GCS is the third largest school district in North Carolina, serving nearly 70,000 students. The second largest employer in a 12-county area, GCS more than 10,000 full- and part-time employees enthusiastically share the districts mission: to graduate responsible citizens prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice. The districts 127 schools, located in both urban and rural areas, include elementary schools serving grades K through 5, and in some instances, pre-K through 5. To the relief of working parents, after-school care is offered at many elementary schools throughout the county. The district also has middle schools (grades 6-8), high schools (grades 9-12), two special education schools (Gateway and McIver Education Centers), two SCALE sites, which provide an alternative to long-term suspensions, and Twilight School, which offers high school students a flexible schedule to complete graduation requirements. GCS offers parents and students a wide range of educational choices that are not usually found in public school systems, including 56 choice schools and programs. For more information, visit http://www.gcsnc.com.