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About Us

Tar River Academy (TRA) is an alternative school in the Nash County Public School System (NCPS). 

We serve students in grades 6-12 throughout Nash County who have not been successful in the traditional school setting due to attendance issues, academic performance, or behavior issues.  The ultimate goal is to help the students get caught up and graduate from TRA or get back on track to return to their traditional middle or high school.  Students do not remain at TRA for the entire years of middle or high school.

Students apply for admission to our school through their traditional high school counselor or students may be placed here by our district office.  Placements may be due to being overaged, IEP team placement, alternative to a long term suspension, transferring from another alternative school, or transition out of a hospital/DJJ.

The maximum number of students in our middle school building is 40 and our high school building is 115, so our class sizes are small. We have flexible scheduling to help students get caught up quicker.  We offer academic support through different programs and staff.  We help students look beyond this moment and develop a solid plan for their future.

The program is student-centered and most of our students thrive in this setting. The student population is very diverse and eclectic.  The school climate is collaborative and supportive not only through the staff, but peer to peer as well.  Our mascot is a Phoenix because a Phoenix rises out of the ashes. We consider ourselves a Phoenix Family and wholly believe that we are a school of second chances.

Overview: 

  • Follows the Traditional NCPS Calendar

  • School hours are Monday through Friday 9:00-4:26

  • Small class size from 5-10 students in a class for middle school and 5-20 for high school

  • 22 credits required for graduation

  • Long term plans developed for getting back on track

  • Opportunities to complete credit recovery during the school day for high school

  • 30 minutes of intervention school wide each day (Phoenix Time)  to include social/emotional learning, academic interventions, clubs, and career planning

  • Multiple parent involvement opportunities

  • Support programs for mentoring and small groups

  • Full time School Counselor, Community In Schools staff, Dean of Students, and School  Resource Officer

  •  Mental Health Therapists on site weekly

  • Applications accepted from counselors at Nash Central Middle School, Red Oak Middle School, Rocky Mount Middle School, Southern Nash Middle School, Nash Central High School, Northern Nash High School, Rocky Mount High School, NCPS Early College, and Citi High

  •  Bus transportation to TRA is available throughout the NCPS district

Vision: 

Every student can learn and succeed despite their current circumstances.  

Mission:

We strive to meet the unique needs of our students through innovative evidence based practices addressing academic, social/emotional and career skills to help them overcome barriers and get back on track to reach their post-secondary goals.

Motto:

“Rise Like a Phoenix”    

TRA NC Report Card: https://ncreports.ondemand.sas.com/src/school?school=640340&year=2024

Tar River Academy School Improvement Plan

As required by the North Carolina General Statute and Nash County Schools Board Policy, each School Improvement Team has collaborated on creating a school improvement plan for the next two academic school years. Each respective school staff has voted to approve their plans before finally being reviewed and approved by the Board of Education.

Please review the presentation of Tar River Academy, School Improvement Plan.

Please click HERE to view the School Improvement Plan presentation.