Private Schools

Private schools offer a variety of options for parents living in the Triangle. In recent years, the area has seen a surge in independent, Christian and Catholic schools.

Long-established private schools such as Ravenscroft School in Raleigh and Durham Academy have been joined by dozens of schools, large and small. Many other schools have been expanding to make room for more students. Tuition ranges from about $3,000 a year to as much as $16,000 at most private schools.

Private school enrollment in the Triangle has increased significantly in recent years. And there are many private schools to choose from in the area.

Area private School Facts
For the 2004-2005 school year, enrollment in Wake County was 13,375, up from 12,951 in 2003-2004. In Durham County, the enrollment in 2004-2005 was 4,043, up from 3,937 from 2003-2004. For Orange County, the 2004-2005 enrollment was 1,314, up from 1,276 in 2003-2004.

Fifty-two private schools are located in Wake County. Durham County has twenty-nine private schools and Orange County has nine.

The N.C. Division of Non-Public Education, under the Department of Administration, oversees private instruction across the state. The web site (www.ncdnpe.org) contains a variety of information ranging from selecting a private school, curriculum, graduation requirements and a listing of all private schools in the state.

Strong academic programs, smaller classes and various religious teachings are some of the reasons parents select private schools, local school administrators agree. A variety of independent private schools are located in the Triangle. Among the largest are Durham Academy with 1,127 students with tuition ranging from $10,425 to $16,025; Cary Academy with 689 students and tuition at $13,775; and Ravenscroft in Raleigh with 1,072 students with a tuition range of $8,800 to $14,600.

Ravenscroft, located on Falls of the Neuse Road in Raleigh, is one of the oldest private schools in the Triangle. It opened in 1937 and moved to its current location in 1969. "Many parents are looking for the academic excellence that we provide," says Philip Higginson, assistant head of school of institutional advancement at Ravenscroft, a kindergarten through 12th grade school. "We have a tremendous history of teaching excellence here."

Cary Academy is one of the newer private independent schools to open in the Triangle. Located on a 52-acre site off North Harrison Avenue in Cary, the school opened in 1997 with students in sixth through 12th grade.

Don Berger, head of Cary Academy, says parents select the school for the quality of its faculty and the numerous technological advantages offered. The school was the mastermind of SAS Institute's CEO Jim Goodnight, executive vice president John Sall and their wives, Ann Goodnight and Ginger Sall. For next school year, all students will be provided a Tablet PC, a computer with a pen that can be used like a mouse or in place of a keyboard to handwrite notes.  Durham Academy, located on three campuses in Durham, opened in 1959. It offers classes for students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Religous-based private schools
Numerous religious-based schools also are located in the Triangle. The Catholic Diocese of Raleigh has moved aggressively to add schools, to keep up with the growing number of Catholic families in the Triangle.  This year, the total enrollment in the diocese's 23 elementary schools and one high school is at 8,400 students. Of the 24 schools in the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, ten are located in the Triangle area. Schools in the diocese are located from Wilmington to Burlington.

Since 1994, the diocese has built nine new schools, including Cardinal Gibbons High School's new campus in west Raleigh. The school moved to its new $19 million campus in 1999. In 2000 alone, the diocese opened three elementary schools in North Raleigh, Cary and Apex. The primary reason parents select Catholic schools is to continue the religious training of their children in an educational setting, according to Mike Fedewa, superintendent of schools for the diocese.

"Catholic schools are strong partners with the parents in faith development," says Fedewa. "Our faith is integrated into all parts of the education. Obviously, this is something parents cannot get in public schools." Cardinal Gibbons, located on Edwards Mill Road in Raleigh, is the only high school in the diocese with 1,100 students. A new high school and elementary school were scheduled for a 70-acre site on Yates Store Road in western Wake County. However, Fedewa says the diocese is in the process of selling the site and will not be constructing the schools. Catholic schools in Raleigh are Cardinal Gibbons High School, Cathedral School, Our Lady of Lourdes School and St. Raphael's Catholic School. Schools outside of Raleigh include St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School, in Apex; St. Michael the Archangel School, in Cary; St. Thomas More School, in Chapel Hill; and Immaculate Catholic School, in Durham. In addition to a strong religious education, Catholic schools also attract students and parents for a variety of other reasons.

Typically, Catholic schools are smaller than most public schools and also have smaller classes. Students wear uniforms to Catholic schools, which is popular with parents. "In Wake County, students who attend Catholic schools do not have to worry every year about being reassigned to another school," says Fedewa. Annually, many students in the public Wake County school system must change schools due to growth and overcrowding.

A wide variety of Christian schools are also open in the Triangle area. These vary in denominational influence, religious emphasis and size. The largest schools are North Raleigh Christian Academy on Falls of the Neuse Road, Wake Christian Academy in southern Raleigh near Fuquay-Varina and Cary Christian School in Cary.

Wake Christian Academy, founded in 1966, has 860 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The tuition ranges between $4,600 and $4,950. North Raleigh Christian Academy, founded in 1996, has 1,206 students. The tuition ranges between $4,800 and $6,600. Cary Christian School, founded in 1996, moved to its new 21-acre campus on Old Apex Road in 2004 and graduated its first class of seniors in May 2005. Its enrollment is 679 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. "At Cary Christian, our mission is to provide excellent classical education founded upon a biblical worldview," says Gene Liechty, director of development at the school. "We stress academic excellence that opens the doors to most of our graduates" first choice of colleges."

Parents are selecting Cresset Christian Academy also for its religious and educational values. Founded in 1975, the school is affiliated with Cresset Baptist Church in Durham. It has 350 students in pre-school through 12th grade on a 40-acre campus. "We help children grow up learning about Jesus Christ and developing certain standards to help make decisions for life," says Sharon Riley, the lower school principal. "We offer a safe environment, strong academics and teachers who are strong Christian role models." Each child has formal Bible study in an academic setting. However, Christian principles are intertwined with each subject, even math, according to Riley.

Located on a 67-acre campus in Orange County, Carolina Friends School was founded in 1962 by members of the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers. Today, it has 480 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Tuition ranges from $6,590 to $11,360. "Students choose CFS because they feel seen and challenged by teachers who know them as individuals," says Mike Hanas, the school's principal. "They thrive because they find not only strong academics but also an innovative arts program and many opportunities to make choices and assume responsibility."

Jane Paige is a freelance writer