| Educating Our Children |  |
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 If education lights the way to the future, then the path looks bright for Triangle students. Many schools here are among the best in the state, and every system shows solid results in North Carolina’s ABCs of Education program, designed to promote continuous improvement.Wake County The Wake County School System is the second-largest public school district in North Carolina with more than 120,000 students in 141 schools. The system serves all of Wake County including Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wendell, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Morrisville and Zebulon. It is one of the top employers in Wake County, with teachers and staff nearing 13,000. In 2005, the Wake County School System was first in the state and second in the nation for teachers earning certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. With 165 certified this year, WCPSS now boasts a total of 985 teachers with National Board certifications. The county’s average SAT score for 2004-2005 was 1,075 – 65 points ahead of the state average and 47 points above the national average. In 2005, 61 schools in the Wake County system were named North Carolina Schools of Excellence, which means that at least 90 percent of their students are at or above grade level. Wake County Schools also improved from the previous year to include 43 Schools of Distinction, defined by 80 percent of scores at or above grade level. Wake County offers a diverse selection of magnet programs at all grade levels including 15 year-round schools. Students must apply for placement in these programs, which is decided by a number of factors. Broughton and Garner high schools are magnets for International Baccalaureate, Southeast Raleigh High School is a Center for Leadership and Technology, and Enloe High School is a Gifted and Talented/IB Center for Humanities, Sciences and Arts. Centennial Campus Middle School is located on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh. The school is partnered with the university to provide its students with guest speakers, added educational facilities and opportunities, and interaction with university students and professors. Joyner Elementary is a Center for Spanish Language and a magnet for International Baccalaureate. All students at Joyner have daily Spanish classes and many of their core subjects are taught in the second language. Joyner has been named an Exemplary school by the North Carolina ABCs for five of the past six years. Durham County Durham County wants to see all of its nearly 32,000 students achieve their highest potential regardless of race, gender or socio-economic status and make continuous progress to be at or above grade level. In this supportive environment, Durham’s students are rising to the challenge. The county has seen eight years of continuous academic growth, including a 44 percent increase in the number of third- through eighth-grade students scoring at or above grade level in reading and math. In 2004-2005, eight schools in the district were honored as Schools of Distinction, with 80 percent of the students scoring at or above grade level, and 13 were named Schools of Progress. Twenty-seven of the district’s 41 schools attained expected or high growth, and there were no low-performing schools. Durham has projected that the school system will meet major goals in the next few years such as eliminating the achievement gap in reading and mathematics in grades six through eight by 2007, and having 80 percent of graduating students meet the course requirements for admission to the University of North Carolina System by 2009. Forty-six Durham schools – including 28 elementary schools, eight middle schools, one secondary school (6-12), and seven high schools – have the flexibility to use different strategies to devise themes, schedules and teacher collaboration to meet the educational needs of their students. Besides year-round schools and alternative programs, options include magnets with unique curricula, Centers of Specialization with specific fields of study, elementary lab schools with low student-teacher ratios and an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program for select high school students. Morehead Montessori, one of seven elementary magnet schools, has been named a School of Excellence for the past three years and had 95 percent of students scoring at or above grade level in 2004-2005. In addition, IBM has implemented an electronic mentoring program within Durham County Schools in which its employees give insight into the working world through e-mail correspondence and further bolster student performance. For students confined to the hospital or the home, there is a mobile Hospital School that enables students to keep up with studies during illness or injury. Over the past few years, approval of two bond referenda totaling $157 million are set to fund an eight-year program of construction, expansion and renovation. More than half of the projects are finished or under way, including Creekside Elementary School which opened in 2005. Chapel Hill-Carrboro The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system operates separate from Orange County Schools, and student performance here is exceptional. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School district is ranked one of the top 37 school districts in the country and is the top-performing district in the Southeast. An impressive 10 percent of the district’s teachers are distinguished by the National Board certification. The district employs around 900 teachers and staff, more than half of whom hold advanced degrees, including doctorates. Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools boast the highest SAT scores in North Carolina. In fact, the composite SAT score for 2004-2005 averaged 1,185 – 157 points higher than the national average. Since over 93 percent of high school seniors in the school system took the SAT, these scores are highly significant. The district also has the lowest dropout rate in North Carolina, at 1.25 percent, and 81 percent of its graduates go on to attend four-year colleges. More than 10,000 students are enrolled in the system’s nine elementary, four middle and two high schools. With Chapel Hill and Carrboro growing so rapidly, officials plan to ensure the system continues to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need. Orange County The Orange County School District serves over 6,700 students at seven elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Of these, Hillsborough Elementary gives K-5 students a chance to pursue their education year-round. The implementation of an Academically Gifted Plan has increased the number of students receiving differential instruction. Comprehensive efforts to improve reading, writing and mathematics in all grades are also in place. In 2005, an unprecedented 19 teachers from the school system were certified by the National Board, bringing the district total to 18 percent of teachers with this designation. Recent achievement and performance scores document student successes. No Child Left Behind results show that Orange County Schools met 96 percent of its 2004-2005 goals. Three Orange County elementary schools were named Honor Schools of Excellence, meaning that 90 percent of students performed at or above grade level and made Adequate Yearly Progress. Two other elementary and both high schools in the district were named Honors Schools of Distinction with 80 percent of students at or above grade level. Orange County Schools expanded with its 2002 opening of Cedar Ridge High School, which includes superb academics and a strong athletic program. Cedar Ridge, where over half of the teachers hold master’s degrees, also offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate program. Johnston County Western Johnston County is experiencing a population boom, thanks to the easy accessibility of Research Triangle Park via I-40. This has translated into an increasing student population, and the need for expansion. In fact, two new elementary schools will open in the fall of 2006. Today, Johnston County’s 36 schools and more than 3,500 staff members serve 27,500 students in the cities of Clayton, Selma, Smithfield, Kenly and Bus. The system includes 16 elementary schools, nine middle schools, five high schools, one K-8 school, one union (K-12) school, an alternative school and a school for academically and intellectually talented elementary students. Selma Elementary, which offers pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, has undergone major rebuilding and renovations in recent years. Johnston County Schools has already spent more than 300 million dollars on construction projects and is continuing to expand its quality facilities thanks to community support for a series of bond referenda. Reflecting Johnston County’s mission to foster learning in a supportive environment that respects and challenges students, the system’s initiatives include an accountability policy that establishes high academic standards and performance. The average SAT score in Johnston County is 1,033, 23 points higher than the state average. Recent results from the ABCs program show that Johnston County schools are continually making progress. In 2005, 90 percent of third- to eighth-graders scored at or above grade level in math and 87.3 percent at or above grade level in reading. Franklin County With eight elementary, three middle and three high schools, Franklin County offers class sizes and school sizes smaller than the state average. There is excellent access to technology, as 100 percent of its classrooms are connected to the Internet. In 2005, six elementary schools and all three high schools met the No Child Left Behind standard for Adequate Yearly Progress. The curriculum at the system’s Creative Education Centre includes online learning programs, independent study, goal setting and positive motivation for alternative learners. Two elementary schools – Riverside Elementary Magnet and Youngsville Elementary – are year-round schools. Youngsville was named a School of Distinction in 2004-2005, meaning that at least 80 percent of students are at or above grade level. Franklin County expects to see a population boom within the next decade, and its school system is already planning for additional schools to accommodate the growth. Chatham County Similar to other counties in the Triangle, Chatham County is projecting a significant increase in enrollment and is preparing with plans for new and improved schools. In fact, since 1989, residents of Chatham County have passed three bond referendums for the construction of six new schools. With 7,500 students, Chatham County Schools operates three high schools (9-12), two middle schools (5-8), two primary schools (K-4), seven elementary schools (K-8) and one alternative school (8-12). A new elementary school in Siler City is currently under construction and is expected to open in the fall of 2007. Chatham County Schools encourages parental and community involvement. A strong Parent-Teacher Association and a county-wide volunteer program of more than 1,000 volunteers contribute thousands of hours to Chatham County Schools, and local businesses donate money through the Chatham Education Foundation. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics In 1980, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) opened as the first public residential high school in the country. The school offers state-of-the-art technology and a curriculum centered on science and math. An affiliate of the University of North Carolina system, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is a public school that enrolls high school juniors and seniors who show exceptional academic abilities. Students must apply during their 10th-grade year. Acceptance is based on SAT I scores, teacher recommendations and transcripts from ninth and 10th grade. At NCSSM, students represent over 90 of the state’s 100 counties. The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is located just outside of downtown Durham on the campus of the former Watts Hospital on a 27-acre site that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Private Schools Beyond its excellent public schools, the Triangle area offers a diverse selection of independent schools. In its 48th year, St. Timothy’s is an Episcopal school located in the North Hills area of Raleigh. Serving grades K-8, St. Timothy’s seeks to provide “educational excellence and the emotional, physical and spiritual growth…in an environment that emphasizes traditional Christian values.” St. Timothy’s recently opened a new 33,000-square-foot building. The school accepts students throughout the Triangle area. Founded in 1862 by members of the Christ Episcopal Church, Ravenscroft School became an independent non-sectarian school in 1966. With 1,097 students, Ravenscroft is a co-educational college preparatory school composed of an Upper School, Middle School and Lower School. The average SAT score for Upper School graduates in 2004 was 1,264. Serving grades six through 12, Cary Academy has an Upper School and a Middle School. Enjoying a diverse student body, Cary Academy is a college preparatory school that attracts students from across the Triangle area. In 2004, Cary Academy received the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon designation by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition to small class sizes ranging from eight to 20, Cary Academy also assigns an adviser to each student. Admissions begin in the fall, and minimum entrance requirements must be met for acceptance into the school. The motto for Neuse Baptist Christian School is “A Heart For Christian Education.” Affiliated with Neuse Baptist Church, the school has a 34-year history of Christian education and serves kindergarteners through 12th graders. Its curriculum includes college prep, honors and Advanced Placement courses. Neuse Baptist has a student body of less than 400, a low student-teacher ratio and is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International. Founded in 2000, The Franciscan School in Raleigh is a K-8 Catholic school that follows the tenets of St. Francis of Assisi. In addition to its general academic program, The Franciscan School focuses on Catholic traditions. A number of extracurricular activities and athletic programs are also part of The Franciscan School. Organized in 1970 by Friendship Baptist Church, Friendship Christian School in Raleigh offers Christ-centered education from 3-year-old kindergarten through grade 12. More than 95 percent of its graduates go on to attend college. Friendship School includes a college preparatory curriculum with Advanced Placement courses. Saint Mary’s, an all-girls college preparatory school for grades nine through 12, celebrates a 164-year tradition of educational excellence. Located on a beautiful 23-acre campus, the Episcopal boarding and day school is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1994, Faith Lutheran School in Raleigh opened as an elementary school with just 25 students, but today has grown to include kindergarten through ninth grade. In 2006, Faith Lutheran will add 10th grade, and there are plans to expand through 12th grade by 2008. With small class sizes, the school prides itself on being able to focus on the individual student. The school is sponsored by 10 Lutheran churches in the Raleigh area. Founded in Durham in 1991, Triangle Day School is a non-sectarian, K-8 independent school. Featuring a rigorous academic program, Triangle Day enrolls 180 students and has waiting lists for most grades. As an independent school, it is able to offer a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1 and a maximum class size of 18. In recent years, Triangle Day has undergone construction of a new gymnasium and library, as well as numerous renovations to increase the size of its classrooms, enlarge a multipurpose area and expand computer space. Formerly known as St. Timothy-Hale’s School, St. David’s was originally founded in 1972 as Hale High School. A middle school was added in 1990. In 2003 the school changed its name to St. David’s and expanded to include grades K-12. As an independent Episcopal school, St. David’s focuses on the vital areas of faith, virtue and knowledge. PHOTO COURTESY OF CARY ACADEMY
Area PREP School Information
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