[2] Durham's schools are traditionally named after notable members of the local community.

In September 1963, Charmaine McKissick among eight other minority youths were the first to desegregate into the Durham Public School system at the Elementary level.

Along with her Floyd McKissick Jr, they entered into the North Durham Elementary School.

McKissick also writes, "The hurt is so deep from the wounds of more than fifty years ago that they still feel the pain.

"[6] McKissick-Melton also write, "We had some difficult times but nothing compared to the older students, including my sisters before me.

I had it easier because the kids had not had enough time to learn and display their hatred, racist and their bigoted behavior.

"[7] Charmaine McKissick-Melton, Ph.D., has since then decided to give back to the Durham Community as an associate professor in the Department of Mass Communication at North Carolina Central University.

The Durham County School Board's integration plan was accepted by the Federal District Court in Greensboro.

The Federal District Judge gave an extra year for elementary schools due to space limitations and the need to purchase mobile units.

There was less concern about Jordan High School because it had been attended by more affluent families of all colors.

[8] In 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court in Alexander vs. Holmes County Board of Education reversed the decision of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, ruling that continued operation of segregated schools in Mississippi was no longer permissible.

The NAACP filed suit in the Court of Appeals in Richmond saying, based on Alexander-Holmes Decision, they wanted all of Durham's elementary schools integrated.

The judge stated that Durham County and City Schools had been given 15 years to accomplish integration and had failed.

Of more than 300 historically black high schools that once operated in the state before desegregation, only five remain today, with Hillside being the oldest.

"Students may study electronics, engineering, and child care through the Workforce Development courses, as well as traditional business classes".

Hillside is known for performing arts such as their award-winning[citation needed] Marching Band and Drama Department.

Hillside students come from many middle school areas such as Rogers-Herr, Githens, Lowes Grove, Shepard, Brogden, and Lakewood.

Jordan students come from many area middle schools such as Shepard, Githens, Lowe's Grove, and Rogers-Herr.

Other components of the Jordan community that have won national and state awards include the marching band, show choir, DECA (marketing and business), Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America, the foreign language program, and the school newspaper.

Northern also offers specialty course programs like Culinary Arts, Astronomy, Sports Medicine, Mythology, and many more.

Southern is a 4A school, and has football, baseball, and basketball programs as well as the Symphonic Soul of the South Marching Band.

[47] Middle College High School is located on the campus of Durham Tech.

[49] Brogden was built in 1959 on a parcel of land containing an abandoned farmhouse, which was razed to facilitate the construction of a school.

The site was owned by the Northgate Shopping Center — a mall which operates near Broad Street as of 2024.

In 2024, the Brogden Boys Soccer Teams won the Durham Athletics Conference championships for the first time in over 10 years.

Brogden sponsors 3 performing arts classes, namely band, orchestra and chorus.

Brogden hosts various recitals through the year to allow band, orchestra and chorus students to perform.

The James E Shepard IB Middle School is administrated by principal Claude Archer.

Offerings include extensive 3D and 2D art, dance, guitar, strings, band, photography, piano, acting, technical theater, and computer classes.

Lakeview was an African American school prior to integration, then proceed to be an all kindergarten center which later changed to PIPE daycare for employees children and others.