I visited this quintessentially uniquely designed elementary school by Evoke Studio Architecture in…read moreDurham NC - to watch a family member's performance. At first glance - the quality of this building is evident. The value was in being outside - enjoying the festivities while observing this location. Complimentary water -fruit & snacks available & food trucks were on the other side of the building. This school is located on an incline - seemly semi secluded for optimal security. It was a picture perfect day - sunshine - just a light jacket or long sleeve shirt day - the building is sprawled over a cleverly designed landscape- it is a multi level very large building with protected outside playgrounds spaces and a lower level walking trail.It is also authentically pleasing to the eye -generous outside spaces for children to run & jump & play for outside activities.I was told there were elevators and stairs for options for accessibility. I look forward to viewing the interior at another time. It was a beautiful experience- this location is minutes away from major interstates - a major mall- accommodations - numerous restaurants-

Both my nieces strolled through this establishment. They turned out ok, so, i guess DA has…read moresomething to do with that. Ya feel me?

Durham Academy is one of the top private schools in North Carolina. The focus is on building…read moreleaders, not in just educating. The preschool is a warm and enriching environment. The lower school starts the educational journey, which continues progressing through High School. Classes are roughly 16-20 students, with daily enrichment classes across all disciplines. 100% of graduating seniors go to college, with most going to first choice schools.

I attended Emerson Waldorf School for 10 years. To say I loved my time there is an understatement…read more I went from crying everyday at my charter school in first grade to thriving academically, socially, and artistically. At Emerson, students are not only seen as learners, but also as whole people who have thoughts, ambitions, and capacities beyond memorizing formulas. In elementary school I learned through stories and to this day I am able to remember the content of the lessons- the math activities that helped me learn all my times tables forwards and backwards, the stories I wrote in cursive, the doll I knit in second grade. In middle school, I wasn't taking tests to measure my knowledge, but instead I was writing stories and drawing depictions based on the lessons of Ancient Egypt, Geography, History, etc. Thanks to Emerson I can write college level essays (I got A's on all of my first semester college papers), I play the cello, I sell crocheted hats and knitted socks, I love sports thanks to my years on the volleyball team, I honestly love math, and I have still kept the friendships from my years at Emerson. I think that is what I love most. The students are so kind and everyone is able to be their truest self without shame. There are no expectations to conform to what society (or social media) thinks is popular at the time. Every child deserves to attend Emerson Waldorf School.

Academics is delivered in a unique and creative way here. Using the Waldorf approach has proven…read morehighly effective for our son who has been there for 9 years now. Grateful to his teacher Mr. Wiley.

I love this School. My kids have gone here and it is truly amazing. The teachers are so kind and…read morehave the kids best interest in mind.

Summer Camp Review: I think the young adult counsellors are not implementing the program as on…read morepaper. Such a disappointment as it really missed the mark. Of course, not all counsellors but the few we experienced have put on movies, and are kinda immature in interacting during parent interaction. Don't get me wrong nobody is mean but the place isn't worth the price at all. YMCA is running laps around Duke School summer camp in terms of fun energy and don't tell me it's educational and cut out half the stated activities b/c suzie q didn't remember. Overall Duke School is a master a marketing an illusion of what it thinks it is. Maybe 20 years ago dude...

We are halfway through our second year at RUMC Preschool and it has been a great experience! The…read morestaff are very kind and responsive, and truly care about all the preschool families. It's a small community, which I enjoy and which allows great accessibility. They also allow and encourage parents to be as involved as they would like to be. My daughters are well cared for, loved, and have thrived in the school. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Both of my sons attend this preschool and I can't say enough good things about it. All the teachers…read moreare so incredibly caring and engaging and the director (Amy) is amazing! My kids absolutely love going to school which is a big deal to me as a previous teacher. I knew preschool would be their first introduction to the school setting (even though the majority of their day is play based) and I could not be happier with our choice!

Our family's experience with IMS Durham has been deeply disappointing and frustrating. We enrolled…read moreour three-year-old expecting a safe environment and constructive communication with parents, but repeated injury-related incidents and the school's responses ultimately caused us to lose confidence in both. And as it turned out that IMS is not licensed, it is unclear what governmental or other oversight bodies are responsible for oversight of student safety. Among other incidents, our daughter cut her finger while provided a manual pencil sharpener with a metal blade in the classroom to use independently and later came home with unexplained scratches near her eyelids. In another incident, according to the school's own account, a staff member took her hand while redirecting her to sit down, after which she began crying. She reported an arm injury and requested ice. After pickup, she was in significant pain and unable to lift her arm; she was subsequently diagnosed with nursemaid's elbow and required medical reduction. On another day, she sustained a significant tongue injury during nap time. When we picked her up, her shirt and blanket had substantial blood on them, yet we had not been contacted beforehand. We were told that approximately 16-17 children ages 3-6 were in the room and that one of the two people supervising them at that time was a 15-year-old girl on her first day. What troubled us most was what happened when we repeatedly raised safety and communication concerns. At our first and only in-person meeting with the Head of School, which primarily concerned our child's safety, our recollection is that she told us early in the discussion that if we were uncomfortable with the school's practices, we could look for another school before discussing the concerns. We followed IMS's own Handbook process and ultimately escalated our unresolved concerns to the Board Chair. We met with the Board Chair online to discuss them, but before receiving follow-up, IMS terminated our three-year-old daughter's re-enrollment only days before the new school year began. Our daughter had not been accused of misconduct or behavioral problems. The termination letter instead cited the frequency and nature of our communications--including concerns about injuries, supervision, parent notification, and regulatory status--as part of its reasoning. We were left scrambling to find another school at the last minute. In the previous two years in a daycare in another city, our kid was doing quite well. Based on our family's 7-month experience with IMS, we cannot recommend IMS.

Incredible dual-language programming in a Montessori setting with experienced and caring teachers…read moreand admin. Strong and vibrant parent community.

Corrupt leadership and very judgmental pastor. Compassion is not something they know. If you…read moredon't fit their perfect mold and do whatever the pastor says, then you will be shunned. Pastor is egotistical and thinks He is the only one who knows anything.

Our 3 kids attended CFS from early school through upper school and have now all matriculated into…read morecollege. CFS was a fantastic partner in helping support our children's development. They nurtured all aspects of our children's development including social-emotional development while also, preparing our children for the most competitive colleges. Importantly, the school was a safe space for our children to explore, play and learn and we, as a family, gained a fantastic community of values-driven families. We couldn't be happier with our 25+ years of children at CFS.

This review is coming from an actual former middle schooler at CFS. I did succeed at making…read morefriends, as the school is very social-focused. Academic is a different story. When I started at CFS, I loved math and literature, and learning in general. However, by the end of the three years I spent there, I hated almost every subject. I'm usually able to at least seem smart, But they didn't help me in any way succeed academically. They would call my parents in for pointless meetings, pressured them into paying the school more money for a tutor that basically taught me the same stuff I was taught in classes, made my messy tendencies worse, and just generally made me feel stupid.

Very enlightening experience. This school has a very colorful and interesting history, is well…read morefunded, and houses some of the brightest students in the state!

There's a very nice little theater here for some events, although the seats are a bit tight on…read morearm-room. Be aware the only entrance to parking is really from Club Blvd instead of Broad Street.