Real estate agent doesn't want us to look at Durham (Cary: crime rate, public schools)

[mdp_az]

The lack of pretentious people in Durham was a big draw for us. Even in many of the more expensive neighborhoods the people in Durham are more approachable/accepting/etc... than I've found in Raleigh and other areas in the Triangle.

As for the schools, it seems to me the majority of Durham parents on this forum feel strongly that DPS provides a good education. I'm a Durham parent and moved to Durham from Wake County in part for the schools.

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by Charlton Dude

However, the overwhelming majority of people do not feel that the Durham public school system is very good. It is the minority of people that like it.

I could care less how you or anyone else who doesn't have a child in DPS "FEELS" about the quality of the education that my children are getting. I KNOW my kids are getting an EXCELLENT education in their Durham Public School.

And with 31,000+ students in DPS schools I would say this is the majority.... not the minority.

[Calvitts]

Originally Posted by Charlton Dude

This is true. However, the overwhelming majority of people do not feel that the Durham public school system is very good. It is the minority of people that like it.

That's because the "minority" you refer to are parents of children attending Durham Public Schools. The "majority" typically base their opinions on what they "hear" from you and others who have not experienced the DPS first hand. Please stay in Cary, Bob, and leave responses about Durham and the
Durham schools to the folks who live here, please!

The statistics and numbers do not tell the whole story. And, no matter where you go, all school systems have their strengths and weaknesses.

[TraumanurseNC]

I speak from experience with Raleigh (2 schools), Wake Forest, and now Durham schools. I found not too many differences in the process.
I am raising a male sixth grader, who is not my own, and has had many issues with his parents in the past (separate, moved a lot, no discipline, etc). So as one might infer, he/we have also had some issues since he came to live with me. I care about this child, and want him to succeed, so I am VERY active in his school life. Here are my thoughts on schools...

I found Wake Forest to be the most consistent with 'homework' (everybody has their own opinion about homework, I think they often don't get enough), but not as willing to work with me when there were issues (by that, they were not as quick to inform me of problems, low scores, issues, etc as I would have liked (and after repeated requests to do so). Lynn Road was a good school, but very little homework, and the next year they didn't make a 'passing grade' according to the state. York was my favorite, in terms of balance... it seemed to have the best combination of all things important to me, and he did well there.
He is now in DPS, and they are about in line with the others I have experienced. His teachers are very communicative with me about the things which are important to me, and seem to have teaching styles for many types of children. They are open to my suggestions to help 'my' student learn. I still have to be VERY involved, but I had that in Raleigh and Wake Forest as well!
I firmly believe you get a lot of what you invest in your school and your children as the reward!

[dcgrl]

Originally Posted by Charlton Dude

This is true. However, the overwhelming majority of people do not feel that the Durham public school system is very good. It is the minority of people that like it.

you mean the overwhelming majority of people who don't live in Durham and get their info from internet strangers...

[StoneOne]

We've been living in Carrboro for about a year and a half now, and although I like it here, my wife and I are really considering purchasing a home somewhere in SW Durham. Most of the friends we've made are in Durham, my wife's work is in Durham, and it seems a little less isolated. Very convenient to different parts of the Triangle. And of course, there's the issue of getting a lot more house for your money in Durham vs. Carrboro/Chapel Hill.

My daughter will be starting in CHCCS this fall in kindergarten, but based on the people we've met who are sending their kids to Durham schools, I would be more than happy if she went there as well. We try to play a very active role in her life, so it's not as if school would be the only influence.

As for pretension, yes, Durham does seem quite a bit more low key than some of the other communities in the Triangle.

[durhammom]

Originally Posted by roncorey1

One thing that Durham has over Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, etc is A LACK OF PRETENTIOUS PEOPLE!!!

LOL -- I've often attributed this to the fact that Durham people are contrary -- the more people tell us to avoid Durham the more determined we are NOT to avoid it. And as is typical of contrary people we are a bit stubborn, individualistic and like to be a bit different. Of course that same contrariness also contributes to some of the more public conflicts that Durham politics is famous for.

[saturnfan]

Last week, I went to visit someone in an older, diverse section of Durham where Papa John's won't even deliver pizza.

It was a decent place with friendly neighbors. Certainly not a Cary type community and no HOA's but appeared safe.

The folks we visited have no children, so no comment on DPS.

[Charlton Dude]

Originally Posted by Calvitts

That's because the "minority" you refer to are parents of children attending Durham Public Schools. The "majority" typically base their opinions on what they "hear" from you and others who have not experienced the DPS first hand. Please stay in Cary, Bob, and leave responses about Durham and the
Durham schools to the folks who live here, please!

The statistics and numbers do not tell the whole story. And, no matter where you go, all school systems have their strengths and weaknesses.

This is a forum and I am free to speak. I was also a Durham City resident. These are the facts and I don't think we do anyone a service by hiding them or making excuses.

Southern High School (North Carolina) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The state has threatened to close the school on account of its test scores, which are below 55%"

heraldsun.com: Southern High at bottom of state list

"DURHAM -- One of the Durham Public Schools is at the bottom of the list of the low-performing high schools in the state."

Hillside High School (Durham, North Carolina) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Judge Howard Manning has threatened to close the school under the Leandro ruling, which states that North Carolina must provide a sound, basic education for all citizens."

[Zoya]

Originally Posted by Charlton Dude

This is a forum and I am free to speak. I was also a Durham City resident. These are the facts and I don't think we do anyone a service by hiding them or making excuses.

Southern High School (North Carolina) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The state has threatened to close the school on account of its test scores, which are below 55%"

heraldsun.com: Southern High at bottom of state list

"DURHAM -- One of the Durham Public Schools is at the bottom of the list of the low-performing high schools in the state."

Hillside High School (Durham, North Carolina) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Judge Howard Manning has threatened to close the school under the Leandro ruling, which states that North Carolina must provide a sound, basic education for all citizens."

That is ONE schools out of the entire district. ONE! What about the quality of the other schools, especially the elementary and middle? Change starts from the bottom up...you might be choking on your words in a couple of years as the motivated students work their way there.

Really...stay as the little Cary cheerleader and leave the rest of the Triangle to people that actually know about it.