For more information, contact the school system's magnet resource center at 501-7900 or visit the center at the campus of Millbrook Elementary School. Another alternative in the Wake and Durham public school systems, these schools feature an alternative to the summers-off calendar. The year-round schools have become a popular option in Wake, and demand always exceeds available seats. The application process is similar to the one for magnet schools. Additional information is available from the school system's magnet center.
Students can apply as transfer students to attend the programs.
Charter schools About 4,000 students across the Triangle attend charter schools, which the state of North Carolina authorized beginning in the 1997-1998 school years. The publicly funded schools operate independently from the public school systems and with greater flexibility in such issues as instruction and staffing. Charter schools, which are tuition free, are available for all grade levels across the Triangle. Typically, they are smaller in size than traditional public schools and promote smaller class sizes as well. They range from the traditional, some requiring uniforms and stressing the basics, to the more progressive, with inquiry-based instruction.