Planner envisions a greater Raleigh
6.6.2010
In a city that can be wary of moving too quickly, Mitchell Silver has quietly worked behind the scenes over the past five years to make the case that Raleigh needs to be innovative and fresh in its plans if it wants to continue riding a crest of popularity.
Now Silver, 49, who took over as Raleigh's city planner in 2005, is about to take his doctrine of calling for cities to be inclusive and responsive to citizens' needs to the national stage: He expects his April election to head the 42,000-member American Planning Association to do that.
Raleigh's 2030 Plan
Elected officials in Raleigh have crafted a plan for the city's future growth in the coming years. A featured goal is to end urban sprawl as the city continues to grow by concentrating growth in existing areas and communities.
The time is now to prepare for the impact this plan will have on Wake County schools. Year-round schools can help slow and possibly end urban sprawl by maximizing the resources available at current facilities. To learn more go to 2030 Plan.
2.1.11
School Facilities director Don Haydon gave an update on projected enrollment growth in the next decade. He said approximately 3,400 additional students are expected for this fall. By 2014, current elementary school enrollment will exceed the district's capacity, and by 2020, WCPSS is projected to have a deficit of about 16,000 seats. Middle school capacity will be reached by 2017 with a deficit of about 5,000 seats by 2020. High schools will reach capacity by 2012, and even with the opening of Rolesville High in 2013, by 2020 there is a shortage of almost 20,000 high school seats projected, requiring the construction of five new high schools by 2020. The construction budget for one high school, Rolesville High School, is currently about $72 million. Even with the slowdown in the economy, the Wake schools are projected to have continued growth.
WUNC Radio 91.5 "Wake County Schools"
The Bigger Picture
As Wake County continually grows, so does its public school system. Growth has brought its ‘own strengths, challenges, and constraints. Wcpss has been progressively breaking out of the mold of traditional public education norms by offering year round schooling, intersession tutoring, renaissance schools, themes, teacher collaboration, enrichment, and supporting our existing magnets. Biggerpicture4wake beleives we are heading toward great things with long term goals focused on a new assignment plan that mirrors the values and character of all of us who call Wake County home. WCPSS is not only competing with our local charter schools and each schools’ test scores, but competing with other countries who have placed education as top priority for their future economy. A public school education positively influences our local economy and America by providing children a strong social climate and producing the right skilled work force needed to move our country forward.With a renewed focus on the prosperity of Wake County we understand our public school system is the key to our future to this generation of children and generations to come.
Businessweek.com evaluated 100 of the country’s largest cities based on 16 criteria, which include: the number of restaurants, bars, and museums per capita; the number of colleges, libraries, and professional sports teams; the income, poverty, unemployment, crime, and foreclosure rates; percent of population with bachelor’s degrees, public school performance, park acres per 1,000 residents, and air quality. Greater weighting was placed on recreational amenities such as parks, bars, restaurants, and museums, and on educational attainment, school performance, poverty, and air quality. The data came from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sperling’s BestPlaces, GreatSchools, Onboard Informatics, RealtyTrac, and the Trust for Public Land.
Raleigh ranks as the best place to live in the U.S.
Raleigh, N.C.
Population: 377,487
Mayor: Charles Meeker
Why it’s ranked:
The city has goodschools, great parks, many bars, restaurants, cultural institutions, as well as a strong social scene. Raleigh reflects the cultural graces, home to research triangle, North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The city offers concerts and opera to the 30,000-sq.-ft. State Farmer’s Market.
How it ranked:
Percent with bachelor's degrees: 47.5
Percent under poverty level: 13.9
Median household income: $53,370
Violent crime rate: 492.9
Property crime rate: 3,403.2
School score: 74.4
Pro sports teams: 1
Foreclosure rate: .0056
Percent Unemployment: 6.9
Park acres per 1,000 residents: 30.8
Bars: 110
Restaurants: 867
Museums: 51
Colleges: 10
Libraries: 18
