� schools & education
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B Y AN N A- RHES A V ER S O LA
n Sept. 5, 1,300-plus students streamed through the doors of Durham’s newest high school in decades. The modern Northern High School campus at 4622 N. Roxboro Rd. includes 82
classrooms and common areas, an 800-seat auditorium, a 1,500-seat football stadium, a gymnasium that can hold 2,100, and multiple culinary arts classrooms with industrial kitchens. “Our new facility gives our students all the technological advances they need and Junior Junito Morales helps raise the flag on the first day of school at Northern’s deserve,” says Northern High new campus along North Roxboro Road. School Principal Danny Gilfort. “They deserve to be at a school that is reflective of who they are “You can be an inch off, and they won’t and what their capabilities are. Now they have Down the Road Construction on the new Durham sign off full occupancy. We want …people to something that will meet those expectations, School of the Arts is expected to understand this is a safe structure.” and they should thrive.” begin in spring 2024 at 2900 Duke Homestead Rd., a few miles north The school’s upgrades will have a lasting The project, which cost more than $96 million, of the existing Durham Public Schools’ impact. The former Northern High School encapsulates a 76-acre site acquired in Oct. application program housed in the did not have a football field, for instance – 2019. The new school was under construction former Durham High School at 400 N. Duke St. The 54-acre tract instead the team played at Durham County for two years and can accommodate up to of land was purchased from Duke Memorial Stadium. “Now they have a 1,850 students. Last-minute corrections and University for $4.1 million in 2010. football field of their own,” Crystal says. construction-related issues, including a water The new campus will continue to serve grades 6-12 but will increase its Crystal says the school’s renowned culinary safety feature that was 1 inch short of required capacity to 2,000 students. DPS Senior arts program plans to offer coffee and pastries height above ground, delayed the certificate of Executive Director of Building Services Fred Davis says the district will likely for visitors, meetings and possibly school occupancy paperwork. “But this is how detailed repurpose the older campus, “but a events. Northern’s old campus at 117 Tom these processes are,” says Crystal Kimmons plan for its best use will be presented Wilkinson Rd. will be repurposed for district Roberts, director of strategic communications to the Board of Education, which will make that determination.” and administrative needs. for Durham Public Schools.
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durhammag.com
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october/november 2023
PHOTO BY TONY CUNNINGHAM, COURTESY OF DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
�future
Northern High School is Durham’s newest in 30 years