An in-ground core drill bit suitable to be located at an end of a drill string and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the drill bit comprising: a first section for attaching to a drill string; a second section comprising an end secured to the first section and a cutting portion, the cutting portion having: a cutting face; a cutting matrix having a matrix layer and cutting media impregnated within the matrix layer; a plurality of fluid/debris notches extending radially from the inner surface to the outer surface of the drill bit and extending axially from the cutting face into the cutting portion; and a plurality of enclosed fluid/debris slots, the fluid/debris slots enclosed in cutting matrix and extending radially from the inner surface to the outer surface of the drill bit, the fluid/debris slots having respective outer openings on the outer surface of the drill bit and respective inner openings on the inner surface of the drill bit, wherein each fluid/debris slot is surrounded by the cutting matrix on all sides except the outer and inner openings of the slot, wherein the enclosed fluid/debris slots become fluid/debris notches as the cutting portion erodes, wherein the fluid/debris flows through the enclosed fluid/debris slots in the cutting portion, wherein the inner surface contains a hollow portion that receives pieces of a core sample and passes the pieces of the core sample through the drill string, and wherein the plurality of enclosed fluid/debris slots are arranged in a staggered and stepped configuration. a first section for attaching to a drill string; a second section comprising an end secured to the first section and a cutting portion, the cutting portion having: a cutting face; a cutting matrix having a matrix layer and cutting media impregnated within the matrix layer; a plurality of fluid/debris notches extending radially from the inner surface to the outer surface of the drill bit and extending axially from the cutting face into the cutting portion; and a plurality of enclosed fluid/debris slots, the fluid/debris slots enclosed in cutting matrix and extending radially from the inner surface to the outer surface of the drill bit, the fluid/debris slots having respective outer openings on the outer surface of the drill bit and respective inner openings on the inner surface of the drill bit, a cutting face; a cutting matrix having a matrix layer and cutting media impregnated within the matrix layer; a plurality of fluid/debris notches extending radially from the inner surface to the outer surface of the drill bit and extending axially from the cutting face into the cutting portion; and a plurality of enclosed fluid/debris slots, the fluid/debris slots enclosed in cutting matrix and extending radially from the inner surface to the outer surface of the drill bit, the fluid/debris slots having respective outer openings on the outer surface of the drill bit and respective inner openings on the inner surface of the drill bit, wherein each fluid/debris slot is surrounded by the cutting matrix on all sides except the outer and inner openings of the slot, wherein the enclosed fluid/debris slots become fluid/debris notches as the cutting portion erodes, wherein the fluid/debris flows through the enclosed fluid/debris slots in the cutting portion, wherein the inner surface contains a hollow portion that receives pieces of a core sample and passes the pieces of the core sample through the drill string, and wherein the plurality of enclosed fluid/debris slots are arranged in a staggered and stepped configuration.