For the 2025 school year, there are 23 public high schools serving 21,547 students in Durham County, NC.
The top ranked public high schools in Durham County, NC are J D Clement Early College High School, Research Triangle High School and Durham School Of The Arts. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham County, NC public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 58% statewide average). High schools in Durham County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public high schools.
Durham County, NC public high school have a Graduation Rate of 80%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Durham School Of The Arts, with 96% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public High Schools in Durham County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
J D Clement Early College High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1801 Fayetteville Street, Nccu
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Grades: 9-12
| 386 students
Rank: #22.
Research Triangle High School
Charter School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3106 East Nc Highway 54
Durham, NC 27709
(919) 998-6757
Durham, NC 27709
(919) 998-6757
Grades: 9-12
| 564 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.
Voyager Academy
Charter School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
101 Hock Parc Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 433-3301
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 433-3301
Grades: K-12
| 1,363 students
Rank: #55.
Durham School Of Technology
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Grades: 9-12
| 239 students
Rank: #66.
Riverside High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3218 Rose Of Sharon Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3965
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3965
Grades: 9-12
| 1,851 students
Rank: #77.
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: #88.
Durham Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
807 West Chapel Hill Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 956-5599
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 956-5599
Grades: K-10
| 777 students
Rank: #99.
Excelsior Classical Academy
Charter School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4100 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 213-8585
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 213-8585
Grades: K-12
| 1,029 students
Rank: #1010.
Discovery Charter
Charter School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
501 Orange Factory Road
Durham, NC 27722
(984) 888-5504
Durham, NC 27722
(984) 888-5504
Grades: 6-10
| 412 students
Rank: #1111.
C E Jordan High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6806 Garrett Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3912
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3912
Grades: 9-12
| 2,068 students
Rank: #1212.
Northern High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4622 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3956
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3956
Grades: 9-12
| 1,334 students
Rank: #1313.
City Of Medicine Academy
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
301 Crutchfield Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2001
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2001
Grades: 9-12
| 336 students
Rank: #1414.
Nc Virtual Academy
Charter School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
4220 Nc Highway 55, Suite 130
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Grades: K-12
| 2,959 students
Rank: #1515.
North Carolina Cyber Academy
Charter School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2800 Meridian Parkway, Suite 1
Durham, NC 27713
(984) 262-9237
Durham, NC 27713
(984) 262-9237
Grades: K-12
| 2,523 students
Rank: #1616.
Hillside High School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3925
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3925
Grades: 9-12
| 1,454 students
Rank: #1717.
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: #1818.
Durham's Performance Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
401 North Driver Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9190
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9190
Grades: 9-12
| 122 students
Rank: #1919.
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: #2020.
Southern School Of Energy And Sustainabi
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
800 Clayton Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3968
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3968
Grades: 9-12
| 1,352 students
Rank: #2121.
Lakeview School
Alternative School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3507 Dearborn Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2520
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2520
Grades: 6-12
| 70 students
Rank: n/an/a
Holton Career And Resource Center
Vocational School
401 North Driver St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2219
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2219
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
1637 Lawson Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 536-7203
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 536-7203
Grades: 11-12
| 134 students
Durham County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
8305 Roxboro Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 471-8655
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 471-8655
Grades: 6-10
| 64 students
Communities In School Academy (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
401 N Driver St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3931
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3931
Grades: 5-12
| 174 students
1219 Broad Street
Durham, NC 27715
(919) 416-2600
Durham, NC 27715
(919) 416-2600
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
2700 Meridian Parkway
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 224-4040
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 224-4040
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
4220 Nc Highway 55
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
910 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27717
(919) 687-0870
Durham, NC 27717
(919) 687-0870
Grades: K-8
| 63 students
800 Clayton Rd
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9184
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9184
Grades: 9-12
| 278 students
Wg Pearson Magnet Middle School (Closed 2015)
Magnet School
600 E Umstead St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-2208
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
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-5790
Grades: K-8
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public high schools in Durham County, NC?
The top ranked public high schools in Durham County, NC include J D Clement Early College High School, Research Triangle High School and Durham School Of The Arts.
How many public high schools are located in Durham County?
23 public high schools are located in Durham County.
What is the racial composition of students in Durham County?
Durham County public high schools minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high schools average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public high schools in Durham County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public high schools in Durham County include: Nc Virtual Academy vs. North Carolina Cyber Academy, North Carolina Cyber Academy vs. Nc Virtual Academy, Hillside High School vs. C E Jordan High School
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