As a recent divorcee settling down in Chapel Hill, one of your main concerns may be related to schooling. Perhaps you have small children and you need information on schooling options for them, or perhaps you are interested in your own education. After a divorce many people are inclined to finish their college degree, obtain a masters or other graduate degree, or even just take some classes for recreation and to meet new people. Chapel Hill undoubtedly has excellent education resources for people of all ages, which will be discussed in this article.
Chapel Hill Public Schools
Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools
750 S. Merritt Mill Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967 – 8211
The public schools available in Chapel Hill are city schools, rather than county schools. Orange county schools are available to northern orange county residents (mainly those in Hillsborough). The city schools consist of roughly a dozen elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. To see what schools your child will be assigned to, you can use the interactive assignment map found on the school system website.
The website also provides a wealth of information related to the school system, including links to enrollment forms and information, awards and accolades, and academic curricula.
Charter Schools
For a recently divorced, newly single parent, making decisions about your child’s education can be extremely difficult. Decisions you formerly made jointly with your partner are now for the most part squarely on your shoulders. While a separation agreement or court order may require you to consult your ex partner regarding the child’s education, the ultimate decision typically rests with the custodial parent. Maybe you aren’t thrilled with your assigned city school, but you can’t afford private school tuition either, is there an alternative? Yes, consider charter schooling.
Charter schools are public schools, but are not part of the Orange County public school system or the Chapel Hill – Carrboro city school system. Charter schools are primarily funded by public tax dollars, have open enrollment, no religious associations and no tuition. What makes a charter school different from other public schools is that families can choose a charter school; they aren’t simply required to attend the school in their district. Charter schools have strict goals outlined in the school’s mission statement and programs, and should a charter school fail to meet its goals, it may be closed.
There are not nearly as many charter schools in the Chapel Hill area as there are in the neighboring cities of Durham and Raleigh, however there are a few options.
920 Corporate Drive
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644 – 6272
Grade Span: K – 8
308 NC 54 W
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 807 – 3493
Grade Span: 9 – 12
160 Woodland Grove Lane
Chapel hill, NC 27516
(919) 960 – 8353
Grade Span: K – 12
Private Schools
The majority of the area private schools are located in Cary, Durham, and Raleigh, however there are options for residents of Chapel Hill that wish to enroll their children in private schools but don’t want to commute that far to school.
6211 New Jericho Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967 – 1858
This school has been operating as an independent day school servicing those in kindergarten through eighth grade since 1984. Tuition varies on your child’s social and financial needs, as well as if there are other siblings at the school. Call the school for more concrete tuition information.
920 Carmichael Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 929 – 1546
St. Thomas More school is a Catholic school that has been open since 1964. They offer schooling for those in kindergarten through eighth grade and tuition costs roughly $5,000 to $7,000 per year.
While there are a handful of additional private preschools and elementary schools in Chapel Hill, the majority of the area private schools are located outside of Chapel Hill. Please visit our Raleigh and Durham centers for information about private schools in those cities should you be interested.
Furthering Your Own Education
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
One reason why a recently divorced person may chose to live in Chapel Hill is to further their education. UNC offers programs for undergraduate studies, masters and other graduate programs, a law school, a school of government, a medical school, and a dental school just to name a few. Whether you wish to enroll as a full time student or simply audit a few classes to further your education, UNC is a great resource. Additionally, because UNC is a state university, tuition won’t necessarily break the bank. Visit their website for a complete list of degrees and programs.
If you are interested in receiving a certification at a community college, your best bet is to enroll at Durham Technical Community College or Wake Technical Community College; information about those schools can be found on the center websites for those Durham and Raleigh.
