(DURHAM) -- A Wake County Superior Court judge is threatening to close low-performing schools across the state.

Two Durham schools could be affected and some Durham parents say the Board of Education and administration are to blame.

“The concerned citizens of Durham would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight about what had been happening at Southern and Hillside,” said parent Steven Matherly.

These parents say Hillside and Southern High Schools could be closed because the Board of Education and the administration haven't done everything they could to make them better.

“Hillside has been set-up for failure,” added parent Janet Rawls.

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For the last four years, student performance at Southern and Hillside has received a failing grade. Less than 55 percent of their students tested at or above grade level.

That's a concern to Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning. In a letter to the State Superintendent and the chair of the State Board of Education, Judge Manning recommends those schools shut their doors if their scores don't improve next year.

The Durham Board of Education doesn't want to let that happen to Hillside and Southern.

“We're committed to keeping those schools open,” said Heidi Carter of the Durham Board of Education. She said the school system has made moves to improve ailing schools but admits they haven't done enough if some students aren't making the grade.

She says the board is willing to consider things like breaking the high schools into smaller schools. That's something Judge Manning suggested in his letter.

“We do have initiatives in mind and are currently doing things to improve student achievement,” Carter continued.

Parents hope they work.

“A school board should be about the business of meeting the needs of all of our children,” Matherly added.