p.m. |
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Oct. 13
Schools closed for a Teacher Workday
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Oct. 22
Three (3) Hour Early Dismissal Elementary: 11:25 a.m. Secondary: 12:25 p.m. |
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Nov. 3
Schools closed for student-led conferences |
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Series of community meetings focus on protecting children from online dangers and mental health issues |
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September 17William Byrd High School
October 6Hidden Valley Middle School
October 13Northside High School
November 18Cave Spring High School
December 8Glenvar Middle School
All meetings are open to the public and will begin at 6 p.m.
MORE DATES MAY BE ADDED |
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Roanoke County Public Schools is encouraging parents to attend four important community meetings this fall concerning student safety and mental health issues.
Five meetings, in cooperation with the Partnership for Community Wellness, will be held concerning the dangers of cellphone use among elementary, middle and high school students. Today’s digital world is full of threats including dangerous apps disguised as harmless games, online predators, social media addiction, and relentless cyberbullying. Parents will learn exactly what to look for — and how they can fight back with powerful tools and expert-backed strategies to reclaim control over their child’s digital life and guard their mental and emotional health in a tech-driven world.
Excessive device use is rewiring young brains, disrupting sleep, fueling anxiety, and lowering academic success. The damage is happening now — and it’s deeper than most parents realize.
“Social media is having a disastrous impact on our students, from cyberbullying to predators and more” said Dr. Ken Nicely, superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools. “We strongly recommend parents wait until at least eighth grade, or later, before allowing their children to have a smartphone and access to social media. There are many online dangers, and we want to make sure our students are safe,” Dr. Nicely said.
On September 22 at 6 p.m., parents also are encouraged to attend a community meeting at Northside High School to talk about suicide prevention.
Parents and caregivers play a powerful role in protecting young lives and will learn more about how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health struggles in children. We will review the risk factors that may increase a child’s vulnerability, steps parents can take to strengthen their child’s mental and emotional well-being, and support services available through their child’s school and local community.
“We continue to be in the midst of a mental health crisis,” said Dr. Shawn Hughes, director of school counseling for Roanoke County Public Schools. “Students continue to struggle with mental health concerns. The sooner that a parent or caregiver can recognize that a student is dealing with a mental health concern, the sooner that student can receive support through the many resources schools and the community have available.” Hughes said.
“If we partner together to take steps, even small steps, these can have a big impact on our children’s well-being and mental health,” said Dr. Ken Nicely, superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools.
| Read More » |
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RCPS ranks in the top 10 in Virginia for 2024-25 reading and math performance |
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The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has released student performance data for the 2024-2025 Standard of Learning assessments. Roanoke County Public Schools experienced gains, especially in math and science performance. The district is tied for 6th in the state in math (was tied for 7th last year) and is tied for 7th in the state in reading (was tied for 8th last year).
Roanoke County Public Schools ranks among the highest in Virginia for student SOL performance in math and reading out of 131 school divisions. Further, district rankings improved in science and social studies. “Our students have consistently performed very well on the annual SOL tests, and we’re pleased to see that our students continue to excel academically,” said Dr. Ken Nicely, superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools.
“This performance not only is a result of the hard work and dedication of our students, but is a statement of the outstanding, high-quality instruction our students receive every day from our staff of amazing teachers. I congratulate our students and teachers on this accomplishment and I look forward to continued academic success,” Dr. Nicely added. |
Coverage from The Roanoke Times » |
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Mark your calendars - Opportunity Ready portfolio defenses set for March |
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On March 17 and 18, 2026, RCPS seniors will be defending their Opportunity Ready portfolios to earn their Opportunity Ready diploma seals. To help facilitate these presentations, high school students will have online learning days on March 17 and 18. Students in grades 9-11 will complete online assignments and will not come to school in-person. This will allow high school staff to sit on review panels for those seniors who are presenting their portfolio defenses. Elementary and middle school students will have a normal in-person day.
The senior portfolio defense is the capstone experience of the Opportunity Ready journey. Modeled after professional and higher education practices, the defense challenges students to:
Curate Artifacts of Learning – Students select and present meaningful evidence of academic, personal, and extracurricular growth. Reflect on Competency Mastery – Students connect their work to the competencies of the Profile of a Graduate, demonstrating how they’ve grown in critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. Present to an Authentic Audience – Each student defends their portfolio before a panel of teachers, peers, administrators, and community members. Articulate Future Readiness – Students explain how their high school experiences have prepared them for their chosen post-secondary pathway.
Through this process, students practice professional skills, build confidence, and develop the ability to tell their own learning story—an essential step in becoming Opportunity Ready. | Read more » |
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