Wilkes Developmental Day  School

​Celebrated 50 Years in 2020

Our school was founded in 1969 under the name of Wilkes Day Care Association Board of Directors and began in the upstairs of the First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro. WDDS was also certified in 1969 by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Division of Mental Health, Development Disabilities, and Substance Abuse to operate a developmental day school for special needs children.

The school, a non-profit agency, began with 10 multi-handicapped children and 6 staff. The number quickly grew to 28 children from age one to 18 years.

In January 1975 the County purchased a facility on Welborn Avenue in Wilkesboro and the school moved to the new location. With a larger building, the enrollment quickly reached its capacity of 32 student and 12 staff.

In 1988, the Board changed the name from Wilkes Day Care to Wilkes Developmental Day School, undertook a major campaign, and tripled the current size of the building. By June 1990, the school was licensed for 60 children from birth to 22 years old, with 25 staff employed. At this time, the school became inclusive, serving both children with and without disabilities.

Today the school is licensed for 83 children.

Goals

*To enable each child to reach his/her full potential in growth and development.

*To improve the well being of the child by offering socialization and specialized education in a supervised environment.

*To decrease the current and future effects of the child's special needs.

*To prepare the child for public education.

*To serve children with and without special needs in an inclusive environment.