Durham School of the Arts

My daughter started @ DSA in the 6th grade and will be a senior this year. It has been a positive experience overall and my daughter has really enjoyed the diversity and opportunities that DSA has provided. My only complaint - this is not the usual neighborhood school so it seems difficult to get parental involvement & assistance in the various groups (PTSA, Boosters, etc). It often seems to be the same handful of parents volunteering @ functions. If your child goes to DSA - please jump in & help make this school even greater than it already is.
--Submitted by a parent

This school fosters an atmosphere of respect, academic achievement and tolerance that I have not seen at any other high school. Students learn through arts based and project based ideologies that nurture the students who struggle and allow the strong students to shine. The teachers provide different types of activities that appeal to the different intelligences of students so that they all have a chance to be successful and the arts portion of the curriculum is fabulous.
--Submitted by a parent

Culture of respect coupled with academic excellence. DSA's arts-based curriculum gives kids the opportunity to expand their horizons. My children both want to be scientists but an arts education is also helping them to think outside the box.
--Submitted by a parent

When many public school systems have abandoned the arts, we are blessed to have a public school devoted to the arts.

Great school, graduates real artists.
--Submitted by a parent

Great teachers, great kids. Academics, sports and the arts. The perfect school.

My daughter Zoe graduated there and went on to study studio art in college--it totally sparked her interest in the arts.
--Submitted by a parent

DSA provides a great learning experience.
--Submitted by a parent

It gives middle school students a chance to take high school level courses and has good choral and drama departments and no football team.
--Submitted by a parent

DSA provides a great learning environment with many opportunities for both middle and high school aged students. In addition to the many art-related extracurricular activities there are also sports, civic clubs, and other special interest clubs. Students are challenged and the teachers care about their students. The school has about 1400 students between 7 grades - that's only 200 per grade level - much smaller than most middle schools and definitely much smaller than the area high schools. There is a reason they get over 1600 applications each year for only 300 spots!
--Submitted by a parent