Education in the Triad -- Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem

Families new to the Triad will find many educational opportunities and choices here - so many, in fact, that it may take a little research to figure out exactly which situation is best for your child. Local educators make that task easy by welcoming visitors to their schools and providing ample information to help you make your school choice.

The Triad's public school systems are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of students, from special needs to academically gifted, college prep to technical. In addition, the school systems offer magnet schools, which allow children to focus on specific areas of interest and to choose from various methods of instruction. Magnet programs range from foreign language immersion to open education, international baccalaureate to traditional academies and cultural arts. A recent addition to the magnet program offering is a curriculum that emphases music and the arts.

Accompanying the population growth in the Triad has been an increase in public school attendance. Some communities are responding through bond referendums to finance school construction and expansion. As new facilities are being built and expanded, school assignments may change. Many districts offer a school of choice option so students may attend schools closest to where they live. Local school systems can provide the most current information on both assignments and projected building projects. You can learn more about each of the Triad's individual school systems by visiting the websites below:

Alamance Burlington Schools - www.abss.k12.nc.us

Asheboro City Schools - www.asheboro.k12.nc.us

Caswell County Schools - www.caswellschools.org

Davidson County Schools - www.davidson.k12.nc.us

Davie County Schools - www.davie.k12.nc.us

Elkin City Schools - www.elkincityschools.com/p>

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools - mts.admin.wsfcs.k12.nc.us

Guilford County Schools - www.guilford.k12.nc.us

Lexington City Schools - www.lexcs.org

Montgomery County Schools - www.montgomerycountyschool.org

Mount Airy City Schools - www.mtairy.k12.nc.us

Randolph County Schools - www.randolph.k12.nc.us

Rockingham County Schools - www.rock.k12.nc.us

Stokes County Schools - www.stokes.k12.nc.us

Surry County Schools - www.surry.k12.nc.us

Thomasville City Schools - www.tcs.k12.nc.us

Yadkin County Schools - www.yadkin.k12.nc.us

North Carolina has implemented the ABCs of Public Education Accountability Program, a statewide reform effort designed to improve educational performance and results at individual schools by setting goals and evaluating progress on those goals through end-of-grade tests. High-performing schools are rewarded through bonuses for teachers and other certified staff; low-performing schools are given special state assistance to help them improve. The ABC results for 2003-2004 are available at the State Department of Public Instruction Website

The Triad also has several charter schools, independently operated public schools designed to serve as laboratories for innovation in education. Created and run by parents, teachers and/or community leaders, charter schools receive the same per pupil funding as other public schools. The schools must be approved by the N.C. Board of Education before they can begin operation and are periodically reviewed. For more information about charter schools or to find a list of charter schools in Triad counties, you can visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/charterschools

If you're interested in private schools, you'll find a wide variety of independent secular and religious schools in the Triad. Because each private school has its own distinct philosophy and approach to learning, you'll want to research schools, talk to parents and take a tour. Private schools often provide innovative teaching programs, special classes for students with learning disabilities, religious training and character-building among other unique education offerings.

The Triad is an area rich in college and university opportunities including the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Wake Forest University, High Point University, North Carolina A&T, Greensboro College, Guilford College, Bennett College, Winston-Salem State University, Elon University and Salem College. The Triad counties also offer residents numerous opportunities through one of the finest technical community college systems in the nation with convenient campus locations throughout the region. The community college system provides excellent academic programs for university bound students as well as works with area employers to develop highly specialized technical training programs for local industry.

Resources

For Public School contact information, click here

For Private and Independent School contact information, click here

For area Colleges and Universities, click here

For Charlotte Region, click here