This is the third of a three-part series on the new John A. Holmes High School in Edenton. Other stories in this series include:

• New Athletic and Arts Facilities to Transform Student Experience at John A. Holmes High School
• A New Chapter Begins: John A. Holmes High School Opens Doors to Campus in January
• Boy Scout Hut Will Open when JAH Site is Finished

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By Nicole Bowman-Layton

EDENTON — When students walk into the new John A. Holmes High School on Jan. 26, 2026, they’ll find more than just updated classrooms. They’ll discover professional-grade facilities designed to prepare them for careers and provide hands-on experience that goes far beyond textbooks.

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing occupies much of the first floor of the academic wing, which is the part of the building closest to Broad Street. The second floor houses core academic classes — all equipped with modern technology and flexible learning spaces.

“Our new campus offers CTE labs and collaborative workspaces, an art gallery, along with a theatre that celebrates creativity and performance,” said Principal Sonya Rinehart. “Classrooms are designed to spark curiosity, support rigorous core instruction from traditional to AP courses. This new environment will continue to empower our staff and students with the tools and real-world experiences that define a future-focused educational journey to prepare our students for life after high school.”

While there are doors leading to Broad Street, the facility’s entrance will be on the side of the building facing Oakum Street, the doors closest to the football field.

Academic Classrooms: Designed for Modern Learning

The core academic section on the second floor is organized by department for ease of flow for student access and for staff collaboration.

“They’re all kind of together so that they can collaborate, share material if necessary,” Rinehart explained. “It also makes it easier for students to know English is down here, social studies is in the middle, and everybody’s there together.”

Every academic classroom features modern technology and flexible design. Two whiteboards flank a centrally mounted Apple TV in each room. Yellow tackboards line the walls for displaying student work. Individual student whiteboards allow for hands-on problem-solving.

Adjustable tables on wheels enable teachers to quickly reconfigure spaces for group work, testing, or other learning activities. Two bookshelves per room provide storage for materials and resources.

Natural light floods the spaces through large windows equipped with shades rather than traditional blinds, which are easier to maintain and create a cleaner aesthetic from outside the building.

The science classrooms offer a unique feature: a dedicated lab space attached to each classroom. The shared lab areas include prep tables, storage for chemicals and equipment, and even a dishwasher for cleaning beakers and lab materials.

But the real showstopper will appear after the demolition of the old building is complete. The science wing, located closest to Hicks Field, will have an unobstructed view of the entire athletic complex, including the football field and baseball diamond.

“I could sell tickets, especially to Steamers games, baseball games, football games,” Rinehart joked during a recent tour. “Because when that (old) building is gone, this corner, you can see everything.”

Health Science: Training Tomorrow’s Healthcare Workers

The health science program features two full classrooms flanking a professional lab space that resembles a hospital wing. The lab will be equipped with examination beds, privacy curtains, and an Anatomage table — a life-sized virtual dissection system used in medical schools.

Students in the Health Science I and II courses will gain hands-on experience, preparing them for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification and other healthcare pathways.

“It’s really like a true hospital environment,” Rinehart explained during a recent tour.

Superintendent Tammi Ward added, “It’s preparing them for the students, and they’ll be taking care of all of us, so we need to get them trained.”

The program even includes its own laundry facilities, as students must learn to properly clean and maintain linens and bedding — skills essential in healthcare settings.

Culinary Arts: From Classroom to Catering

The food lab features commercial-grade equipment, including prep tables, mixers, food processors, and warming stations. A roll-up door provides easy access for loading catering equipment directly into vehicles.

The program offers a clear pathway: students complete Foods I and II, then advance to The College of the Albemarle Edenton-Chowan Campus culinary arts program, where they can earn professional certification.

This year, the school expanded CTE to include interior design, taught by Stephanie McKCoy, with students working on projects such as curating the Belhaven History Museum.

Agriculture and Horticulture: Growing Future Farmers

The agriculture suite includes dedicated spaces for both horticulture and animal science courses. Roll-up doors enable students to easily transport plants, materials, and projects in and out of the building for activities such as poinsettia sales and other horticultural ventures.

Woodworking and Carpentry: Building Skills and Confidence

The carpentry lab features professional-grade equipment with roll-up doors and cemented areas on both sides for easy material delivery and project transport. Students will work on substantial projects while learning safety, precision, and craftsmanship.

Technology and Digital Design: Creating in the Digital Age

The Adobe lab and computer science classroom prepare students for careers in technology, design, and programming with modern workstations and professional software. A dedicated esports room recognizes the growing field of competitive gaming and its connections to careers in game design and technology.

Exceptional Children’s Education: Independence and Life Skills

The Exceptional Children’s (EC) suite includes classrooms designed for occupational studies and life skills programs.

For the first time, these students will have classrooms with windows — a significant improvement that brings natural light and a connection to the outside world.

“In our EC suite, they have never had windows,” Rinehart emphasized. “So it’s exciting for them to be able to have windows and light now.”

The suite includes a full kitchen where students learn essential life skills like cooking, cleaning, and home management. Students also run the Aces Cafe, providing both service to the school community and valuable work experience.

Washer and dryer units are also part of the curriculum, teaching laundry and household maintenance skills that promote independence.

Flexible Spaces for All Learners

Throughout the building, classrooms feature movable furniture that allows teachers to quickly reconfigure spaces for different activities. Every classroom includes two whiteboards with an Apple TV mounted centrally, and yellow tackboards line the walls for displaying student work.

Small breakout rooms — “huddle rooms” — throughout the building provide spaces for one-on-one instruction, small group work, or individualized testing for students who need accommodations.

“If we have students that need small group testing or one-on-one testing, right now there’s nowhere for them to go,” Rinehart said. “This will provide them an area to come in and have that.”

The Bigger Picture

The new facilities represent an investment not just in education but in the economic future of Chowan County. By providing students with marketable skills, industry certifications, and rigorous academic preparation, the programs create pathways to both careers and college.

As students prepare to enter these new spaces, they’ll find a building designed around a simple principle: whether heading to college, entering the workforce, or both, John A. Holmes students deserve facilities that prepare them for success.

The tools are in place. The facilities are ready. Now it’s time for students to build their futures.