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Through the Years...

  • October 23, 1968 

    • Ridgecroft School originally chartered, "Hertford County Educational Foundation Inc."

  • Spring/Summer 1970

    • Elementary building constructed

  • September 9, 1970 

    • Ridgecroft School officially opens for Grades 1-8

  • 1974

    • High school wing and gymtorium opened 

    • First graduating class from Ridgecroft School - Class of 1974 - Chris Beatty, Deborah Brett, Charlene Callis, Kathy Brett, Denise Britton, Susan Cherry, Nell DeLoatch, Donnie Craft, Pam Curle, Wesley Daughtry, Debbie Dickerson, Tula Duke, Teresa Hill, Joan Forbes, Emmie Felton, Becky Johnson, Lynn Jones, Bill Magette, Bruce Lassiter, Elaine Liverman, Teresa Pike, Meg Revelle, Sharon Smith, Charles White, Starkey Sharp, Tommy Sears, Eddie Williford 

  • 1976

    • Kindergarten added 

  • 1977

    • Lunchroom added 

  • 1979

    • Special education program added, Band room/Chrous program added 

  • 1980

    • First annual "Enrichment Week"                              

    • Presentation of the first full "Broadway Musical" - March 26-28, 1980, "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" under the direction of Valerie Vaughan. Bob Brown and Forestine Brown were music directors. The show featured Al Parker as Charlie Brown, Mike Carter as Snoopy, Holli Carter as Lucy, Mark Parker as Linus, Beth Burleson as Patty and David Sutton as Schroeder.

  • 1981

    • The gymtorium was dedicated to Mr. Charles L. Revelle, Jr. 

  • 1982

    • Joy (Bennett) Futrell crowned first homecoming queen 

  • 1983

    • Membership in the N.C. Association of Independent Schools 

    • New Kindergarten wing added

  • 1984

    • Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 

  • 1985

    • First Dinner Theatre production 

  • 1987

    • Fully equipped computer lab opens

  • 1988

    • Library and Administrative Offices opened with new paving, parking and landscaping 

  • 1989

    • First Director of Development hired 

  • 1990

    • First Annual Spring Auction 

  • 1991

    • Lower, Middle and Upper School divisions established 

  • 1996

    • Campus paving and lighting updated 

    • New preschool building constructed

  • 1997

    • Successful Capital Campaign ($500,000)

    • Varsity volleyball competes in the State Tournament for the first time 

  • 1998

    • Preschool building dedication - "Simpson-Sharp Preschool Building" 

    • Major technology expansion ($130,000)

  • 2000

    • Campus physical improvements & new athletic fields 

    • James Tillery Johnson Ridgecroft School Endowment - At the Christmas Musical in December 2000, Director of Development, Mrs. Marti Tyler, announced the newly established James Tillery Johnson Ridgecroft School Endowment, held with the NC Community Foundation. This endowment was established with a $50,000 gift from Mr. and Mrs. Jim Johnson to benefit Ridgecroft School. 

  • 2001

    • Shirley S. Pierce, Sr. Endowment Fund - Mr. Shirley S. Pierce, Sr. was an outstanding supporter of Ridgecroft School since its inception in 1970. In fact, Mr. Pierce and his wife, Mrs. Carolyn Pierce, met with others in the community on Ridgecroft's campus before ground was broken for construction on the first building. Mr. Pierce was a valued member of the Board of Directors of Dominion Power Company (for more than 20 years) and he was a participant in the Dominion Resources, Inc. Director's Charitable Contribution Program. In his desire to help assure a viable future for Ridgecroft, Mr. Pierce recommended that Ridgecroft receive a donation, totaling $500,000, from Dominion Resources in his honor and in his memory. Mr. Pierce's wish was for these funds to be placed into an endowment with the income from investments being used to support academic and faculty needs. This gift and endowment was announced to the Ridgecroft community during the 2001-2002 school year following the death of Mr. Shirley S. Pierce in April 2001. The Shirley S. Pierce, Sr. Endowment is held with the NC Community Foundation. 

    • Dr. Earl U. Capps, Jr. Scholarship Endowment - On March 23, 2001, Mrs. Carole Capps Everett established this endowed scholarship with the NC Community Foundation in memory of her late husband. Originally, the earnings from the invested principal was given as a scholarship to a graduating Ridgecroft senior. During the 2018-2019 school year, the purpose of the scholarship was changed. The Dr. Earl U. Capps, Jr. scholarship now awards $1,000 to one returning upper school student to be applied to their Ridgecroft tuition. Nominations are collected in the Spring from faculty and staff. 

  • 2009

    • May 10, 2009 - Mrs. Kaye Harrell Winslow retired after 39 years of dedicated service to Ridgecroft School. Mrs. Harrell is the last "original" faculty member to retire. She has been part of Ridgecroft since it opened in 1970 teaching: 7th and 8th grade Math (Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry), 7th and 8th grade English, 7th grade health, Civics, Typing, Shorthand, Career Exploration and Study Skills. In her 39 years at Ridgecroft she was a teacher, assistant headmaster, interim headmaster (along with Nancy Brittenham and Doug Cobbs), testing coordinator, curriculum director and counselor. She was also the club sponsor for Beta Club, Student Government Association and Cheerleading. Mrs. Harrell was also the 11th grade homeroom teacher and helped organize Ridgecroft's first prom.

  • 2011

    • Varsity Boys Soccer wins NCISSA State Championship 

  • 2014

    • David Marshall Robertson Charitable Fund - Upon his passing on January 24, 2014, Mr. William Julian Robertson Jr. directed more than $1 million to a donor advised fund at the NC Community Foundation for the benefit of Ridgecroft School. Mr. Robertson indicated in his will that the fund is in memory of his late son, David Marshall Robertson, a graduate of Ridgecroft (Class of 1980) who died in 2008. As the benefactor, Ridgecroft can use up to five percent each year of the whole amount of the fund. Mr. Robertson designated his business partner, Mr. Walt Pierce, as the advisor of this fund. "There are very few individuals that I know of who helped people like Julian did,” Pierce said. “He gave away a lot of money to different people and organizations. In the case of this generous gift to Ridgecroft, Julian knew deep down that this school was doing a great job in educating students and preparing these young people to become the next generation of leaders. He knew that Ridgecroft would use this money wisely to continue with their job of educating our young people. A gift of this magnitude will hopefully encourage others to step up to the plate in the name of education, whether it’s a gift to a public or private institution”. A native of Bertie County, Mr. Robertson was a mainstay in Ahoskie for decades. He was dedicated to his church, First Baptist of Ahoskie, and served faithfully with the NC Baptist Children’s Home and Chowan University. He has served on the Ahoskie Town Council as well as past president of both the Ahoskie Kiwanis Club and Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce.

  • 2015

    • Ridgecroft School Athletic Association renames one of the yearly Athletic Association scholarships in memory of Mr. Fred C. Lowe for his deep love and support of Ridgecroft Athletics - The Fred C. Lowe Athletic Scholarship 

  • 2018

    • Media Center dedication - "Jerrie Jenkins Taylor Media Center" 

  • 2019

    • Largest Annual Auction in school history, "Ridgecroft Rodeo" raised over $95,000