Though no one seems to know just when the Novice school began, there was a community school in 1879.  According to Mrs. Lizzie White, the building had a dirt floor, a big fireplace and split logs for seats.  The teacher was a Mr. Speigel.  This building burned in 1882.  Another was built on what is known as the Finlay place in 1883.  Mr. Barnett said this was known as Shady Grove School, but later came to be Rough Creek School.  The Rough Creek School moved several times, but existed as a school until it consolidated with Novice in 1928.

An item in the Coleman Voice listed Mr. Barnett as taking the Novice school census in 1910.  So, evidently when the new townsite was created, there was soon a school, District #58.  According to a brochure advertising the new town, a modern four room brick building was occupied sometime between 1914 and 1916.  The townspeople boasted that it had cost $5,000, and no finer could be found.  Early teachers were Barney McCasland, Tena Parker, Janie Hull, Dora Watson, Lillian Smith, Alicia and Gladys Townsen, Sue and Jewell Smith, Hazel West, Leona Banister, Mr. Scarbrough, Mr. Sterling, Mr. Reece, Lou Featherston, Dottie Franklin, Marie Delleney, R. C. Davis, Belle Henderson and Cassie Bell Sneed.

The school soon was noted for its high scholastic rating, and its athletic teams.  During the 1920’s, tragedy struck as two brothers became angry with the superintendent, Mr. R. W. Caster, and catching him in the cloakroom, they beat him until the man never recovered from the effects.  An outstanding schoolman served as superintendent during the late 1920’s, Mr. J. L. Beard.  It was about this time that busing began as the district grew.  Neal Nicholson served a long time as a good driver.

With the 1930’s began a movement to consolidate the small districts into larger, stronger, schools.  Midway School consolidated with Novice in 1937, Oak Grove School and Viets School in 1939.  The Oak Grove School building was moved to Novice for an elementary classroom. 
Novice became the envy of the entire county when a modern gym was completed in 1934, the second gym in the county.  A band was formed with A. J. Needham as the instructor.  Vocational Agriculture and Homemaking were added to the curriculum.  Accreditation with the State Department was begun so that students could enter college without taking examination.

During the late 1920’s and 1930’s, teachers were Eirys Sparkman, Sarah Dunman, Knox Campbell, Lois Martiiidale, Jana L. Byems, Grace Wyatt, Polly Wise, Sally Gray and Gussie Jennings.  Lee Farmer served as superintendent during part of this era, followed by Joe Toombs and D. E. Loveless, who served until 1945.  Other teachers serving during this time were Phemiaba Farmer, Maurine Burroughs, Lois Lowry, Edna Tiemann, Gladys Corbell, Arleigh and Nadean Harris, Bessie Turney, J. H. Greenway, Weldon Woodward, Burl Strickland, J. T. Maness, Roy Tomlinson, Retha Douglas, and Doris Newman.

Novice became noted for its strong basketball teams.  With Maurine Burroughs as girls’ coach, the teams went to district several years.  Mr. Loveless won state with his girls team in 1942 - 1943.  During Mr. Loveless’ tenure, skates were added to the equipment in gym, and the school became a community recreation center.

In 1945, H. C. Adams began a ten year tenure as superintendent with the school showing much growth.  More consolidation took place; a new building was completed in 1950.  New subjects were added to the curriculum.  A lunchroom was added.  Six-man football with a well-lighted playing field was added.  In 1946, part of Mont Vale consolidated with Novice, and in 1949, Silver Valley and Goldsboro consolidated with Novice.

The school continued its growth.  In 1963, a new elementary complex was completed.  The agriculture department got larger quarters and better equipment.  Harold Pittard served ably as teacher of Vocational Agriculture from 1949, for 18 years, when he became principal.  In 1977, in honor of his service to the district, the high school auditorium was named the Harold Pittard Auditorium.

Superintendents serving after Mr. Adams were O. W. Winstead, Otis Smith, Cliff Prather, Mr. Willis, Don Davis, Hap Newman, Clarence McDaniel, David Mims and Ed Farmer.  Some of the teachers have been Adele Adams, Charles Brennan, Gene and Brentz Brooks, Mr.
McGarr, Jack Ratliff, Ellen Townsend, Evelyn Tomlinson, Ed Burnam, Virginia Mullins, lye Featherston, Pat Roach, Jo Henning, Cynthia Denk, Karen Harms, Mrs. Hills, George Wyatt, Carla Billings, Cynthia Whitfield, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Martin, Leta Parker, Don Stulting, Mr.
Craik, Billye Hardin, Mrs. Brister and many others.

Trustees throughout the years have been J. M. Barnett, Harrison Atchley, Bob Featherson, Mike Parker, Frank and Joe Hudson, Barney Rathmell, Dugan Gorman, Leonard Clare, J. W. Richards, Jerry and Jerald Wilson, James Richards, J. W. Shamlin, Billy Smith, Ray McKinney, Arch Huddle, Austin Saunders, Willie Bates, LeRoy, Claud and Roy Coats, Jake Popnoe, Buster Owen, Early Wellborn, “Polly” Walker, Gene Sprinkles, Bill Casey, Richard and Russell Johnson, J. N. Sadler, Bill Moore, J. D. Grimes Jr., and Cecil Gaylor, Walter Bedell
and John Flores.  Among bus drivers with long tenure were Ernest Reeves, Pete Sneed and Zelma Ray.

Today (1983) the Novice Independent School District is comprised of 200 square miles with an evaluation of $32 to $33 million.  The school is ably served by Ed Farmer, superintendent, Doyle Bell, principal, with a staff of well qualified teachers.