The Granville County Board of Education voted Tuesday night to close Wilton Elementary School.
The board also voted to approve new attendance zones for the county's traditional elementary schools. Student and staff reassignment plans were also approved.
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All changes begin with the 2026-2027 school year.
The board made the decision following two separate formal studies and community feedback via a public hearing last month.
“This was not an easy decision, and it was not made lightly. After careful review of our budget realities, enrollment trends and the long-term needs of our students, the board determined that this action was necessary to protect the quality of education across our district," Board Chair Vickie Baker said. "Our focus now is on supporting students, families and staff through this transition and ensuring every child continues to receive a safe, stable, and high-quality learning environment.”
The board had also been considering the closure of CG Credle Elementary School, which would have saved the district about $765,637 annually.
District staff studied the potential impacts of both school closures and shared them with the board in October.
The closure of Wilton Elementary would save the district about $598,443 annually.
Wilton has had fluctuating enrollment since 2019. It went from 280 students to 227 in 2021, to 322 in 2025.
Wilton is also designated as a Choice School. That means families can choose to attend, even if it’s not their assigned neighborhood school. The district reports that 93 students go to the school by choice.
"I know that these recent school consolidation decisions will be painful for many families and staff," Granville County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne said.
"Please know we are committed to making sure everyone in our communities receives timely and accurate information during this process. It is our hope that we can focus forward, building upon the strong positive trends made during the past two years. We want our schools to be a point of pride for every family in Granville County."Granville County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne
On Wednesday, WRAL spoke with Wilton Elementary parents about the decision. They say they were shocked, saddened, disappointed and angry.
Amanda Taylor, vice president of Wilton Elementary’s PTO, has helped in leading the fight against the school’s closure.
"All of the staff they're so good with the kids,” Taylor says. “They love them and we love them and it's just heartbreaking to know that it's not going to be there next year."
Another parent, Jacqueline Hawkins questions how much the Granville County Board of Education even considered the impact Wilton’s closure would have on students and families.
“You're dismantling the opportunity for children,” says Hawkins. “You're taking away their access to education. You're taking away the consistent environment for children to learn. Businesses will not continue to come, families will not move here, the economic development will stall, because people move where there are good, reliable, strong school systems.”
Now she and others are deciding whether to have their children attend another Granville County Public School, a charter school, or leave the district altogether.
"I don't know that I want to continue to stay in a public school system that is unstable,” Hawkins says.
"I don't want to not send my kids to public school because it is good,” says Taylor. “It's good for the community, but we may not have another option."