A brief history:

When North Carolina decided to charter a School of the Arts in the 1960s, there was bidding to be the chosen site. Several communities competed for the privilege of hosting this statewide school: Charlotte, Greensboro, Hillsborough, Raleigh, Research Triangle Park, Durham, Southern Pines, and Winston-Salem (the winner!).

In the 1970s, there was another round of bidding, to host the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics. Cities -- including Durham -- competed for the privilege. Durham won!

The Academy of National/Global Economic Leadership will occupy twelve sites in North Carolina. Travel will be easier for students and their parents/guardians, who will make many round trips during the course of two years at these schools. This educational network will be The Academies of National/Global Economic Leadership.

Sites:

Why will all of these sites be on or near a college campus? Because university campuses are equipped with classrooms, day care centers, libraries, swimming pools, science laboratories, cafeterias, student centers, tennis courts, public safety offices, medical facilities (infirmaries, examination rooms), study halls, computers, distance learning facilities, parade grounds, auditoriums - and role models.

On or near each university campus, the Academies of National/Global Economic Leadership will have two dormitories exclusively for high school use. Young women will occupy one wing of the building; young men will occupy a separate wing. There will be no cross-traffic. The building will be "high-tech," designed for computer networks.

Each site will have the same features: an economics laboratory, a geography laboratory, a library for history (local, regional, state), a language laboratory, bicycle storage, laundry, and student supply store.

By means of the Internet and other computer networks, all twelve sites will be connected at all times, and will share activities: ceremonies, visitors, guest speakers, contests, quiz shows, telecasts, movies, clubs, musical performances, sports events, and dance exhibitions. Any student planning to compete in the Intel Science Talent Search (Behavioral and Social Sciences Division) will be assisted at all twelve sites.