Southwest Elementary School

2320 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27713
(School attendance zone shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 663 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, Southwest Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 48% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 48% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 50%).
The student:teacher ratio of 13:1 is lower than the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 663 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 72%
  • : Bottom 50% in NC
  • : 48% (Btm 50%)
  • : 48% (Top 50%)
  • : 75-79% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Southwest Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

School Overview

Southwest Elementary School's student population of 663 students has grown by 7% over five school years.
The teacher population of 51 teachers has grown by 10% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-5
Total Students
663 students
This chart displays total students of Southwest Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Southwest Elementary School
Total Classroom Teachers
51 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Southwest Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Southwest Elementary School by grade.

School Rankings

Southwest Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 2,617 schools in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Southwest Elementary School is 0.72, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (NC)
#1347 out of 2617 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Southwest Elementary School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
48%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Southwest Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
48%
50%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Southwest Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
75-79%
63%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Southwest Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
15:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Southwest Elementary School and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
1%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Southwest Elementary School and percentage of American Indian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2010-11 school year data.
Asian
3%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Southwest Elementary School and the percentage of Asian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hispanic
23%
20%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Southwest Elementary School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
38%
25%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Southwest Elementary School and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
28%
44%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Southwest Elementary School and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
8%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Southwest Elementary School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Southwest Elementary School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in North Carolina.
0.72
This chart displays the diversity score of Southwest Elementary School and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
50%
57%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Southwest Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Southwest Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Southwest Elementary School's ranking?
Southwest Elementary School is ranked #1347 out of 2,617 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
What schools are Southwest Elementary School often compared to?
Southwest Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Pearsontown Elementary School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
48% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 51% NC state average), while 48% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 50% NC state average).
How many students attend Southwest Elementary School?
663 students attend Southwest Elementary School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
38% of Southwest Elementary School students are Black, 28% of students are White, 23% of students are Hispanic, 8% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are Asian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Southwest Elementary School?
Southwest Elementary School has a student ration of 13:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What grades does Southwest Elementary School offer ?
Southwest Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5
What school district is Southwest Elementary School part of?
Southwest Elementary School is part of Durham School District.

School Reviews

Review Southwest Elementary School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

How Does Bullying Affect a Student’s Academic Performance?
How Does Bullying Affect a Student’s Academic Performance?
We explore the significant impact of bullying on students' academic performance, discussing statistics, research findings, and long-term effects. It provides valuable insights for educators and parents on recognizing bullying behaviors and implementing effective prevention strategies to create a safe learning environment.
Can Students Be Legally Prosecuted for School Fights?
Can Students Be Legally Prosecuted for School Fights?
This comprehensive guide explores the increasing trend of legal prosecution for school fights, discussing recent incidents, age considerations, and the shift from traditional school punishments to law enforcement involvement. It provides valuable insights for parents, educators, and students about the evolving landscape of school discipline and safety measures.
Understanding Rubrics
Understanding Rubrics
This article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 663 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 72%
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 48% (Btm 50%)
  • : 48% (Top 50%)
  • : 75-79% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Quick Links