Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We're considering a move within the next year or two and one of the top places in which we're interested is North Carolina. The combination of laid-back culture, mild climate, diversity, and beautiful natural areas is hard to beat. (We are particularly interested in Hillsborough, but want to explore throughout the state.) Our area of concern is education. I am continually reading about school funding being reduced, teachers leaving the state in droves, etc. I'm sure that this varies by district, but the general trend is disturbing. Is there hope of this turning around? If you are a parent of school-age children or a school employee, what are your thoughts?
We're considering a move within the next year or two and one of the top places in which we're interested is North Carolina. The combination of laid-back culture, mild climate, diversity, and beautiful natural areas is hard to beat. (We are particularly interested in Hillsborough, but want to explore throughout the state.) Our area of concern is education. I am continually reading about school funding being reduced, teachers leaving the state in droves, etc. I'm sure that this varies by district, but the general trend is disturbing. Is there hope of this turning around? If you are a parent of school-age children or a school employee, what are your thoughts?
Thanks for any input!
The General Assembly (the "congress" of the state) is solidly controlled by conservative republicans, who have instituted the recent "changes" to public education. Due to the fact that the republicans were in charge in 2011 when the state was redistricted after the 2010 census, they have an excellent chance to stay in control until at least 2021, when the next redistricting occurs. And I will be very surprised in they lose control of the GA between now and then.
Thats a long way of saying I do think the situation will change any time soon.
Thats a long way of saying I do think the situation will change any time soon.
I think this was supposed to say: "I do not think the situation will change any time soon".
BTW, I am merely a voter (not a parent), and I do not think the Republicans will loose control of the General Assembly in the next 5-6 years. They make token statements about improving education, but they will not raise taxes to do so.
I am also "just" a voter and native North Carolinian who attended NC public schools from grades 1-12 (albeit many years ago). I am appalled and disheartened by the current General Assembly's efforts to dismantle and undermine public education in NC.
I think the Orange County schools are pretty good and while I agree with all the other poster's sentiments on the General Assembly I think you'd probably be okay in Hillsborough. I have friends with kids in Orange County schools and overall they seem to find them satisfactory though not jaw-dropping amazing. They're pretty good solid traditional public schools.
Thank you both for adding to the discussion. Poppydog - it's good to hear that the the Orange County schools seem satisfactory, but I worry that if they're continually underfunded every year with no hope in sight they can't help but devolve....
I think Orange County is one of the better funded districts. Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools are even better funded. Both areas have higher local taxes and a good portion of that goes to schools. So while the Reublican-led state General Assembly may not be as supportive, the local officials are very supportive. The State Superintendent of Schools (not part of the conservative stronghold in state government) has just called for a 10% raise across the board. Atkinson: raise teacher pay 10 percent | News & Observer
Orange County Schools have a 1:1 laptop initiative starting in middle school I believe (they give every kid a laptop free of charge to do their schoolwork on, take home and do homework, etc.)
Depending on where you are in the state, we have an excellent education system. I'm in Wake County, and we have desirable and reasonably-funded schools. I have school-age children, and their experience has been satisfactory. In the Triangle, we have such a high % of degree-holding parents that in general our education systems (county-wide) are just fine.
But yes, if you want Democrats in control of the STATE education system, then you're likely to be disappointed for several more years.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
