Primary and Secondary Education

Winston-Salem offers numerous educational opportunities for students of all ages. The city is home to Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, Salem College, Forsyth Technical Community College and North Carolina School of the Arts. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system produces students who consistently score above the state average on scholastic aptitude tests.

Health Care

Winston-Salem has earned a reputation as having the most comprehensive and extensive medical resources in the southeastern United States. Winston-Salem is home to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, which is composed of North Carolina Baptist Hospitals Inc. and Wake Forest University School of Medicine. The hospital is an internationally respected teaching hospital and the medical school is a national leader with stroke, cancer and arteriosclerosis centers. The city is also the home of Forsyth Medical Center, which comprises the 900-bed Forsyth Memorial Hospital and a five-story Women's Center.

Arts and Recreation

Although Winston-Salem is now a progressive center of business and industry, the city has preserved its fascinating Moravian history. Old Salem is one of the nation's most authentic historic restorations, depicting life from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as recreated by costumed men and women. Other Old Salem attractions include the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts and the Gallery at Old Salem.

The visual arts are also a highlight of the region, and Winston-Salem is home to numerous museums, galleries and art studios. The prestigious Piedmont Craftsmen gallery houses a diverse array of works by juried members, from pottery to weaving to jewelry and more. Winston-Salem is also home to: the Museum of Anthropology, part of Wake Forest University; the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts; the Southeast Center for Contemporary Art; the Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts; the Reynolda House Museum of American Art; and Winston-Salem State University's Delta Fine Arts Gallery.

The performing arts offer a dazzling array of events. The Winston-Salem Symphony performs more than 65 concerts each year including educational concerts for the city/county school system. Winston-Salem also offers several professional and community theaters. Throughout the year, local arts lovers can enjoy performances by the Piedmont Opera Theater, the North Carolina Dance Theater, the North Carolina School of the Arts and the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival.

With 16 golf courses and 87 public parks, the Winston-Salem area is a haven for recreational pursuits. In the heart of collegiate sports country, Winston-Salem also offers sports fans the opportunity to enjoy college basketball, football, soccer, tennis, track, and other sports. The Warthogs, a minor-league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, play more than 70 home games in Winston-Salem each summer. The Winston-Salem Speedway holds stock-car races every Saturday night from May through August.

Transportation

Winston-Salem is easy to reach. The city is 25 minutes west of Piedmont Triad International Airport. International airports at Raleigh and Charlotte—each just a 90-minute drive from Winston-Salem—offer additional nonstop destinations.

Climate and Geography

Elevation: 963 feet above sea level
Mean annual temperature: 57.8°F
Average low temperature: 47° F
Average high temperature: 69° F
Annual average rainfall: 42.5 inches.