Any student with a second language background must enroll at the Newcomer Center. The enrollment process takes about 1 1/2 hours, and includes completion of enrollment paperwork and English proficiency testing for students. Students should accompany  parents, and the following documents must be provided for enrollment:

• Birth Certificate

• Vaccination Records

• Proof of guardianship (if the student does not live with his or her biological parents)

• Proof of Residency in the School District

    Frequently Asked Questions:               

Are students enrolled at the Newcomer Center because of race or ethnicity?

No. Students enroll in the Newcomer Center due to the presence of a language other than English in the immediate family, as determined by the Home Language Survey, which is completed at the school by all enrollees.

If my child speaks another language but is fluent in English, does he or she need to enroll at the Newcomer Center? What if he/she was born in the United States, and speaks very little of his/her family language? Does he/she still need to enroll at the Center?

Yes. Any student who responded with a language other than English on the Home Language Survey must enroll at the Newcomer Center. All school systems are required by federal law to monitor progress and enrollment data on all students with another language in their immediate background. The procedures at the Newcomer Center represent Catawba County's compliance with that requirement.

I am transferring my child from one school to another within Catawba County Schools. Do we need to process this transfer at the Newcomer Center?

No. Only students enrolling from outside the district need to come to the Center. If you have previously attended Catawba County Schools, left the district, and are returning from outside the district, you do need to come to the Center to enroll.  

Is proof of U.S. residency or citizenship required to enroll in Catawba County Schools?

No. No Social Security documents, residency documents, passports, or other federal immigration paperwork will be requested at the center.  Proof of residency in the school district is required.

How do I demonstrate proof of residency in the School District?

At least two documents with the current address and the name of one of the legal guardians must be presented. Utility bills, rental contracts, and mortgages are all acceptable, among other documents. 

Can a student enroll if he or she lives with extended family?

All enrollees must live with legal guardians. If a student does not live with a biological parent, legal proof of guardianship must be provided. The Newcomer Center can provide the necessary paperwork upon request.

My child has high school credit from another country. Can this credit be transferred to U.S. schools?

Previously earned credit is honored in many cases. Parents should bring a detailed transcript of courses taken and grades earned, and the Newcomer Center will assist in  the process of assigning appropriate credit.

Tel: 828-241-2409
Fax: 828-241-2752
Directions to the Center