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189 <br />The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) is one of two public school systems in <br />Orange County, NC. Established in 1909, CHCCS is located near the flagship campus of <br />the University of North Carolina (LTNC) and the world renowned Research Triangle Park <br />(RTP). As a result of the district's proximity to higher education and research facilities, <br />our community boasts one of the highest educated populations in America. The district <br />operates three high schools, four middle schools, ten elementary schools, a school for <br />young people being treated at UNC Hospital and an alternative program. for high school <br />students. These schools serve more than 11,000 students. <br />CHCCS is particularly proud of the academic accomplishments of its students and the <br />strong credentials of its teaching faculty. <br />CHCCS has the state's highest districtwide SAT score at 1,185, or ]:,757 when the <br />writing component is included. The state average is 1,004, and the national average is <br />1,017. This high average was attained while more than 96 percent of the district's <br />eligible students took the test. More than 1,200 of our high school students are enrolled <br />in challenging Advanced Placement (AP) courses. This participation has earned two of <br />the district's high schools (the third opened in 2007 and wasn't eligble) ranking in <br />Newsweek magazine's list of top high schools. In 2007, East Chapel Hill High ranked <br />149, and Chapel Hill High ranked 243. Nearly 92 percent of last year's graduating senior <br />class went on to two- or four-year institutions of higher learning. Thirty-four students in <br />the current graduating class were named National Merit Finalists, while 15 of them. <br />received National Merit Scholarships. CHCCS has North Carolina's highest four-year <br />cohort graduation rate at 87.3%. CHCCS has the state's lowest dropout rate at 1.12 <br />percent. The district was recognized by the North Carolina State Board of Education for <br />its 28% improvement over the previous year. <br />Thirty-one percent of the district's students are identified as gifted. More than 93 percent <br />of students in grades 3-8 are proficient on state-mandated End-of--Grade tests in reading, <br />while more than 83 percent of them are proficient on the End-of--Grade tests in <br />mathematics. At the high school level, 87 percent of students are proficient on state- <br />mandated End-of-Course tests. For the 2006-2007 school year, CHCCS had one of the <br />state's highest per pupil expenditures at $9,779. <br />Nearly 200 CHCCS educators hold the prestigious certification from the National Board <br />for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Forty-two percent of teachers hold a <br />master's or doctorate degree. The CHCCS teacher turnover rate is 8.5 percent, half of the <br />state average of 17 percent. CHCCS employs 1,870 staff members, of whom 1,150 are <br />teachers or administrators. <br />### <br />