# Brogden Middle School

Brogden Middle School is a public middle school in Durham, North Carolina. Founded in 1959, Brogden serves 707 students from grades 6-8 in the Durham Public Schools district. Brogden is currently ran under the administration of Anthony White, with 3 assistant principals (Roderick Boyles, Desirae Smith and Lauren Eaton).

## History

Brogden was built in 1959 over the "ruins" of a unidentified homesite of a farmland that stood on the property until it's demolition for the school's construction. The site itself was owned by the Northgate Shopping Center (which now stands close to the school off of Broad Street). The school was opened to grades 7-9 as a Junior High School in 1959. It was at that time known as Brogden Junior High, though it was rumored that the school was planned to be a High School. Brogden Junior High was set to replace E.K. Powe Junior High, which today is E.K. Powe Elementary.
Durham City Schools made the decision to redraw the Junior High School's attendance zonings, which would now include Brogden, Carrington and East Durham (now Holton) Junior High Schools. Little is known about Brogden's history after the schools construction up until today. There was suspected to be an amphitheater on the campus at some point, though there doesn't seem to be any remanence of such today.
Today, Brogden stands as a middle school. It holds many sports teams including boys and girls soccer, basketball, track & field, cross country as well as a football, volleyball, wrestling, baseball and softball team. In 2024, the Brogden Boys Soccer Teams won the Durham Athletics Conference championships for the first time in over 10 years.

## Performing Arts

Brogden is home to 3 performing arts classes, including Band, Orchestra and Chorus.
The Brogden Band, under the direction of Colin R. Tapp has set many records throughout the schools and district's history. The Band, known as the "Sound of the Dragons" have 4 bands, consisting of a Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced and Jazz band. Over the last 5 years, Tapp has grown the band program to over 140 students from just barely 40.
In 2023, the Brogden Advanced and Intermediate bands got a II (excellent) ranking at the North Carolina Bandmaster's Association "Music Performing Assessment" (MPA), a statewide assessment for musicians around the state. This was the first time in over 10 years Brogden went to MPA with comments. As well, the Intermediate band received a II and the Advanced Band received a I (Superior) at the annual Carowinds Festival of Music contest. In 2024, Brogden Advanced and Intermediate bands combined and were able to to receive the highest possible ranking of I at MPA, and at the Carowinds Festival of Music.
In 2024, 21 members of the band made the DPS All-County Honor Band, 10 made the North Carolina Central All-District honor band and 1 made the North Carolina All-State Band.
Tapp announced late into the 2023-2024 school year that he would be leaving his position of band director at Brogden to join Alston Ridge Middle School as their new band director starting immediately in July of 2024. It is unknown if Brogden has made arrangements for a new band director yet.
In 2024, the Brogden Chorus, under the direction of Dylan Quick had 6 students participate in the North Carolina All-State chorus. As well, 7 students performed in Dusham Public School's "Evening to Shine", an annual event showcasing choral and dance performances.