The 2025-2026 school year was ushered in with enthusiasm and optimism for the thousands of Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) students and staff. On Monday, August 25, 2025, the school district’s 49 campuses were alive with energy as students arrived. They were welcomed by administrators, teachers, and faculty with smiles, high-fives, and encouraging words for their first day.
The morning brought a flurry of emotions for everyone, and it was especially bittersweet for West Johnston seniors, Lilli Long and Haylee Moore, as it was their last, first day in Johnston County Public Schools. Excited to see their friends and soak up the final year at West Johnston High, they are both excited about the senior activities they get to enjoy, and continuing to meet new people and make new friends. As Long reflected on her last three years at West Johnston High, she said, “I’ll never forget all of the memories I’ve made with my friends.”
For the Swift Creek Elementary community and JCPS, it was a historic day. It was the first day of school, and it was the beginning of a legacy for the JCPS 49th school. As families entered, they were in awe of the bright, colorful, and contemporary structure. The completion of the nearly 116,000 square foot Swift Creek Elementary was a monumental one, but it was just a fraction of the hard work that took place during the summer months.
Cooper Academy unveiled the school’s more than 39,000 square foot addition to its campus, which provides 20 new classrooms and other support areas, drastically boosting the student capacity to 883 students. Another component of the major project was building an enclosed corridor, creating indoor access to all campus buildings, including the cafeteria and gymnasium. Cleveland High also received a 33,361 square foot addition, containing 20 classrooms and four science classrooms.
The first day of school is filled with dreams, goals, and a bit of nervousness for everyone involved, yet JCPS is confident that once everyone settles in, those dreams and goals will come to fruition for students and staff.