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Durham School of the Arts (DSA), a public magnet school, opened its doors in I995> welcoming new students to the partially renovated, seventy -year-old campus of the once-illustrious Durham High School. Featuring visual and performing arts programs, DSA was created by the Durham Public Schools to attract students in grades 6-12 from throughout Durham city and county to an inner city school declining in enrollment and ethnic diversity. Beginning with only 35O students in grades 6-8, DSA now enrolls 1,376 students in grades 6-12. Admission is determined by lottery, a process that has generated a demographic profile for DSA that includes 42 percent white students, 42 percent African American students, 9 percent Hispanic students, and 7 percent other minorities.
The Durham Public Schools system has steadfastly resisted an auditionbased admission process at DSA to ensure a diverse student enrollment reflective of the Durham community. However, since 2007, an in-house arts pathway audition has been required of all enrolled eighth grade students and incoming high school students. Used for placement, not admission, this audition encourages arts involvement and commitment. Students demonstrate their affinity and interest in instrumental music, chorus, dance, theater, or visual arts, and are guided towards an arts pathway for their high school years.
Although arts electives abound and arts integration is a priority, DSA offers a standard middle and high school core curriculum, French and Spanish language courses, computer applications, and an array of advanced placement classes. Middle school classes are heterogeneously grouped, and many high school classes include a blend of students on a self- selected standard honors or AP track.
What role does the media center play in this magnet setting? How does the media center enrich the instructional program for both arts and core curriculum? How does the media center address the information needs of both middle and high school students? As media coordinators at DSA since its beginning in I995> mv husband and I have focused on acquiring resources and technology, providing services, offering instruction, and building partnerships. Our media program is defined by the school philosophy (2006):
The mission of Durham School of the Arts is to help students from diverse backgrounds fully realize their individual academic and creative capacities through a rigorous educational program emphasizing visual and...