Raleigh, NC area question

[unbroken chain]

Hello all, we are considering the possibility of moving to the Raleigh area (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill/Cary).

What are the best high schools in the area (particularly for gifted students)? I've done some online research but sometimes the numbers don't really tell the story. It seems that Enloe was very good, but also seems that as a magnet school, NC has a lottery system so you might or might not get in.

Also, does anyone have advice or thoughts as to what suburban neighborhoods/areas are or are not desirable (with teenage kids)? Preference for newer-ish area.

TIA!!

 

[unbroken chain]

bumping....thanks for any thoughts....

 

[disneyjunkie]

I moved back to NY from Raleigh in 2000. One of the main reasons I moved was because of the schools.

I could not get my son into any of the magnet schools of my choice. (We lived in the wrong area)

At the time they based admission on race, gender, siblings and bus patterns. I think they've changed race to social economic status of the area you live in.

Also, be mindful of reassignments. One of my friends purchased a house with the hopes of her daughter being able to attend Southeast Raleigh HS. (About two minutes from her house) The year before she started HS, her subdivision was reassigned to a HS in Garner. They both hate the school (luckily she's a senior this year). Each year she has tried to get her into Southeast Raleigh or Enloe as a magnet student. She's turned down each time.

When I lived there, magnet kids were safe from the yearly reassignment hassles. That magnet label ensured they remained in a magnet school regardless of which school they were zoned to.

Find out when Wake County will be holding the magnet fairs/open houses and try to attend both. I was always able to gather more info at the fairs then at the open houses.

Find out the dates for the applications. They are strict about the postmarks. Mailing them early is just as bad as mailing them late.

There are some great schools in Wake County.

Good luck

 

[Muushka]

This is more of a bump than info....

We don't have kids, but apparently our neighbors are happy with the school system here. We live in Cary. There are several newer developments in the area. Check out Cary, Apex (those are the areas I know best). From what I understand, avoid Durham. Good luck!

 

[unbroken chain]

Thanks! Cary looks like a lot of newer suburban homes - but would the schools be reassigned frequently? Or is that just a once in a great while redistricting?

My kids are in some great schools now, and it's my main concern about leaving my area. I had some friends that moved to Indiana, bought a home in what was said to be the "best" school district, and the schools turned out to be really awful. They wound up changing to a private school at a large expense. I don't want to get into that situation.

 

[Muushka]

Sorry, no can help. I don't pay close attention to the school situation (just the dang taxes!).

Hopefully a parent will help you out.

Where are you moving from?