Top Rankings
Durham School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 45 public elementary schools serving 22,063 students in Durham School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Durham School District have an average math proficiency score of 41% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 79% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
57 Schools
2,174 Schools
# Students
31,339 Students
1,091,007 Students
# Teachers
2,341 Teachers
73,903 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Durham School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 84% has increased from 81% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#214 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
63%
Graduation Rate
84%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.70
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
4%
% Hispanic
35%
21%
% Black
37%
25%
% White
20%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,541 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,270 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$456 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$447 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,541
$11,187
Spending / Student
$14,270
$11,612
Best Durham School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Grades: PK-5
| 740 students
Rank: #22.
Lakewood Montessori Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2119 Chapel Hill Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Grades: 6-8
| 303 students
Rank: #33.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Grades: 6-12
| 1,767 students
Rank: #44.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Grades: PK-5
| 309 students
Rank: #55.
Easley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
302 Lebanon Circle
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Grades: K-5
| 478 students
Rank: #66.
Rogers-herr Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
911 Cornwallis Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Grades: 6-8
| 631 students
Rank: #77.
Morehead Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
909 Cobb Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Grades: PK-5
| 226 students
Rank: #88.
Mangum Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9008 Quail Roost Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Grades: PK-5
| 296 students
Rank: #99.
Dps Hospital School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Dumc Room 3605
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-5684
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-5684
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
Rank: #1010.
Burton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1500 Mathison Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Grades: PK-5
| 294 students
Rank: #1111.
Club Boulevard Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
400 W Club Boulevard
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3918
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3918
Grades: K-5
| 380 students
Rank: #1212.
R N Harris Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1520 Cooper Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3967
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3967
Grades: PK-5
| 301 students
Rank: #1313.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2320 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Grades: PK-5
| 669 students
Rank: #1414.
E K Powe Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
913 9th Street
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Grades: PK-5
| 409 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Forest View Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3007 Mount Sinai Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Grades: PK-5
| 650 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Little River K-8 School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2315 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3940
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3940
Grades: PK-8
| 308 students
Rank: #1717.
Sherwood Githens Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4800 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3966
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3966
Grades: 6-8
| 811 students
Rank: #1818.
James E Shepard Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2401 Dakota Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3938
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3938
Grades: 6-8
| 400 students
Rank: #1919.
Spring Valley Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2051 Northern Durham Prky
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Grades: PK-5
| 544 students
Rank: #2020.
Sandy Ridge Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1417 Old Oxford Highway
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2695
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2695
Grades: PK-5
| 477 students
Rank: #2121.
Hope Valley Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3005 Dixon Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3980
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3980
Grades: K-5
| 626 students
Rank: #2222.
Creekside Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5321 Ephesus Church Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3919
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3919
Grades: PK-5
| 551 students
Rank: #2323.
The School For Creative Studies
Magnet School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
5001 Red Mill Rd
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Grades: 6-12
| 438 students
Rank: #2424.
Eno Valley Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
117 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3915
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3915
Grades: PK-5
| 533 students
Rank: #2525.
Hillandale Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2730 Hillandale Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3924
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3924
Grades: PK-5
| 529 students
Rank: #2626.
Oak Grove Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3810 Wake Forest Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3960
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3960
Grades: PK-5
| 448 students
Rank: #2727.
George L Carrington Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
227 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3916
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3916
Grades: 6-8
| 738 students
Rank: #2828.
Ignite Online Academy
(Math: 19% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
5321 Ephesus Church Rd.
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 972-4400
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 972-4400
Grades: K-12
| 369 students
Rank: #2929.
Merrick-moore Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2325 Cheek Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3952
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3952
Grades: K-5
| 535 students
Rank: #3030.
Holt Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4019 Holt School Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3928
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3928
Grades: PK-5
| 618 students
Rank: #3131.
Parkwood Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
5207 Revere Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3962
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3962
Grades: PK-5
| 576 students
Rank: #3232.
Lucas Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
923 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3843
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3843
Grades: 6-8
| 413 students
Rank: #3333.
Glenn Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2415 E Geer Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3920
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3920
Grades: K-5
| 570 students
Rank: #3434.
W G Pearson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3501 Fayettville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3988
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3988
Grades: PK-5
| 348 students
Rank: #3535.
Eastway Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
610 North Alston Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3910
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3910
Grades: PK-5
| 393 students
Show 10 more public schools in Durham School District (out of 45 total schools)
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