Rock Mills School was established in 1939. Prior to the establishment of the school, the students attended school in an old wooden building near the old Methodist Church in Rock Mills. The present Rock Mills School building was built with funds provided by Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Daniel Construction Company, Inc.was the construction company with Dittsmar and Roberts providing the architects. The superintendent at that time was W.A. Lovvorn. The Randolph County Board of Education consisted of J.W. Carlisle, J.B. Bailey, R.A. Yates, W.A. McMurray, and R.T. Yarbrough.
Before moving to the new building in 1939, there were two grades per teacher. During one school day, the new principal had buses pick up the children and bring them to the new school building which was complete with new desks and blackboards. The teachers brought their students in, found their classrooms, and continued with the day's work. Everyone was excited to be in their new school.
Miss Ucal Smith said that enough teachers were brought in to have one teacher per grade. She continued her teaching career at Rock Mills School until the late 1960's. The classes had from 30 to 40 students per grade in the new school for many years. The school had grades first through tenth, later the ninth, and now the eighth. When children finished their career at Rock Mills, most attended school in Roanoke. They had to provide their own transportation until many years later a bus transported them to Roanoke. The children did not start transferring to R.C.H.S. until many years later.
The mission of Rock Mills School is to educate the entire child. We strive to prepare students to be successful in their endeavors. All students deserve a safe, structured environment in which to learn with an opportunity to reach their fullest potential. Our mission is to produce life-long learners. Through love, patience, and respect, we attempt to build a better community - one child at a time.
