Charles E Jordan Sr High School

6806 Garrett Road

School District

Durham Public
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

School Map for Durham Public School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 12, 2024

Great teachers and principals. Counselors are great as well.
Submitted by parent on January 18, 2024

Susan Stewart Taylor is the best principals that Jordan has had in years. She took the time and consideration in ensuring the best plan for my child’s success. I am highly appreciative of all she does for our students.
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2023

Jordan is a very diverse school and full of opportunities if you want them. The administration is very caring and do their very best to keep kids in school to graduate.
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2023

We have been very happy with this school. A wide variety of AP classes are available; the AP Stats teacher was possibly the best teacher I've ever seen. My child was involved in theater and the bands, and we found the whole arts program to be excellent. The English, history, and foreign language departments provided a great foundation for my humanities-focused child. Very happy with our choice to send him to the neighborhood high school. He was able to build many long-lasting friendships as well.
Submitted by other on August 06, 2021

I attended Jordan, and graduated in ‘97. It is surprising to see so many one star reviews. After reading their experiences my mind immediately went to the board announcing where seniors were to attend university in the fall. During my time, each year, motivation and intimidation came from the names of the familiar next to the likes of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and believe it or not UNC. At the time I had more than one friend denied from UNC and attended one of the aforementioned schools. from my class many students became MDs, PhD‘s and a few professional athletes. Before my time a former CEO of Hewlett Packard was a falcon. From my understanding she did not enjoy her It so it appears she turned out OK. I fell somewhere in the middle completing a masters degree.
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2021

We have had a great experience at this high school. Counselors have worked to help with guiding towards success. The teachers have been good to work with and create a high quality learning environment. My child has benefitted from the Honors and AP classes. The Principal is a wonderful steward for this school. She truly cares about all the students.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2020

Horrible school, old run down facility, floods, roaches, terrible upkeep. Teachers and administrators are very self centered, really don't care about the kids, or their mental health, or wellbeing.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2020

Awful. Most teachers and admin dont care about students. Old facility. Smells like mildew and mold. Inappropriate on campus behaviors.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2019

Terrible. Is it possibly to get worst?
Submitted by other on September 12, 2018

I went to Jordan in the 60's. Seems like it has gone down hill. I loved it and it was a different school then. The teachers cared and in general was a good place to go to school. I'm surprised to read the negative postings.
Submitted by other on September 11, 2016

If you have a student without special needs of any kind...this is a good school in comparison to some others. In four years I have been battling this school with 3 principals (soon to be 4), countless LEA and uncooperative administration. In four years and three children....there have been three different needs but the same struggle year after year. Every year we meet the first month of school. By Holiday time....everyone makes plans for what to do when students return. By time the teacher, ec staff and I are on the same page its the end of the year. We have the same exact fight every single year. At this school I have received a (EC) Parent Handbook from 2008 but was updated 2009. Last week after me asking repetitively I have finally received a 2016 handbook. I had a son with a 504 plan. The teachers wouldn't even return emails. Emails are always a problem but at least its a paper trail. I had a son be bullied last year. There was less than 10 students 2 teachers in the classroom and no one did anything until my son decided he had had enough. I had a teacher become confrontational in front of students and wouldn't even listen to my freshmans special needs. I have asked the PTA, Principal, staff and more if there is a EC representative in the PTA. No one will answer. Our needs are very different. Most of us have worries that no one would understand. Most regular parents have no idea what a IEP is. Most parents are able to go to work and not worry about their children. Most parent don't have concerns about a contained classroom or inclusion. They don't worry about ESY. They don't worry about records and placement. Football, solar panels, track nor any other organization deals with our issues. Students are clueless because there is more disabilities than mental retardation even though that's the term used no matter what the disability. This is hands down a great school in comparison to others but that's just for the quote unquote normal student. As I look through the website every year....WHERE ARE WE REPRESENTED? I appreciate they want to be confidential but student will continue to not include everyone if the adults won't. Every single year I have to start due process. Every single year. Changing principals with the same bitter staff is worthless. Now there has been two teachers that were great. NOT EC EITHER. SHAME ON THEM.
Submitted by parent on March 11, 2016

My daughter is in her first year in this huge and under staffed high school. I am not impressed with the majority of the teachers. Except in one subject, no one seems to foster curiosity. Textbooks are rare and outdated and nobody uses them. The kids write the class content off the board and It is all about memorizing the notes to replicate them in time for one of the overwhelming number of tests and quizzes. Homework and class work impacts the final grade only marginally. Student life is all about procedures and not getting caught violating any and the teachers have to spend ways too much time on crowd control. Unfortunately, the present sheriff deputies are fairly busy. Granted, many symptoms are not Jordan specific but common in all big DPS high schools and teachers would love to administer fewer tests. I do like the current administration and hope they can improve the student experience.
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2016

My daughter is in her third year at Jordan and overall she has had a wonderful experience there. First and foremost I am impressed with the teaching staff. Despite the attack on public educators in our state the Jordan staff has remained constant with a high degree of professionalism and quality teaching. She has been able to pursue her passions of writing and drama at a very high level while being challenged in her AP classes. The students at Jordan are very accepting of one another and I'm so grateful to have my daughter in a public school where she can experience peers who are from different backgrounds and experiences. I know she is a better person for it.
Submitted by other on March 19, 2014

I think Jordan is an excellent school. While there have been some changes in the demographics, these changes have benefited Jordan. I think Jordan provides the student with an excellent education. There is a tendency for some people to rate schools on the basis on where the students come from( i.e children from poor families = poor schools. However, the educational experts contend that one has to look at where all children are going. The year that my children graduated, the number of students who were selected to attend top colleges (i.e., Davidson, Yale, UNC-CH, Harvard, Middlebury, Duke, etc., ) exceeded that of some of the private schools in the area. I think because the enrolled students were exposed to diversity, , they were more attractive to the top schools then the students who attended "elusive" high schools. Don't be deceived by arbitrary ratings.
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2013

My child is doing well at Jordan but she absolutely hates going there. She says it is like a prison with bare block walls and no daylight. Students in some of her classes (particularly Spanish class) rap dirty songs and walk around during class, making it hard for her to learn. Some teachers have no control in the classroom and there is no good way to keep disruptive kids under control or remove them from the classroom. She says she could get much more work done in less time if she were home schooled. She says teachers waste her time and then she must spend six hours a night studying to complete the loads of homework. Some classes do not have textbooks but the school spends money on expensive whiteboards and the teachers picket for higher pay. I wish NC had school vouchers so the schools could compete for students and dollars.
Submitted by parent on July 28, 2013

Don't be fooled by overall rankings of Jordan High School. Look at Test Scores and detailed rankings and different groups and see that rankings for kids who want to do well, can and will do well at this school. This is an absolute terms and relative to both Statewide standards and the Chapel Hill public high schools. For example, I don't know how academically gifted is defined but I would say my daughter is not gifted yet she does extremely well on statewide tests. As of August 2013, Jordan has a ranking of 10 for academically gifted students on state tests. East Chapel Hill's ranking is 7.
Submitted by student on October 13, 2012

I am currently a sophomore at Jordan and it is a very great school. I am currently ranked number one and I have found that it is a great school with academic challenges. Before Jordan I had no trouble sliding through school with out working at all , however I have learned how to study and how to work by way of rigorous APs and challenging honors courses. I have loved my teachers, majority of them generally care about us students and are readily available when we need help. I have also found the social aspects of Jordan to be wonderful, we have amazing sports teams, minus our football team who just lost the homecoming game, and I find that they are a great social outlet. Many of the students come to the football games regardless of the fact that we are loosing to see our friends. The administration is wonderful, and very caring. I have personally made an appointment to talk to the principle about fundraising and he listened and he was fully supportive of me and he still remembers me to this day and checks up on me. I would recommend Jordan 100%, it is a wonderful school.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2012

My child is a freshman at Jordan. The school is OK as far as safety, teacher involvement and other standard measurements. The school does have a very strong liberal bias. Freshman Focus class which is a required class is mostly an introduction into the liberal ideas. Some teachers (again freshman focus) have said they do not want parents input.
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2012

Jordan High has nurtured my son and enabled him to excel. He will attend a top university next year thanks to the excellent instruction he has received from some highly capable and motivated teachers. The resources are there, but the student body is a very heterogeneous mix of motivation, talent, and home support. The new principal is a huge disappointment- too bad the last one stayed for such a short time.
Submitted by student on November 10, 2011

I am a freshman at Jordan high school and so far I absolutely love the quality of the teahcers. i feel as if i am in a safe environment and the variety of class selection really helps me to strtive for my goal and career. The sports program is highly recomendable and jordan's men soccer team is often ranked number 10 in the nation.