2003 House Ave #22
Durham, NC 27707

My oldest is currently in 2nd grade in the Spanish Immersion program at Lakewood and we LOVE the school. All of the teachers are wonderfully supportive of the students and the parents, and my child is genuinely excited to go to school every day. He is excelling above his grade level in math, and I've been pleasantly surprised with just how much Spanish he can speak and understand after three years in the program. Coming from a family that doesn't speak any Spanish, I was worried that he would be left behind without help at home, but he's doing great. I really love that he has friends from many different backgrounds, and he sees strong leadership from teachers of diverse backgrounds as well. Lakewood also has a great PTA which is great at making sure the teachers, staff, students, and families at the school are supported. They fund field trips, teacher appreciation, provide food at events, and put on several fun events each year to bring families together. The Lakewood community is so supportive and I couldn't ask for a better Elementary School experience for my kids.

Susan Stewart Taylor is the best principals that Jordan has had in years. She took the time and consideration in ensuring the best plan for my child’s success. I am highly appreciative of all she does for our students.

Really great school with so many interests and clubs for your kid. I'm blown away I hadn't heard more about this school before we attended. Music recording, coding, theatre arts, all the clubs you can imagine, foreign languages! All teachers can reach EV or AIG. Small class sizes which allows the staff to really get to know your kid. It's a phenomenal school!

This is an A school for academics only. This is their only focus. They do not do enough to provide a safe environment for children to learn. Leadership and teachers allow bullying of students. I do not recommend this school for that reason.

Do not bring your bright, neurodivergent child to this school. The principal Dr. Lanier will swear that he will take care of her, and then fail her at every turn. We moved from California and I think we expected too much. We wanted diversity and hence chose to send our child here. But the entire year has been one giant 504 fiasco. Moreover, I am a disabled mom. The principal actually mocked me in a 504 meeting, in front of other administrators and my husband. I reported him to the district. Not long after, I was sent a letter informing me that I could no longer communicate with my child’s teachers or anyone else at the school, and I am also banned from picking her up, with the threat of being arrested. (I can barely walk due to polymyalgia rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis. I am hardly a threat to anyone.). Now my gifted ADHD child is terrified of her teachers, no longer wants to attend school and no longer has a parent advocate at a school, which is not complying with her 504. She is also bullied by teachers for her disability.

We were only able to be at RN Harris for one year and then moved out of the area.I would say this is a very child centered school. My child responded very well to this environment.The staff were very responsive to parent communication at all levels. The school worked closely with local organizations to make sure kids went home with food during school breaks. This demonstrated to me that the school staff were aware of the needs of their students outside of school hours as well.We miss you guys!

This past year has been difficult for everyone, but especially for high school seniors. The support that we have received from the school's leadership, faculty, and staff have made it much better. The weekly updates from Principal Woods-Weeks keep everyone motivated. They really give us a sense of normalcy in this virtual environment. We joke about the reminder to wear school colors on Fridays, especially since we're at home! :)Now for the two pillars of strength that have consistently guided our child all along the way:1) Ms. Harris (9th Grade English Teacher, National Honor Society) made an impression with our family on Day One. Our child often talks about never getting a break because the same things that we say at home get reinforced by Ms. Harris. She is exactly what our child needs to stay on the course of excellence in high school AND college! Ms. Harris has written many letters of recommendation for college admission and scholarship applications. We are confident that her words will be the deciding factor for pending awards.2) Ms. Rankins (Counselor) is the ultimate energizer bunny! She never wavers from keeping students informed and on track for success. I follow the Remind app group that she created for the class. I can't imagine that anyone would miss out on the amazing opportunities that she shares. My friends who have students at other schools envy our process. The key to this school's success is the high bar that is set for the students and the commitment of those who are tasked to help them achieve excellence. The loving support with high expectations is greatly appreciated. Even though we are not in the building, we still see how their hard work is paying off for everyone who follows their process. Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

We have been pleased with our overall experience academically as well as with our extra curricular experience.

My daughter has had a fantastic experience at Middle College HS. While she loved the flexibility and independence that Middle College provided, she also became deeply engaged in the clubs and social activities offered by the school- even during COVID. We so appreciate the support she received from these club advisors and the counselors who guided her through her final years of high school and the college application process. My daughter will graduate high school with an associates degree in arts and will attend a four year college in the fall. We are thrilled with the knowledge, confidence, and life skills that she gained at Middle College and enthusiastically recommend the school.

We are extremely happy with our overall experience at City of Medicine Academy.