A Case Study Of The Consolidation Of Five North Carolina School Districts: Motivations, Processes, And Impact

This case study explores the impact of school district consolidation in five North Carolina school districts—its success or failure based upon the reasons for consolidation and the processes employed, in light of existing research literature, five indicators of success, and stakeholder perceptions. The study asks why the school districts decided to consolidate, what processes were used, and what impact, if any, did consolidation have? The findings of this study suggest that while the five indicators of success reveal mixed results, stakeholders viewed consolidation as having been a success based on other factors. Indicators of success selected by the researcher included student achievement, expenditures, and other outcomes such as graduation rates and attendance. Stakeholders identified measures of success as equalized funding and taxes, better facilities, better opportunities for students, a more unified spirit, and the continuation of friendly rivalries. Equally important, the context of the individual school districts heavily influenced all aspects of consolidation. Context is defined as the set of circumstances or facts that are unique to a district.