Durham Public Schools and Durham Tech aim to have 25 percent of high school graduates earn college credentials before graduation, up from less than 1 percent currently.
Durham Public Schools and Durham Tech aim to increase college-credentialed high school graduates to 25 percent by 2026-27, up from less than 1 percent, with tuition-free pathways saving students around $50,000.
The district requests a $10.8 million budget increase for 4.1 to 4.25 percent staff raises, but board members warned classified staff wages of $17 per hour still lag county and city rates, risking employee losses.
Approximately $85 million in federal COVID relief funds expire September 2024; the board will evaluate which ESSER-funded positions measurably improve student outcomes by October to determine sustained local funding.