Durham School of the Arts

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Durham School of the Arts (DSA) is a secondary (middle/high) school magnet school located in downtown Durham, North Carolina. Its focus is on the visual and performing arts. Electives include extensive 3D and 2D art, dance, guitar, strings, piano, many computer classes, and much more. Students are enrolled by a lottery system and can enroll as early as the sixth grade.

DSA is the former Durham High School, as well as Carr Middle School. It was opened for the first time in 1995 as Durham Magnet Center. Every year after, a grade was added to the school until it was grades six through twelve. DSA had its first graduating class in 2000.

Unlike many other schools in the area, DSA follows the integrated math system, consisting of Integrated Algebra and Geometry 1, Integrated Algebra and Geometry 2, etc. Other schools have Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, etc. Classes at DSA start at 8:45 and end at 3:45, much later than other area schools. The campus consists of 5 separate buildings: Academy Building, Gym, Main Building, Media Center, Carr Building. A few are connected by small hallways.

DSA has amazing teachers, and very good academics. Teachers try to incorporate the Arts into their teaching to try to encourage students to learn.

Contrary to common belief, there is no way to get into DSA without having your named pulled by the lottery. Local students do not automatically earn enrollment, although many DSA students live near the school. Most students are admitted in 6th grade. Only around 200 students are in each grade. Although many kids leave DSA after middle school, many do not.

At DSA 6th and 7th graders are divided into 'teams.' In sixth grade you are either a 'Knight,' or a 'Dragon.' Both teams have their own 'areas' in the basement. These areas have all their core classes, and lockers. They are separated by a long gray hall which is off limits, it is believed to have contained a pool.

In 7th grade, interteam communication is more encouraged. The two teams, the 'Navigators' and the 'Explorers,' are both on the 2nd floor of the main building. No physical boundry separates the areas, but students are not allowed to go onto the other team's hallway during their core class hours--1st period through 4th period.

Eighth graders are allowed more freedom and aren't divided into teams. They have either 'A,' or 'C' lunch like the rest of the school, and take electives with the rest of the school, unlike the 6th and 7th graders who have a set time. They also take P.E. as a semester long elective, rather than a year long on/off class.

High schoolers have the option of taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These include AP English IV (Lit. and Comp.), AP Statistics, AP Physics, AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP US History, AP European History, and AP Psychology.

Notable arts teachers at DSA include (formerly) Mrs. Scott Hill of the choral department, Ms. Christi Camper-Koplen of dance, Ms. Kelly Lynn Mulvey of the creative writing and English department, and Mr. Larry Downing of visual arts.