Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a town located in the southeast corner of Orange County, about 10 miles from Durham and 32 miles from Raleigh. It is world-famous as the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nations oldest public university and considered one of the best in academics and affordability. The town of Hillsborough lies to the north, nearby Carrboro to the west, and Chatham County to the south. People in Chapel Hill refer to their hometown as "the Southern part of Heaven".

The town hosts a variety of corporations headquartered in Chapel Hill. Health insurance provider Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is one of the town's ten largest employers at its Chapel Hill headquarters. Technology companies USAT Corp and Realtime Ops have made Chapel Hill their headquarters location. New companies are selecting the town as their base of operations such as the service company Alpha Install.

Chapel Hill, or at least the town center, indeed sits atop a hill which was originally occupied by a small Anglican "chapel of ease", built in 1752, known as New Hope Chapel. The Carolina Inn now occupies the site of the original chapel. In 1819, the town was founded to serve the University of North Carolina and grew up around it. The town was chartered in 1851, and its main street, Franklin Street, was named in memory of Benjamin Franklin.

In 1968, only a year after its schools became fully integrated, Chapel Hill became the first predominantly white municipality in the country to elect an African American mayor, Howard Lee. Lee served from 1969 until 1975 and, among other things, helped establish Chapel Hill Transit, the town's bus system.

Hailed as "America's Foodiest Small Town", by Bon Appétit Magazine, Chapel Hill is rapidly becoming a hot spot for pop American cuisine. Among the restaurants noted nationally are A Southern Season, Foster’s Market (Martha Stewart’s Living), Mama Dip's, Breadmens, Crook's Corner, Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen, Caffé Driade (Food Network’s “$40 A Day With Rachael Ray”), The Barbecue Joint (Food Network’s “$40 A Day With Rachael Ray”), and The Lantern Restaurant (Food & Wine Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, etc.)

The town also shares with Carrboro a vibrant music scene. Cat's Cradle in Carrboro a nationally recognized live music club, Local 506 and other Chapel Hill bars (such as the Cave, and Reservoir) often host local, national, and international acts in all genres. Among the notable musical acts whose careers began in Chapel Hill. Archers of Loaf, Squirrel Nut Zippers, James Taylor, George Hamilton IV, Southern Culture on the Skids, SuperChunk, Polvo and Ben Folds Five.

So here you are. You have made to the Greater Research Triangle area. Good choice! Many people have decided that living here will provide the very best lifestyle available, including buying a home in Chapel Hill, landing the best employment and even finding the best schools and/or or higher education. Thousands of people have made the decision to relocate to the Research Triangle, just like you. A newcomer will find why the Greater Research Triangle has ranked as one of the best regions in North Carolina to live or work, to buy the best real estate, to start a business, to raise a family, or even to retire.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CHAPEL HILL

Exploring life in Chapel Hill is a good decision, and here are fun things to know: *UNC-CH Chapel Hill is home to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

*FestiFall - For more than 30 years Chapel Hill has sponsored this annual street fair each October. The fair offers booths to artists, crafts makers, nonprofits, and food vendors. Performance space is also available for musicians, martial artists and other groups. The fair is attended annually by tens of thousands.

*The Morehead Planetarium - When it opened in 1949,Morehead Planetarium was one of only a handful of planetariums in the nation, and it has remained an important town landmark. During the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, astronauts were trained there. One of the town’s hallmark features is the giant sundial, located in the rose gardens in front of the planetarium on Franklin Street.

*ACCOLADES AND RECOGNITIONS: -America's Top 25 Arts Destinations

American Style Magazine 2010 -Most Livable City in America

-Best Places to Raise Children Business Week 2010

-America's Top 25 Arts Destinations

American Style Magazine 2010

-Bicycle Friendly Community 2010

-Best Places to Live

Money Magazine 2010
-Top 15 Cities for People Who Hate Driving and Long Commutes

U.S. News & World Report 2009
-Top 10 Best Places to Start a Business

Entrepreneur Magazine 2009

-Most Livable City in America

for fare-free transit system 2009

-One of the Top 10 Brainiest Places to Retire

U.S. News 2008

-Outstanding Achievement in Climate Protection 2008

-Tree City USA Growth Award

National Arbor Day Foundation 2007

CHAPEL HILL'S GOOD LIFE

It has become almost routine for Chapel Hill to be praised as a wonderful place to live. Residents' testimonials, articles and various organizations bestow glowing reviews and accolades about living here. With these superlatives publicized for so long, the Research Triangle area's fame as a great place to live has been a magnet attracting people, like you, to explore and relocate.

This sense of the Chapel Hill good life is expressed on the website of the Town of Chapel Hill:

"Chapel Hill has built a reputation as being a leader in North Carolina on social, economic and environmental issues. The Council has introduced programs to holistically address issues of sustainability through social equity, economic vitality and environmental protection. With the passionate involvement of our citizens, we intend to move toward becoming a sustainable community."

CHAPEL HILL'S NEIGHBORS

Chapel Hill is one of 32 sister communities in the Greater Research Triangle region:

Angier

Apex

Benson

Butner

Carrboro

Cary

Chapel Hill

Clayton

Creedmoor

Durham

Franklinton

Fuquay-Varina

Garner

Henderson

Hillsborough

Holly Springs

Knightdale

Louisburg

Mebane

Morrisville

Oxford

Pittsboro

Raleigh

Rolesville

Roxboro

Selma

Siler City

Smithfield

Wake Forest

Wendell

Youngsville

Zebulon

WHY MOVE TO CHAPEL HILL?

Chapel Hill and her neighboring communities share several common benefits. The first great reason to live in the Greater Research Triangle is a wonderful climate. Spring and summer are filled with a bouquet of blossoms that flood the visual and olfactory senses. Parks and beautiful homes treat citizens and visitors alike with colors as if from the palette of a great landscape painter. The fall blazes with glorious colors so awesome that it almost takes your breath away. The winters are mild, and every now and then, the students get a day off for a light snow. It rarely gets below freezing. How could anyone not like the weather and climate in Chapel Hill, North Carolina?

The second reason to live in Chapel Hill is that it is a great place to buy a home. Chapel Hill real estate is affordable. Newcomers can choose between well- established homes for sale or new homes in outstanding new home communities. You can choose a lot and build a custom home. Simply select a homebuilder from the many in Greater Research Triangle. A qualified REALTOR®, real estate agent, mortgage broker or loan officer can assist in the home purchase process and can guide you through the process of finding and buying real estate in Chapel Hill.

Schools are another reason Greater Research Triangle is a wonderful place to live. Oh yeah - families especially love the schools in Chapel Hill. In fact, some of the best schools in Greater Research Triangle are found in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill is serviced by Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, frequently cited for several outstanding programs. Chapel Hill schools are considered safe places for students. But there are not only excellent public schools in Chapel Hill, but outstanding private schools, as well.

EDUCATION IN CHAPEL HILL

PUBLIC EDUCATION

To better help you select the best schools in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, read what Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools says on its website:

"The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) is one of two public school systems in Orange County, NC. Established in 1909, CHCCS is located near the flagship campus of the University of North Carolina (UNC) and the world renowned Research Triangle Park (RTP). As a result of the district's proximity to higher education and research facilities, our community boasts one of the highest educated populations in America. The district operates three high schools, four middle schools, ten elementary schools, a school for young people being treated at UNC Hospital and an alternative program for high school students. These schools serve more than 11,000 students.

"CHCCS is particularly proud of the academic accomplishments of its students and the strong credentials of its teaching faculty.

"CHCCS has the state's highest district wide SAT score at 1,185, or 1,757 when the writing component is included. The state average is 1,004, and the national average is 1,017. This high average was attained while more than 96 percent of the district's eligible students took the test. More than 1,200 of our high school students are enrolled in challenging Advanced Placement (AP) courses. This participation has earned two of the district's high schools (the third opened in 2007 and wasn't eligible) ranking in Newsweek magazine's list of top high schools. In 2007, East Chapel Hill High ranked 149, and Chapel Hill High ranked 243. Nearly 92 percent of last year's graduating senior class went on to two- or four-year institutions of higher learning. Thirty-four students in the current graduating class were named National Merit Finalists, while 15 of them received National Merit Scholarships. CHCCS has North Carolina's highest four-year cohort graduation rate at 87.3%. CHCCS has the state's lowest dropout rate at 1.12 percent. The district was recognized by the North Carolina State Board of Education for its 28% improvement over the previous year.

"Thirty-one percent of the district's students are identified as gifted. More than 93 percent of students in grades 3-8 are proficient on state-mandated End-of-Grade tests in reading, while more than 83 percent of them are proficient on the End-of- Grade tests in mathematics. At the high school level, 87 percent of students are proficient on state-mandated End-of-Course tests. For the 2006-2007 school year, CHCCS had one of the state's highest per pupil expenditures at $9,779.

"Nearly 200 CHCCS educators hold the prestigious certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Forty-two percent of teachers hold a master's or doctorate degree. The CHCCS teacher turnover rate is 8.5 percent, half of the state average of 17 percent. CHCCS employs 1,870 staff members, of whom 1,150 are teachers or administrators."

PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH A CHAPEL HILL ADDRESS

Elementary Schools in Chapel Hill:

Ephesus Elementary School

Estes Hill Elementary School

Glenwood Elementary School

Frank Porter Graham Elementary School

McDougle Elementary School

Morris Grove Elementary School

Rashkis Elementary School

Mary Scroggs Elementary School

Seawell Elementary School

Middle Schools in Chapel Hill:

Culbreth Middle School

McDougle Middle School

Philips Middle School

Smith Middle School

High Schools in Chapel Hill:

Chapel Hill High School

East Chapel Hill High School

CHARTER SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina charter schools are independent public schools that exist to offer Chapel Hill students, parents and educators choices in teaching, learning methods and environments. An emphasis is placed on innovation and accountability with improved student achievement the common goal.

There are now nearly 5,000 public charter schools in 39 states and the District of Columbia, educating more than 1.6 million public charter school students. North Carolina public charter schools are intended to improve North Carolina's traditional public school system.

Any Chapel Hill charter school, while independently operated, must meet four requirements, like any other North Carolina public school:
*Tuition-free and open to every student who wishes to enroll
*Non-sectarian, and do not discriminate on any basis

*Publicly funded by local, state and federal tax dollars like other public schools *Held accountable to state and federal academic standards

LIST OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN CHAPEL HILL:

Pace Academy, grades 9-12
Woods Charter School, grades PK-12

PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITH A CHAPEL HILL ADDRESS

Private schools, also known as independent schools or non-state schools, are not administered by Chapel Hill, North Carolina, or the Federal government; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students tuition, rather than relying on public funding. Chapel Hill students can get a scholarship into a private school, which makes the cost cheaper, depending on a talent the student may have, such as a sport scholarship, art scholarship, academic scholarship.

List of Private Schools in Chapel Hill:

Emerson Waldorf School, grades PK-12

Montessori Day School, grades PK-6

St. Thomas More School, grades PK-8

White House School, grades 6-9