Book Harvest’s Kindergarten Info Session Recap
Early this fall, Book Harvest held a Kindergarten Information Session where experts Melody Marshall, Director of Student Assignment for Durham Public Schools, and Mercedes McCurley, Senior Program Manager for the DPS Foundation shared about school choice, enrollment information, and tips about choosing the right school for your family! You can watch the full presentation here, and below is a summary of what we all learned:
Durham School Options
Durham Public Schools
“Every home in Durham is assigned to a Durham Public School.” Melody Marshall
As of this year, all base (assigned) elementary schools will provide integrated STEM, arts and global language learning standards. Durham is divided into 5 regions - northern, eastern, central, southwest, and southeast region. To find your public school assignment known as your home base/neighborhood school you can use the School Locator tool.
You have the choice of moving forward with your home base school OR you can apply for your child to attend an application school. These schools offer specialized programming and assignment is lottery based. DPS Magnet Programs include:
Dual Language Immersion (DLI): A program that uses two languages for learning and teaching.
Montessori: An approach to education that focuses on child-centered learning environments, designed to support children in independent and self-directed learning based on the students’ interests.
International Baccalaureate (IB): A program with the goal to make students active (not passive) learners through a focus on life-long learning, service, and global awareness (including the study of world languages).
Year-round calendar: At these schools, students start the year earlier (mid-July) and end in June (same as traditional calendar schools). After each ~9 weeks, students have a break of ~3 weeks, as well as days off for other holidays/ teacher workdays.
The application window for the 2025-2026 school year begins January 6, 2025 and ends January 31st, 2025. You can learn more about all DPS schools at the Showcase of Schools on November 23rd from 10am-2pm at the NCCU Student Center (500 Nelson Street, Durham, NC).
The DPS Office of Student Assignment can provide you with your student's base school assignment and provide support for enrollment. Contact the Office of Student Assignment at 919-560-2059. For non- English speaking families, the ESL Registration center can provide support and guide you through the process. Contact the ESL Registration center at (919) 560-2559.
Charter Schools
Charter Schools are independent, non-profit, public schools run by a private board. Typically, you can apply to charter schools from December-early February. The "Great Schools" website has a list of all active charter schools in Durham. Check individual school websites or contact the school directly for the most up to date school and enrollment info. These schools are tuition-free.
Private Schools
Private schools typically ask for an enrollment fee and annual tuition. Some give scholarships based on need or academics. Opportunity scholarships are also available in North Carolina. More information is available here. Because they are independently run, these schools do not receive an annual school report but have statistics to share about their overall school performance upon request.
Home School
In order to teach your child at home, at least one adult in the home must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. You can then register with the state as a home school. You can find a step-by-step guide on how to get started with homeschooling and lots of online resources on the North Carolinians for Home Education website.
Tips for choosing the right school for your child
A "good" school looks and feels different to everyone! What might be the best fit for your family might not be for another family. Consider what you value in a school and if the school’s culture will be where your child thrives. Here are some things you can do to get to know a school better and discover if it is a good fit for your family:
Attend a School Tour
“Your neighborhood school should be the first you visit.” Mercedes McCurley
Visit a school's website and search for a virtual tour or email the school to request one in-person. Learn more about the school values, community, and practices by asking school staff questions that are important to you. You can email or call someone at the school with your questions.
Review School Reports & Data
School reports are created annually for all public schools using school testing data from the previous school year. The letter grade is generated using overall student achievement on end of grade tests (reading and math EOGS, 80%) and overall growth on student scores (20%). You can find a school's letter grade online here. You can also search “NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey” and search a specific school to learn more about the school from the perspective of teachers.
We know that the preparation for starting school can be daunting for any parent or caregiver. Your willingness to explore options and ask questions reflects your commitment to supporting your child as they begin their educational journey with their most important advocate - you!
If you have any questions, we invite you to contact our Bridge to School Coordinator at gisela@bookharvest.org.