has anyone considered the schools in north durham such as little river, easley and mangum? they appear to be good schools in durham

Supernana's post reflects the reality that most minority Americans deal with daily--not just now when the economy has gone south. Unfortunately, most of us are not in the income bracket to afford the private schools in the best of times. I believe this economic discrepancy is the key to the veil of silence concerning how to get your child into the magnet schools. Another case of the haves vs the have-nots. So I am doing as most people would do who want better for their children and moving back down into Wake County now that housing is becoming more affordable there in the outlying areas of the county. Housing prices in most areas of Wake are still out of range for the average consumer but deals can be found in this economy now. No one was budging back in the fall when we moved here but the economic situation has become more grim, as noted in supernana's post, so that will be a benefit to me as far as housing affordability in Wake County where the public schools are much better. It will be easier to obtain a house there than to continue running into brick walls concerning the substandard education which my daughter is receiving here in the more affordable housing market of Durham. Good luck again to anyone who is considering the school situation here in Durham. There definitely needs to be some sort of change in the magnet/charter school selection process whereby it is made more equitable and representative of the population here in Durham.

I don't have a question, but sincerely appreciate the candid opinions of bamachild. We, my daughter and I, are thrashing out possibilities for my grandson and encountering a great deal of frustration trying to balance housing with educational needs....... placing his education foremost, of course. Presently, he is enrolled in a private school, but we are feeling the economic crunch and don't know how long we can remain afloat.

Good luck with this! I have been Durham for one month and in NC for four months. I was told that the schools here in Durham are awful compared to Wake County schools and I see for myself that this is true. I mistakenly am buying a house which I thought was still in Wake County but happens to be just inside the Durham County line. So unless you want to lie about your address, your kids will have to go to school in Durham if you live in the county. In my case, it would have been just as close for my kids to stay at the schools they were in in Wake County since we were already in an apt in the northern part of the county. The high schoolers have to be driven 15 mins away to the city of Durham to attend one of the worst schools in the district. I have tried, to no avail, to find out how to go about getting them in a better school (magnet/charter) but have been blocked on all sides. My kids were a month and a half ahead of Durham County public schools as soon as we moved here from Wake County-esp., my 4th grader. I moved here from AL and this is the most segregated place I have ever been. I see discrimination here with these school systems that I NEVER saw in AL. And that is saying a lot!!!! So unless you can pay 18K plus for your child to attend the Durham School of the Arts, I would not suggest moving into Durham County. I am sorry to have to impart this news but I wished I had not gotten this house in Durham but I am tired of moving my kids around so I will deal with it best I can--it is very aggravating to say the least!!!!!

Are you looking for private or public schools in Durham? I'm not familiar with public schools but there are many excellent private schools in Durham. Duke Academy, Duke School, and Trinity Christian School are all excellent private schools. There are several other good charter schools as well. If you're interested, you might also get more information on the North Carolina School of Science and Math. This is a live-on campus school in Durham that recruits the best math and science students from around North Carolina.