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United States Congresswoman Virginia Foxx spent Oct. 25 visiting Boone’s Two Rivers Community School, a public charter school that has been recognized as an Honor School of Excellence by North Carolina.

As recently as last school year (2015-2016), students at Two Rivers Community School outperformed students in both the Watauga County Schools system and North Carolina public schools in math, science and reading end-of-grade tests, according to the organization, Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, which helped organize the visit.

“We are happy that Representative Foxx chose to visit Two Rivers Community School today to see a successful charter school in action,” said David Rizor, director of Two Rivers Community School. “We had a nice discussion about charter school law and the needs of all schools to be successful, including both public charter schools and traditional public schools.”

“One of the best parts of my job is making visits like this in our district,” said Foxx, who recently won re-election to her N.C. Fifth Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. “I’ve admired the results Two Rivers Community School has produced, and I’ve been able to keep a close watch on their success.”

The tour at Two Rivers was one of two stops at schools in Foxx’s District. The visit at Two Rivers included a re-enactment of the Boston Tea Party from the fifth-grade class, and a musical performance from the school’s first grade. Foxx also visited North Hills Christian School in Salisbury, a non-public school participating in the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program and Disabilities Grant Program.

In the past, North Carolina capped the total number of charter schools at 100, but the cap was lifted in 2011. Although charter schools are publicly funded and tuition-free, some traditional public school advocates oppose charter schools because they operate under different oversight and accountability standards.

Serving her sixth term in the U.S. Congress, Foxx is seeking the chairmanship of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

“North Carolina has become a national leader for parental school choice, thanks in large part to exceptional schools like Two Rivers Community School and the educational options it provides for families in the area,” a statement from Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina said.

“School choice takes many forms and is an increasingly important lifeline for children trapped in failing schools,” Foxx said. “Public charter schools such as Two Rivers Community School are providing parents an alternative public school option that better meets their child’s needs.”

http://www.wataugademocrat.com/community/foxx-visits-two-rivers-community-school-in-boone/article_56cae5e6-ca78-5642-bda9-77858538c323.html