Nash County Public Schools
Step 10 of 10
Open for Enrollment (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

387

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

North Carolina is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Lifewise Enrollment
Location Map Nashville, NC 27856 Nash County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 24.1% (data source)
Non-White Students 74.4% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 20, 2026
North Carolina State Law

There is no state statute regulating released time for religious instruction, federal rulings still apply. "No-Statute" states function in theory the same way as "May-Law" states. School districts may create a policy allowing students to be released for religious study, or they may choose not to coordinate with released-time programs and require the students' legal guardians facilitate the process.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

States with no statute for released time religious instruction are treated like "may" states. Released time programs would need to request approval from the local school board. School districts should not allow a released time program to operate in the district without a specific released time policy.

The federal case laws that mandate how released time functions should be followed. Zorach vs Clauson states:

School districts in states without a statute mandating a released time policy can choose not to allow released time or to coordinate with religious organizations seeking to remove students from school during the school day.

School districts should always have a policy indicating whether they coordinate with released-time religious instruction programs. Not having a policy at all and leaving it up to the released time program should never be the operating standard. This will open the district up to misinterpretation of its intent.

It is suggested that parents approach the school board and request that a released time religious instruction policy be implemented, even before a religious program approaches the district.

This does not encompass all legal requirements, and other legal opinions may exist. Please use this as a guide only.

What Can My School District Do?

All school districts, regardless of whether they are required by law to allow released time, should implement good policy and be prepared for when a released time program may approach the district. The time to set the policy is before an active program is pressuring the district. Research polices the district can implement to protect teachers' and students' instruction time. Set polices that limit disruptions to students and the ability for proselytization to occur, impacting other students of faith or no faith. A more detailed write-up on school board policies can be read here.

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Schools in the District (27)
School Grades Period
Englewood Elementary 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Nashville Elementary 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Red Oak Elementary 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Bailey Elementary
Baskerville Elementary
Benvenue Elementary
Cedar Grove Elementary
Citi High School
Coopers Elementary
D S Johnson Elementary
Fairview Elementary
G R Edwards Middle
J W Parker Middle
Middlesex Elementary
Nash Central High
Nash Central Middle
Northern Nash High
Nrm Early College High School
Rocky Mount High
Rocky Mount Middle
Southern Nash High
Southern Nash Middle
Spring Hope Elementary
Swift Creek Elementary
Tar River Academy
Williford Elementary
Winstead Avenue Elementary
24 schools not shown
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Local Personel Download All Lifewise Personel List
Title Name Email Active
Director Christy Smith christysmith@lifewise.org Yes
Teacher Robin Purdy Yes

Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
387
December 6, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
386
December 5, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
385
November 17, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
384
October 8, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
382
January 4, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
375
August 13, 2024
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
321
March 17, 2024
 
 
Enrollment Data
School Enrollment Lifewise Enrollment % Date
No enrollment information
School/district enrollment numbers from https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/
Lifewise enrollment numbers come from social media, newsletters, press, and public record requests. Contact RPS with enrollment numbers.
Associated Organizations
Org Type Org Name Address Website
Church Rock Creek Baptist Church 1238 Rock Creek Drive Nashville, NC 27856 https://rockcreekbaptist.net/

 



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