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Originally Posted by libmom
Hi there -- is anyone with an AIG child really happy with their school in Durham/Raleigh? Looks like the services provided vary widely, and how they're provided vary widely. I've got an elementary AIG child, and would love to find a non-lottery district where she'd have her needs met from elementary through HS, but even knowledge just at the elementary level would be great.
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Libmom, this is a link you will want:
Contact Us — Durham Public Schools
Beth Cross is great. She's the head of AIG services in Durham. And she's wonderful. Also, there are school resources listed here.
In Durham not all elementary schools have the same AIG programs. Some only pull out a couple of times a week. And others pull out daily for math and literacy in grades 3-5. Some elementary's do not have a full time AIG teacher because their population does not call for it. But others have multiple AIG teachers. And some have multiple classroom teachers who are also AIG certified.
Creekside Elementary has a great AIG program. There are at least 2 teachers (AIG Certified) in grades 3, 4, and 5. So kids who meet AIG for those grades attend math and literacy pull outs for those grades. I think that ends up being more than 2.5 hours of the day. K-2 the AIG program district wide is such that kids get pull out a couple of times a week. Teachers in K-2 handle differentiation in the classroom. Creekside has the largest AIG population of any of the DPS elementary schools. While biggest does not guarantee the best, there is very active parent group that supports the needs of AIG students. And the principal and staff understands and supports the needs of these kids. The AIG teachers there are great. Many of them trained at UNC in Chapel Hill are really good.
I've heard Hope Valley has a good AIG program as well.
I would recommend that you ask to have your child tested as soon as you get here or prior to your arrival. All out of district students have to take a test to show AIG readiness and meet district standards.
Githens Middle School & Durham School of the Arts also have strong AIG / Honors programs. (I imagine Brogden and Carrington do too, but I do not have direct experience with those.) At Githens and DSA kids who are AIG / Honors attend math and literacy classes designed for AIG / Honors students. But for social studies and science they are mixed with the whole population. Some parents feel their AIG kids could be challenged more in social studies and science in middle school. I think it just depends on the teacher and the mix of kids, which will vary every year.
Jordan & Riverside (high school) has many honors & AP classes. DSA does as well, but it's a lottery.
Any elementary school you consider I would recommend that you call the AIG Facilitator on that link and find out how to get your child tested and what the services are at that particular school. I think the district was trying to standardized their offerings of AIG in elementary. But some schools like Creekside had a greater need than some other schools so those schools may have gone to the AIG pull out for 3-5 first. You might ask what the AIG teacher ratio to AIG student is at each school. And you might want to find out how many general population teachers are also AIG certified.
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