Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) (información en español) 

Covering a wide range of topics, these programs provide specialized instruction supplementing the core content in these fields.  

2023-2024 School Year   

Elementary Schools: 

W.G. Pearson Elementary School (program will transition to year-round calendar and no program magnet status starting in 2024-2025)

W.G. Pearson’s theme is STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) and students are engaged in active, hands-on learning experiences in those areas using problem-based instructional strategies. All K-2 students have dance, music, and art. 

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: Kindergarten (former Pre-K students must enter the lottery)

Attendance zone: NO

Sibling Priority: YES–siblings of current students have priority seating

Transportation: District-wide

Middle Schools: 

Lowe’s Grove Middle School

The STEM curriculum at Lowe’s Grove focuses on the infusion of multiple technology tools and experiences. Students have two potential strands of courses to choose from: Biotechnology and Agriculture or Business and Entrepreneurship. Instruction utilizes collaborative learning and community partnerships. 

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: 6th 

Attendance zone: YES–students residing in the Lowe’s Grove attendance zone do not need to enter the lottery

Lottery zone: District-wide for all students not residing in the Lowe’s Grove attendance zone

Sibling priority: NO

Transportation: For those residing in the attendance zone, neighborhood transportation is provided. Outside the attendance zone, transportation is from the base school and parents are responsible for transportation to the base school

Competitive Athletics: The school has its own competitive sports teams. All students who attend, regardless of base zone, can participate

Neal Middle School

The STEM curriculum at Neal focuses on engineering and design. Students engage in coursework from the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum in Technology, Green Architecture, Design and Modeling, Automation and Robotics, and Medical Detectives. The curriculum focuses on problem-solving strategies and design thinking utilizing community partners such as Lenovo, Cisco, and Duke University. 

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: 6th 

Attendance zone: YES–students residing in the Neal attendance zone do not need to enter the lottery

Lottery zone: District-wide for all students not residing in the Neal attendance zone

Sibling priority: NO

Transportation: For those residing in the attendance zone, neighborhood transportation is provided. Outside the attendance zone, transportation is from base school and parents are responsible for transportation to the base school

Competitive Athletics: The school has its own competitive sports teams all students who attend, regardless of base zone can participate

High Schools: 

City of Medicine Academy (SCHOOL OPERATES ON A MODIFIED CALENDAR)   

CMA focuses on rigorous health and life sciences courses of study preparing students for post-secondary learning in the field. Through a partnership with Durham Technical Community College, students can earn college credit and/or professional certifications in health care fields while in high school. Students have access to internships, clinical experiences, shadowing opportunities, mentoring, and instruction by licensed healthcare professionals. CMA is a Cooperative Innovative High School. 

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: 9th 

Attendance zone:NONE

Transportation: District-wide

Competitive Athletics: School does not have its own sports teams, students can participate with base school, however transportation between schools is not provided.

Contact for program questions: Jennifer James (jennifer_james@dpsnc.net) 919-560-2001 x17611   

Durham School of Technology (formerly New Tech High School) (SCHOOL OPERATES ON A MODIFIED CALENDAR)   

Durham School of Technology focuses on rigorous IT and Computer Science courses of study preparing students for post-secondary learning in the field. Through a partnership with Durham Technical Community College, students can earn college credit and/or professional certifications in IT and Computer Science fields while in high school. Students have access to internships, shadowing opportunities, mentoring, and instruction by industry professionals. Durham School of Technology is a Cooperative Innovative High School.

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: 9th 

Attendance zone:NONE

Lottery Priorities: Students residing in the Hillside High School attendance zone receive priority seating.

Transportation: Transportation is only provided within the Hillside attendance zone. Students who reside outside this zone are responsible for their own transportation. 

Competitive Athletics: Students that attend Durham School of Technology regardless of base school can participate in the athletic program at HIllside High School.  

Contact for program questions: Whitney Ross-Gunter (whitneys_ross@dpsnc.net) 919-560-9183 x82223 

Southern School of Energy and Sustainability 

SSES consists of 4 small school programs: School of Biomedical Technology, School of Business Management and Sustainability, School of Technology and Engineering, and School of Architecture and Construction. These courses of study prepare students for post-secondary learning and/or immediate employment in relevant careers. Students can earn industry certifications in many fields including occupational safety, computer aided design, carpentry, construction, computer networking, and computer software. 

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: 9th 

Attendance zone:Students residing in the SSES attendance zone do not have to enter the lottery

Transportation: Neighborhood transportation is available for all student that reside in the SSES attendance zone. Students residing outside this zone are responsible for transportation to their base school and transportation is provided from there to SSES. 

Competitive Athletics: The school has its own competitive sports teams all students who attend, regardless of base zone, can participate

Contact for program questions: Antia Thomas (antia_thomas@dpsnc.net) 919-560-3968 x68509 

2024-2025 School Year and beyond

 Middle Schools: 

Lowe’s Grove Middle School

The STEM curriculum at Lowe’s Grove focuses on the infusion of multiple technology tools and experiences. Students have two potential strands of courses to choose from: Biotechnology and Agriculture or Business and Entrepreneurship. Instruction utilizes collaborative learning and community partnerships. 

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: 6th 

Attendance zone: YES–students residing in the Lowe’s Grove attendance zone do not need to enter the lottery

Lottery zone: District-wide for all students not residing in the Lowe’s Grove attendance zone

Sibling priority: NO

Transportation: For those residing in the attendance zone, neighborhood transportation is provided. Outside the attendance zone, transportation is from the base school and parents are responsible for transportation to the base school

Competitive Athletics: The school has its own competitive sports teams. All students who attend, regardless of base zone, can participate

Neal Middle School

The STEM curriculum at Neal focuses on engineering and design. Students engage in coursework from the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum in Technology, Green Architecture, Design and Modeling, Automation and Robotics, and Medical Detectives. The curriculum focuses on problem-solving strategies and design thinking utilizing community partners such as Lenovo, Cisco, and Duke University. 

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: 6th 

Attendance zone: YES–students residing in the Neal attendance zone do not need to enter the lottery

Lottery zone: District-wide for all students not residing in the Neal attendance zone

Sibling priority: NO

Transportation: For those residing in the attendance zone, neighborhood transportation is provided. Outside the attendance zone, transportation is from base school and parents are responsible for transportation to the base school

Competitive Athletics:: The school has its own competitive sports teams all students who attend, regardless of base zone can participate

High Schools: 

City of Medicine Academy (SCHOOL OPERATES ON A MODIFIED CALENDAR)   

CMA focuses on rigorous health and life sciences courses of study preparing students for post-secondary learning in the field. Through a partnership with Durham Technical Community College, students can earn college credit and/or professional certifications in health care fields while in high school. Students have access to internships, clinical experiences, shadowing opportunities, mentoring, and instruction by licensed healthcare professionals. CMA is a Cooperative Innovative High School. 

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: 9th 

Attendance zone:NONE

Transportation: District-wide

Competitive Athletics: School does not have its own sports teams, students can participate with base school, however transportation between schools is not provided.

Contact for program questions: Jennifer James (jennifer_james@dpsnc.net) 919-560-2001 x17611     

Durham School of Technology (formerly New Tech High School) (SCHOOL OPERATES ON A MODIFIED CALENDAR)   

Durham School of Technology focuses on rigorous IT and Computer Science courses of study preparing students for post-secondary learning in the field. Through a partnership with Durham Technical Community College, students can earn college credit and/or professional certifications in IT and Computer Science fields while in high school. Students have access to internships, shadowing opportunities, mentoring, and instruction by industry professionals. Durham School of Technology is a Cooperative Innovative High School.

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: 9th 

Attendance zone:NONE

Lottery Priorities: Students residing in the Hillside High School attendance zone receive priority seating.

Transportation: Transportation is only provided within the Hillside attendance zone. Students who reside outside this zone are responsible for their own transportation. 

Competitive Athletics: Students that attend Durham School of Technology regardless of base school can participate in the athletic program at HIllside High School.  

Contact for program questions: Whitney Ross-Gunter (whitneys_ross@dpsnc.net) 919-560-9183 x82223   

Southern School of Energy and Sustainability 

SSES consists of 4 small school programs: School of Biomedical Technology, School of Business Management and Sustainability, School of Technology and Engineering, and School of Architecture and Construction. These courses of study prepare students for post-secondary learning and/or immediate employment in relevant careers. Students can earn industry certifications in many fields including occupational safety, computer aided design, carpentry, construction, computer networking, and computer software. 

Current Lottery Policies:

Entry Grade: 9th 

Attendance zone:Students residing in the SSES attendance zone do not have to enter the lottery

Transportation: Neighborhood transportation is available for all student that reside in the SSES attendance zone. Students residing outside this zone are responsible for transportation to their base school and transportation is provided from there to SSES. 

Competitive Athletics: The school has its own competitive sports teams all students who attend, regardless of base zone, can participate

Contact for program questions: Antia Thomas (antia_thomas@dpsnc.net) 919-560-3968 x68509