"Top" Triangle Schools (Raleigh, Durham: credit, homes, magnet schools)

[jln69]

You should go the each school districts websites and look up the test scores.

Wake County - Wake County Public School System

Chapel Hill-Carborro - CHCCS Home - CHCCS Home

Durham County - DPS District Site - Home

Sat Scores for all of North Carolina High Schools - http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/...sion070830.xls

[welovedurham]

Originally Posted by MrsSteel

That's funny. I know Carolina Friends is in Durham. Maybe it's in one of those little bits that cross over into Orange County.
Carolina Friends School, an independent Quaker school for grades Pre-K - 12

Carolina Friends has 1 or 2 preschool programs in Orange County.

I would add Durham School of the Arts (magnet) to the list.

[lamishra]

Originally Posted by mdp_az

I guess I'm biased towards Broughton as an alum! Math scores in the 60s?! That's rather out of character for BHS...however as with any broad-based score, it helps to scratch beneath the surface to see what's really going on.

That said, BHS has consistently ranked second among public non-charter high schools in Wake County for as long as I've been here. If they don't pull those math scores up, though, that could change quickly!

Well, if it makes you feel any better, Enloe's scores aren't that much higher. Honestly, based on test scores alone, Green Hope has the highest scores, but obviously, the level of diversity isn't there in that school that one would see in Enloe and Broughton. There are so many factors that go into making a great school, and just looking at test scores doens't show the real picture! I've always thought Broughton was a great school too, so I was suprised to see their math scores so low! I was particularly suprised that Cary high's scores are primarily in the 90's. That school always gets a bad rap, when it's really very good!

[Chapel Hill Connection]

Originally Posted by MrsSteel

That's funny. I know Carolina Friends is in Durham. Maybe it's in one of those little bits that cross over into Orange County.
Carolina Friends School, an independent Quaker school for grades Pre-K - 12

Actually, it is in Orange County. One of those funky parts that may have a Durham address, but is within Orange County.

[gasgangrene]

OK...Let me put it another way. Say I want my daughter to maximize her chances of getting into an Ivy League school. This would presumably mean high SAT score, National Merit Scholar, super competitive academic environment, AP course work, strong academic reputation, and a track record of Ivy League admissions. Price is no object, and we will pick the school first then select a neighborhood based on the school. Which high school would you pick? Give me your top three.

[MrsSteel]

Originally Posted by gasgangrene

OK...Let me put it another way. Say I want my daughter to maximize her chances of getting into an Ivy League school. This would presumably mean high SAT score, National Merit Scholar, super competitive academic environment, AP course work, strong academic reputation, and a track record of Ivy League admissions. Price is no object, and we will pick the school first then select a neighborhood based on the school. Which high school would you pick? Give me your top three.

Parental involvement and your own child's drive and intellect have a lot more to do with their success than which particular school s/he goes to. Sorry, but it's true!

Honestly, there are oodles of people in the Triangle who are very happy with their children's schools.

[lamishra]

If I had to pick and rank, I would say Durham Academy, Cary Academy and East Chapel Hill HS. Enloe and Raleigh Charter HS would probably be up there too.

[jln69]

Originally Posted by lamishra

If I had to pick and rank, I would say Durham Academy, Cary Academy and East Chapel Hill HS. Enloe and Raleigh Charter HS would probably be up there too.

That just about sums it up perfectly also, IMO.

You got it right too regarding Enloe and Green Hope. My children attend Green Hope and it is a good school but I think Enloe is a little better (if you can get in, we didn't). Green Hope scores better in State because there isn't any diversity among everyone taking the exam but Enloe scores better on the SAT's because not everyone takes them.

[uncletupelo]

WCPS test scores by school are not an accurate way to measure individual performance. Example- my daughter attends our neighborhood elementary school which is Joyner. The test scores are brought down by the fact that the school is close to 40% free or reduced lunch. I have tried to get the bean counters to tell me what the scores are of the neighborhood kids from the 27608 zip code. That would tell me all that I need to know. I have a real strong feeling that the scores would be strong. Many of you are in this exact same position. You have to look at more than the scores. The WCPSS will tell you every possible racial brakedown of each school, but they will never break down the test scores at each school by race etc. If I am wrong then I apologize.

[Mikeheel]

The absolute best school in the Triangle is Jordan Classical Academy. But that's our home school and we can't accept any more students unless we adopt them.... LOL.

And did I mention we have the most gorgeous instructor (my wife) in the area on top of that?

Mike