We urge the Cumberland County Board of Education to reconsider the decision to close A.B. Wilkins High School as a separate entity and merge its program into Douglas Byrd High School.

A.B. Wilkins exists because not every student thrives in a traditional, large high school setting. Students come to Wilkins for a true fresh start, a smaller, more personal environment where they can feel safe, supported, and known. For many, separation is not about distance, it is about dignity, emotional safety, and the opportunity to rebuild.

Wilkins is not simply another program. It is a distinct school with a unique blended learning model that allows students to work at their own pace, receive individualized support, and rebuild confidence. Our success: improved attendance, academic growth, and re-engagement, is directly tied to our independent structure.

Wilkins also provides essential supports beyond academics, including:

College and career days, Men’s and women’s conferences, Support for pregnant and parenting teens, A student pantry and clothing assistance, Community partnerships and mentoring programs

Wilkins has long served as neutral territory for students working to change their circumstances. Merging the program into a traditional high school risks reintroducing past conflicts, increasing stigma, and undermining the safe, close-knit culture that makes Wilkins effective.

Wilkins is more than a building, it is a place of restoration, stability, and belonging for students who need something different to succeed.

We respectfully ask that A.B. Wilkins High School remain a separate school with its own building to protect the integrity of the program and the students who depend on it.

Failure Is Not an Option.

Warriors for Life.