On Monday, Durham Public School leaders unveiled a detailed plan to improve progress within the system.

"The goal is to improve teaching, learning, and school performance -- that's what this is about," said Dr. Terri Mozingo, DPS's Chief Academic officer.

The plan is broken down into a six-tiered system.

"We call this managing and empowering for results," said Mozingo. According to a DPS presentation, the tiered system is as follows: 

Tier 1 Schools

Tier 1 schools are considered ‘Intensive Managed Schools." Tier 1 schools include Burton, Eastway, Fayetteville Street, Glenn, EK Powe, Holt, Spaulding, Smith, Chewning, Githens, Lakeview, Lowe's Grove, Neal, Southern, Hillside, Northern, and PLC.

According to DPS, Tier 1 schools will be heavily reviewed by the system's central office. DPS's central office will conduct a quarterly curriculum audit, along with a number of regular reviews. Walk-through reports will also be reviewed by DPS's central office, and the assistant superintendent will review attendance, drop-outs, and suspensions on a monthly basis. 

Tier 2 Schools

Tier 2 Schools include the following:

Club, Eno Valley, Garris, Merrick-Moore, Oak Grove, Parkwood, Watts, WG Pearson, Pearson Middle, and SHS SOE

Tier 2 schools usually had an ABC composite score between 50-60. Tier 2 schools are considered moderately managed. These schools will receive similar oversight as tier 1 schools, but with lesser checkpoints.

Like Tier 1 Schools, Tier 2 schools will be subject to a curriculum audit every semester, along with other checks. Walk-through repots, and attendance monitoring will also be conducted. 

Tier 3 Schools

Tier 3 Schools are considered ‘Targeted Support Schools.' They include the following schools:

Easley, Early College, and Middle College within the Durham Public Schools system.

Tier 3 schools, according to DPS score 60 or higher on ABC's composite scores, but ABC's growth metrics have not been met. Curriculum audits for Tier 3 schools will be done annually, while walk-through reports and attendance monitoring will take place every semester. District ‘end of grade' benchmarks are mandatory, according to the plan. 

Tier 4 Schools

Tier 4 Schools are considered to be ‘Limited Support Schools.' Tier 3 Schools include the following schools:

Bethsheda, Lakewood, Forest View, Hope Valley, Morehead, Southwest, Brogden, Carrington, Shepard, Jordan, Riverside, and HHS New Tech.

Tier 4 schools score 60 or higher in ABC Composite scores, and met ABC growth requirements. Both Curriculum audits and walk-through are annual. Assessments are required where growth was not met. 

Tier 5 Schools

Tier 5 schools are considered to be ‘Performance Empowered Schools.' Tier 5 schools include the following DPS Schools:

Creekside, Little River, Pearsontown, Rogers-Herr, and DSA.

Curriculum audits are required every year, but walk-throughs are not. Most other benchmarks and assessments are optional. 

Tier 6 Schools

Tier 6 Schools are considered ‘Model Performance Schools.' Hillandale and Magnum are considered Tier 6 Schools. Curriculum audits are mandatory, but most other benchmarks and assessments are optional.