Research Triangle High School

Research Triangle High School
Location
10 Park Drive
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709
United States
Information
Type Secondary Charter
Established 2012
Locale Urban
Chief School Officer Eric Grunden
Grades 9-11 (9-12 planned)
Number of students 360 (420 planned)
Color(s) Forest green and silver
         
Mascot Raptors
Website rthighschool.org

The Research Triangle High School, commonly abbreviated RTHS, is a charter school designed around a STEM focus located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The school opened in August 2012 with an initial class of 160 freshmen, and will add a freshman class every year until the school has a planned enrollment of 420 students in grades 9-12.

Curriculum

Research Triangle High School's curriculum is aligned with the Common Core State Standards Initiative and the North Carolina Essential Standards. All teachers at the school implement the Flipped Classroom method of recording lectures to be viewed by students outside of class, allowing for more hands-on instruction during class time.

RTHS offers Advanced Placement courses in Calculus, Environmental Science, English Language and Composition, United States History, and World History; more AP courses will be offered when the school grows to include grades 9-12. Students may prepare independently, with assistance from teachers through after school meetings, to take the AP Biology exam. A special honors level Civics and Economics class offered in the 12th grade prepares students to take the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam.

Athletics

RTHS's athletics programs are known as the Raptors, and they compete in the 1A classification of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. RTHS began play in the North Central Athletic Conference, a 1A conference comprising only Triangle-area charter schools, in the fall of 2014.

RTHS fields teams in boys' and girls' cross country, boys' and girls' soccer, boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' track and field, girls' volleyball, and cheerleading. There are plans to add boys' and girls' tennis once the school has added all four high school grades. With no athletic facilities on campus, RTHS partners with local organizations such as the Town of Cary, the Town of Morrisville, and Hoops City U for practice and event space.

The most successful athletic program in RTHS's short history has been the boys' cross country team, which won back-to-back 1A mideast regional championship en route to state runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2014.

Controversy

The Durham County School Board and the Durham City Council had both previously voted to oppose the charter, citing concerns of lower-income accessibility.[1] Proponents of the high school, however, explained that the school plans to target the area's diversity of race, gender, and economic background.[2] A public forum held on 13 February 2012 allowed area residents to voice their opinions about the proposed charter. The response was generally positive.[3] Despite Durham Public Schools' opposition, the school's charter was approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education on 1 March 2012.[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Gronberg, Ray (2012-02-09). "Council votes to oppose RTP charter school". The Herald-Sun (Paxton Media Group). Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  2. ↑ Blizzard, Pamela (2012-02-08). "A charter school that will reach out to help others". The News & Observer (The McClatchy Company). Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  3. ↑ Owens, Adam (2012-02-13). "Public hears plans for proposed RTP charter school". WRAL News (Capitol Broadcasting Company). Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  4. ↑ Ferral, Katelyn (2012-03-01). "N.C. Board of Education approves 3 Triangle charter schools, 9 statewide". The News & Observer (The McClatchy Company). Retrieved 2012-03-01.