Program Magnets
Montessori
The Montessori Method was started by Dr. Maria Montessori, the first woman in Italy to receive a medical degree. After working with children from many different backgrounds, she saw a strong need for individualized instruction and hands-on materials for children to work with.
In a Montessori classroom:
- Students work at their own pace to achieve mastery.
- Each child receives individualized instruction and lesson plans.
- Students receive most lessons one-on-one from the teachers.
- Lessons are presented in a very concrete manner with materials that then lead the students to abstraction.
- Classrooms are multi-aged.
Durham offers two elementary Montessori schools and one Montessori middle school – only the second public Montessori middle school in the state! Lakewood Montessori Middle School provides a continuum of this educational philosophy in DPS from pre-K through eighth grade.
International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate is a nonprofit educational foundation whose programs seek to develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world. It offers a continuum of high-quality education that encourages international-mindedness and a positive attitude to learning.
IB starts at Burton Elementary and continues at Shepard Middle School. Students can then continue their studies in the IB Programme at Hillside High School. According to Board Policy, “Rising sixth-graders from Burton Elementary Magnet School will be assigned to Shepard Middle Magnet School if a magnet application is submitted listing Shepard as first choice. Rising ninth-graders from Shepard Middle Magnet School will be assigned to the International Baccalaureate magnet program at Hillside High School if a magnet application is submitted listing Hillside as first choice.”
Gifted and Talented and the Arts
Nurturing the gifts and talents of students is a key part of the gifted and talented program and the arts focus in DPS magnet elementary schools. Fostering creativity in students is one of the key areas of focus for W.G. Pearson Elementary Magnet School.
