By Carolyn Rickard, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C. Aug. 24--DURHAM -- Durham Public Schools officials outlined plans Thursday to help their three most struggling schools -- Hillside and Southern high schools and Neal Middle School -- improve their students' academic performance.

By Samiha Khanna, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Feb. 5--DURHAM -- Forty-five minutes ticked by in a Southern High School biology class Friday morning.

By Samiha Khanna, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Jan. 24--DURHAM -- School administrators have less than six months to finish planning two small academies opening this fall, and on Tuesday announced they would get a boost from an international company with Triangle ties.

By Anne Blythe, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Oct. 19--DURHAM -- When a federal education department official read about N.C. Central University professors teaching science and math at Southern High School to help mitigate a teacher shortage, she wanted to praise all involved in person.

By Samiha Khanna, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Sep. 30--DURHAM -- The two Durham high schools under pressure to make improvements this year got a visit Thursday from the judge overseeing their progress. Judge Howard Manning Jr.