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Mention the Triangle region of the state and many think of Research Triangle Park. A good response, but educators remind us that another jewel in the region’s crown is the rich educational system in the region formed by the geographic points of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The choices are many from K-12 public schools to public and private colleges and universities.

The Triangle Area Schools and Education

Chapel Hill–Carrboro Schools
Officials and teachers at Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools are working hard toward their goal of ensuring that each student graduate from high school, and they are well on the path to making this vision more of a reality.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recently released the annual dropout report for North Carolina, and it was good news for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

For several years, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools held the state’s lowest dropout rate, and the numbers continued to fall, with 57 dropouts during the 2005–2006 school year and 41 dropouts during the 2006–2007 school year. This marked a 28 percent improvement, according to the Department of Public Instruction’s Web site at www.ncpublicschools.org.

When it comes to growth, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools are meeting the demands by building new schools and renovating others. Morris Grove Elementary School is currently being built and is slated to open in August 2008, just in time for the start of the 2008-2009 school year. Plus, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools are seeking funding from the Board of County Commissioners for high school No. 3 and elementary school No. 9.

A Long-Range Facility Committee has been established to develop a 10-year facility plan that will specifically target the renovation and construction needs in the district. In the mean time, many schools have been targeted for improvements during the 2007-2008 school year.

Some of these projects include repairing and paving Seawell Elementary driveway, adding a new wing and replacing the roof and floor at Phillips Middle School, restoring the track and gym floor at Culbreth Middle School, replacing electrical heat in Chapel Hill High School, and renovating a classroom at Frank Porter Graham Elementary.

When it comes to education, you really can’t go wrong in and around the Triangle because these fine schools systems are preparing for current and future growth and are ready to help your child reach his or her academic potential.

Durham County Public Schools
Durham’s population is growing at a steady pace, with Durham Public Schools population increasing by about 1.5 to 2 percent annually, according to the Durham Public Schools’ Web site at www.dpsnc.net.
In November 2007, Durham County voters overwhelmingly supported a $194.2 million bond earmarked to renovate exiting school and to build new ones.

A new $31.3 million middle school will serve approximately 850 students and will be located near Treyburn in northern Durham. Construction was slated to begin in March 2008 and end in June 2010.

A new elementary school will be built in Durham. The $18.7 million school will serve approximately 600 students and it will be located on Hebron Road in northeast Durham. Construction is slated to begin in January 2010 and end in May 2011, according to the Durham Public Schools’ Web site.

To help relieve overcrowding at Riverside High School and Jordan High School, the design of a new $47.5 million high school, which will eventually accommodate 1,400 students, is currently underway. The location of the site has yet to be determined. Construction is slated to begin in June 2010 and end in March 2012.

Plus, several more schools will also be supported by the 2007 bond. Carrington Middle School will receive a new roof and will replace the HVAC (cost of $4.9 million); Bethesda Elementary School will receive a new roof ($1.2 million); Jordan High School will receive a new longer driveway and drop off/pick up area ($958,333); and a Merrick-Moore Elementary School will receive a new roof and replacement of HVAC components, according to the Durham Public Schools’ Web site.

Several 2003 bond projects, including athletic upgrades at several high schools, will be completed this summer.

Johnston County Schools
Located on the fringes of Wake County, Johnston County Schools is nationally known for providing excellent schools and top-notch, innovative programs.

“We are only one of nine school districts in North Carolina, 57 in the United States, and 75 in the world that’s fully accredited,” said Crystal Kimpson Roberts, public information officer at Johnston County Schools. “Our English as a Second Language Program was noted by Good Morning America as an effective, innovative program. We offer Middle College High School and an Evening Academy for credit recovery and for dropout prevention. Plus, our Early College will open in August 2008.”

Johnston County Schools is also one of only four districts in the state and 24 in the United States to receive the Child Nutrition District of Excellence Award, said Roberts.

“Our SAT scores average eight points above state scores,” said Roberts. “Selma Elementary’s academic program has gained recognition from Education Week national newspaper and CNN news. The school was also one of only four schools statewide to be named by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as a Distinguished School for Closing Achievement Gaps. Selma Elementary’s Literacy First Program was also recognized nationally.”

Johnston County Schools’ vision of “empowering all students to become successful in a global society” is its promise and commitment to each of the 31,000 students enrolled at its 40 school sites. Johnston County Schools is ensuring that this vision comes to fruition in a variety of ways.

“Our Dual Language Immersion Program supports this commitment, and schools across the county as well have developed sister relationships with schools throughout the world,” said Roberts. “Professional development is provided to teachers, including an early release strategy to allow teachers to collaborate and share best practices. We are also providing instructional services to students of varying needs (i.e., Middle College, Early College, and Evening Academy).”

Johnston County Schools recognizes that learning is a lifelong process, so it helps prepare students to attain higher education through several programs.

“We have a partnership with Johnston Community College, and with the new Early College, students who successfully complete the program will graduate with an Associate’s degree,” said Roberts. “We offer Advanced Placement and College Prep courses, including Co-Op opportunities for students to shadow out in the field.”

To help accommodate the massive growth that the county has experienced over the years, officials at Johnston County Schools have strategic plans in place to ensure that each student still thrives in his or her environment.

“Our construction program dates back to 1989,” said Roberts. “We have built an average of two schools each year to accommodate exponential growth of 1,200 to 1,500 students each year. We opened one new middle school this year, and we will open two new elementary schools in August 2008 and two new high schools in 2010. In addition, we are renovating a three-story former school building for office space and renovating and adding to existing schools to accommodate growth.”

Wake County Public School System
The Wake County Board of Education recently approved a growth management plan for 2008–2009, which proposes to move approximately 6,460 elementary schools students into 56 schools. It is important to note that nearly 1,200 of these students will enter the 2008–2009 school year as kindergartners, so not all students are currently enrolled in the school system, according to the Wake County Public School System’s Web site at www.wcpss.net.

The shift will help fill three new elementary schools (Laurel Park, Mills Park, and Sycamore Creek) and will help relieve overcrowding at existing schools.
And it’s not just about planning for current growth, the School System’s Growth and Planning staff members are preparing preliminary plans for the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 school years, according to the Wake County Public School System’s Web site.

To help accommodate current and future growth, the school system is building or will be building many new schools throughout Wake County. Two new elementary schools in Fuquay-Varina and Garner are slated for completion in July 2009. The cost of each new school is estimated at $18 million. Alston Ridge Elementary School will cost $18 million, and the facility will be located in northwest Cary.

Two new middle schools, estimated to cost $34 million each, are planned; one will be built adjacent to Holly Grove Elementary in Holly Springs and the other facility will be in northwest Cary. The projects are slated for completion in June 2010.

School officials are also planning several renovation projects to existing facilities.
For instance, East Garner Middle and Carnage Middle schools will each receive a new roof for a total of $900,000 by August 2008.

Partnership Elementary has been targeted for various replacements totaling $1 million, and the project is scheduled for completion in November 2008. Combs Elementary and York Elementary in Raleigh, Vandora Springs Elementary in Garner, and Briarcliff Elementary in Raleigh are all scheduled for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) replacement projects for a total of $3.8 million by August 2008, according to the WCPSS Web site.

In addition, Lacy Elementary and Smith Elementary schools will receive various additions and renovations totaling $34 million, and both projects are slated for completion in August 2009. Root Elementary will receive various additions and renovations totaling $16 million, and the project will be complete in October 2009. Bugg Elementary will receive various additions and renovations totaling $15 million, and the project is slated for completion in August 2010.

Independent Schools
A quality education is something that all parents want for their children. The problem lies in the fact that sometimes it’s tough to find a facility that matches the needs of parents, and, more importantly, their children. As a way to overcome this, many parents in the Triangle are choosing independent schools over public schools in hopes of capturing that holy grail of a top-notch education for their children.

Many independent schools in the state are members of the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS), an association with more than 3,500 teachers serving approximately 35,000 students.
According to NCAIS, independent schools hold students to high standards, which encourages excellence in both academics and personal development. Also, teachers have the freedom to be creative and develop flexible teaching methods to accommodate individual learning styles.

The size, quality of teaching staff, and unique mission of independent schools enable them to develop students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills, says NCAIS. The overall educational program at independent schools extends beyond the classroom to include athletics, the arts, and many opportunities for leadership. In addition, students are regularly exposed to real-life learning experiences through field trips, expert guest speakers, and the opportunity to participate in community service activities.

Questions to Ask
When choosing an independent school, it is often helpful to ask important questions to better prepare you for your decision. NCAIS members will offer a number of options from which to choose, including various grade configurations, day and boarding schools, co-ed and single sex schools, a variety of religious affiliations, and schools serving students with special needs.
To aid you in this process, NCAIS recommends asking the following questions of each school on your list:
•    What are the school's mission, philosophy, and values?
•    What is the quality of the faculty and staff?
•    Is the school accredited?
•    How large are classes?
•    Is there a climate that supports student achievement?
•    Are parent participation and involvement encouraged?
•    What are the extracurricular offerings and level of student participation in them?

Additionally, NCAIS recommends visiting the school⎯over and above taking the formal tour⎯including a visit to classes, libraries, and gyms during regular school hours. You should also let your child visit the school to get his or her impression of the atmosphere. Having a talk with other parents is also a good idea; this will give you opportunities to see how their experiences have been with the school.

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