This post was written by Mark Dessauer, NCDPI’s chief communications officer.
Every parent wants the same thing: the best pathway for their child.
Not the best pathway in the abstract — the right one for their kid, with their needs, in their community. I know this from my wife and my sudden need to have to become experts in education as our kids entered kindergarten in Durham Public Schools.
Outside of my personal navigation, I saw this search happening with many other parents as I traveled across North Carolina this past year with State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. Parents weighing options. Students discovering interests they didn't know they had. Educators building programs tailored to their communities — from the mountains to the coast, in small towns and growing cities.
And what I saw, again and again, is that North Carolina public schools are already part of that choice conversation. From dual immersion classes in Concord to robotics courses in Winton to a zoo school in Asheboro to culinary arts in Durham and an aviation CTE program in Franklinton. This list is endless and I could go on (but have limited space here in the blog). Like the list of examples I could share, the main point of this is that North Carolina public schools offer more pathways than many families realize:
- More than 200 charter schools
- 125 early college high schools where students earn college credit tuition-free
- 160+ industry credentials through Career and Technical Education
- Gifted programs, magnet schools, virtual learning and more
These aren't alternatives to public schools. They are public schools — tuition-free, open to every family and woven into communities across all 100 counties.
Why this campaign, why now
Too often, these options get lost in the headlines and the noise. "Find Your Fit, Build Your Future" is a six-week initiative to change that — to lift up the pathways that exist within public education and invite families to dig deeper, learn more and find what works best for their child.
That's what we're trying to do for every student, every day. Meet them where they are. Help them find their fit. Public schools have been central to North Carolina communities for generations. We evolve. We adapt. We build the future of this state together with the families we serve.
We know we have more work to do — to be better for you and to be the best in the country. That's our mission. And we're accountable to it.
Follow along
Over the next six weeks, we'll share stories, data and resources to help families explore their options. Follow along on our social media and blog and if you're a school leader or partner, look for our toolkit to help spread the word.
Let’s lift up all of the amazing choices that can help define our future.