Public School Review - Established 2003

Top 10 Best Durham Public Schools (2024-25)

For the 2024-25 school year, there are 72 public schools serving 44,417 students in Durham, NC (there are 39 private schools, serving 7,699 private students). 85% of all K-12 students in Durham, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Durham, NC are J D Clement Early College High School, Pearsontown Elementary School and Research Triangle High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Durham have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 77% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Durham, NC (2024-25)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
J D Clement Early College High School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1801 Fayetteville Street, Nccu
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Grades: 9-12
| 395 students
Rank: #22.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Grades: PK-5
| 726 students
Rank: #33.
Research Triangle High School
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3106 East Nc Highway 54
Durham, NC 27709
(919) 998-6757
Grades: 9-12
| 582 students
Rank: #44.
Lakewood Montessori Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2119 Chapel Hill Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Grades: 6-8
| 303 students
Rank: #55.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Grades: 6-12
| 1,705 students
Rank: #66.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Grades: PK-5
| 315 students
Rank: #77.
Voyager Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
101 Hock Parc Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 433-3301
Grades: K-12
| 1,361 students
Rank: #88.
Easley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
302 Lebanon Circle
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Grades: K-5
| 450 students
Rank: #99.
Durham School Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Grades: 9-12
| 251 students
Rank: #1010.
Rogers-herr Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
911 Cornwallis Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Grades: 6-8
| 643 students
Rank: #1111.
Morehead Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
909 Cobb Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Grades: PK-5
| 227 students
Rank: #1212.
Riverside High School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3218 Rose Of Sharon Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3965
Grades: 9-12
| 1,812 students
Rank: #1313.
Central Park School For Child
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
724 Foster Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-1200
Grades: K-8
| 594 students
Rank: #1414.
Dps Hospital School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Dumc Room 3605
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-5684
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
Rank: #1515.
Durham Charter School
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
807 West Chapel Hill Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 956-5599
Grades: K-9
| 643 students
Rank: #1616.
Burton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1500 Mathison Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Grades: PK-5
| 293 students
Rank: #1717.
Club Boulevard Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
400 W Club Boulevard
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3918
Grades: K-5
| 387 students
Rank: #1818.
Excelsior Classical Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
4100 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 213-8585
Grades: K-11
| 987 students
Rank: #1919.
R N Harris Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1520 Cooper Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3967
Grades: PK-5
| 291 students
Rank: #2020.
Discovery Charter
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
501 Orange Factory Road
Durham, NC 27722
(984) 888-5504
Grades: 6-9
| 332 students
Rank: #2121.
C E Jordan High School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
6806 Garrett Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3912
Grades: 9-12
| 2,040 students
Rank: #2222.
Southwest Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2320 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Grades: PK-5
| 663 students
Rank: #2323.
Northern High School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
117 Tom Wilkinson Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3956
Grades: 9-12
| 1,308 students
Rank: #2424.
E K Powe Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
913 9th Street
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Grades: PK-5
| 383 students
Rank: #2525.
City Of Medicine Academy
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
301 Crutchfield Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2001
Grades: 9-12
| 349 students
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Forest View Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3007 Mount Sinai Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Grades: K-5
| 640 students
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Little River K-8 School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2315 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3940
Grades: PK-8
| 374 students
Rank: #2828.
Sherwood Githens Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4800 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3966
Grades: 6-8
| 763 students
Rank: #2929.
James E Shepard Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2401 Dakota Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3938
Grades: 6-8
| 381 students
Rank: #3030.
Spring Valley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2051 Northern Durham Prky
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Grades: PK-5
| 534 students
Rank: #3131.
Sandy Ridge Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1417 Old Oxford Highway
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2695
Grades: PK-5
| 484 students
Rank: #3232.
Nc Virtual Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
4220 Nc Highway 55, Suite 130
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Grades: K-12
| 3,047 students
Rank: #3333.
Hope Valley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3005 Dixon Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3980
Grades: K-5
| 627 students
Rank: #3434.
North Carolina Cyber Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2800 Meridian Parkway, Suite 1
Durham, NC 27713
(984) 262-9237
Grades: K-12
| 2,372 students
Rank: #3535.
Global Scholars Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
311 Dowd St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-5903
Grades: K-8
| 211 students
Show 37 more public schools in Durham, NC (out of 72 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Durham, North Carolina

Durham, North Carolina Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
Communities In School Academy (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
401 N Driver St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3931
Grades: 5-12
| 174 students
Nc School Of Science And Math (Closed 2010)
1219 Broad Street
Durham, NC 27715
(919) 416-2600
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
North Carolina Connections Academy (Closed 2023)
2700 Meridian Parkway
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 224-4040
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
North Carolina Virtual Academy (Closed 2023)
4220 Nc Highway 55
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
Omuteko Gwamaziima Elementary School (Closed 2009)
Charter School
910 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27717
(919) 687-0870
Grades: K-8
| 63 students
Southern School Of Engineering (Closed 2015)
800 Clayton Rd
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9184
Grades: 9-12
| 278 students
Wg Pearson Magnet Middle School (Closed 2015)
600 E Umstead St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-2208
Grades: 8
| 79 students
The Wright School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
3132 North Roxboro St
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-5790
Grades: K-8
| n/a students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public schools in Durham, NC?
How many public schools are located in Durham?
72 public schools are located in Durham.
What percentage of students in Durham go to public school?
85% of all K-12 students in Durham are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Durham?
Durham public schools minority enrollment is 77% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Durham are often viewed compared to one another?

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