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About Us
WELCOME TO J.H. KNOX INTERMEDIATE!
We are excited to be one step closer in opening the new J.H. Knox Intermediate School. This “new Knox” will premiere a new concept in RSS – the intermediate school will be home to 3rd-8th-grade students for the Salisbury community.
Neighboring Overton Elementary will become a PreK–2nd-grade school, and Horizons Unlimited, just up the hill, will provide an educational experience for these students like no other RSS has to offer.
- Was built in 1958 and consisted of grades 7-9.
- Was named Knox Junior High School after Mr. J. H. Knox, who was Superintendent of Salisbury City Schools.
- Was renamed Knox Middle School in 1983 and the grade levels changed to 6-8.
- Was the product of a merger of two local units that took place in 1987 with Knox Middle School becoming part of the newly formed Rowan-Salisbury School System.
- Is located in the city of Salisbury, NC near the Rowan-Regional Medical Center and Catawba and Livingstone Colleges and near historic downtown Salisbury.
- It's nearest elementary school is Overton Elementary
- It's feeder high school is Salisbury High
JH Knox Intermediate is an innovative and inclusive learning community where all students engage in meaningful, challenging, and well-rounded learning experiences that build academic excellence, support critical thinking, and inspire transformative growth. Every graduate leaves JH Knox prepared to succeed in high school, give back to their community, and thrive throughout their lives.
Engaged Today.
Transforming Tomorrow.
JH Knox Intermediate’s Core Commitments
At JH Knox, we are building a school where every student is known, supported, and challenged in meaningful ways. Our work is rooted in four Core Commitments that guide how we design learning and shape daily life at Knox.
These commitments will help define what students will experiences at Knox:
- Whole School Wellness and Belonging: We create a school where every student and adult feels safe, included, and cared for. Through daily routines that build trust and connection, we help every student feel like they belong—and ready to learn.
- Real-World Relevance: We connect learning to real life. Whether students are exploring careers, solving local problems, or following their passions, they can see how what they’re learning matters and where it can take them.
- Deep and Meaningful Engagement: We design learning that sparks curiosity and invites students to go deep. When students are doing work that feels important and interesting to them, they stay focused, grow faster, and enjoy the process.
- Rigorous Learning for All: We believe every student can achieve at high levels—with the right support. We set big goals and help students reach them through strong academics, critical thinking, and clear communication.
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- Was built in 1958 and consisted of grades 7-9.
- Was named Knox Junior High School after Mr. J. H. Knox, who was Superintendent of Salisbury City Schools.
- Was renamed Knox Middle School in 1983 and the grade levels changed to 6-8.
- Was the product of a merger of two local units that took place in 1987 with Knox Middle School becoming part of the newly formed Rowan-Salisbury School System.
- Is located in the city of Salisbury, NC near the Rowan-Regional Medical Center and Catawba and Livingstone Colleges and near historic downtown Salisbury.
- It's nearest elementary school is Overton Elementary
- It's feeder high school is Salisbury High
-
JH Knox Intermediate is an innovative and inclusive learning community where all students engage in meaningful, challenging, and well-rounded learning experiences that build academic excellence, support critical thinking, and inspire transformative growth. Every graduate leaves JH Knox prepared to succeed in high school, give back to their community, and thrive throughout their lives.
Engaged Today.
Transforming Tomorrow.
-
JH Knox Intermediate’s Core Commitments
At JH Knox, we are building a school where every student is known, supported, and challenged in meaningful ways. Our work is rooted in four Core Commitments that guide how we design learning and shape daily life at Knox.
These commitments will help define what students will experiences at Knox:
- Whole School Wellness and Belonging: We create a school where every student and adult feels safe, included, and cared for. Through daily routines that build trust and connection, we help every student feel like they belong—and ready to learn.
- Real-World Relevance: We connect learning to real life. Whether students are exploring careers, solving local problems, or following their passions, they can see how what they’re learning matters and where it can take them.
- Deep and Meaningful Engagement: We design learning that sparks curiosity and invites students to go deep. When students are doing work that feels important and interesting to them, they stay focused, grow faster, and enjoy the process.
- Rigorous Learning for All: We believe every student can achieve at high levels—with the right support. We set big goals and help students reach them through strong academics, critical thinking, and clear communication.
J.H. Knox-Overton Campus Leader
Inspired Leadership: A Vision for Flourishing Lives
The transformation of J.H. Knox Intermediate School is not just about new buildings and innovative programs—it's also about inspired leadership. As the Salisbury community looks forward to the August 2026 opening, the appointment of Hartness as the new campus leader for both J.H. Knox Intermediate and Overton Elementary brings fresh vision and momentum to this ambitious project.
This new approach to the principal leadership role is designed to bring our Knox-Overton campus schools together, create stronger academic consistency, and offer more opportunities for students to explore their passions.
Over the last two years as principal at Hanford Dole Elementary, Hartness transformed the school culture and educational experience for students and staff. Discipline referrals dropped, and academic achievement soared under her leadership.
“As the principal of Dole, my goal has been to establish a connected, capable, and confident learning community,” Hartness said. “We have taken strides toward this goal by implementing structures for students that support social-emotional learning and academics, showing positive growth for all students.”
Embracing the Challenge
Opening a new school is a long-held professional goal for Hartness, who views the Overton-Knox project as a unique opportunity to collaboratively design and implement the structures, processes, and instructional practices essential for success.
“It is a huge and complex responsibility, but one I am eager to tackle,” Hartness said. “I am looking forward to collaborating throughout the design process with the goal of infusing innovative practices that lead to an engaging, student-centered learning environment.”
Hartness is committed to ongoing community engagement, building on the CDT’s foundation by hosting listening sessions and providing opportunities for feedback. Once the school opens, the community will be invited to serve as active partners in sustaining an engaging, inclusive, and responsive educational experience.
A Vision Beyond the Classroom
Inspired by educational thought leader Carl Grant, Hartness envisions Overton-Knox as a place where students are co-facilitators in their learning, integrating their voices, motivations, and interests into instruction. The goal is to move beyond traditional teaching, fostering a sense of belonging and offering diverse experiences through project-based learning, community engagement, and real-world exploration.
“My vision is that the Overton-Knox campus becomes a place where students are co-facilitators in their learning. We must be prepared to foster a strong sense of belonging in our learning community and offer our students a diverse range of experiences that consistently ignite their curiosity and empower them to connect their learning to life beyond the classroom,” Hartness said.
Withers also underscored the district’s commitment to student-centered learning and innovative practices at the new school.
“We are dedicated to ensuring that every child in Rowan-Salisbury Schools has access to a learning environment that is rigorous, relevant, and inclusive,” Withers said. “J. H. Knox Intermediate and Overton Elementary will set a new standard for what’s possible in public education.”
Looking Ahead: A Place of Purpose, Pride, and Possibility
With the combined power of community-driven design, innovative leadership, and a clear vision for the future, J.H. Knox Intermediate and Overton Elementary are set to become places where learning is relevant and rigorous, relationships and wellness are foundational, and every student is prepared to lead a life of purpose, pride, and possibility.
The countdown to August 2026 continues, but the promise of a new day for Knox and Overton is already shining brightly in Salisbury.
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