For the 2025 school year, there are 30 public middle schools serving 21,352 students in Durham County, NC.
The top ranked public middle schools in Durham County, NC are Lakewood Montessori Middle School, Durham School Of The Arts and Voyager Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham County, NC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 50% statewide average). Middle schools in Durham County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Middle Schools in Durham County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
Central Park School For Children
Charter School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
724 Foster Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-1200
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-1200
Grades: K-8
| 609 students
Rank: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
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: #1414.
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: #1515.
Global Scholars Academy
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
311 Dowd St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-5903
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-5903
Grades: K-8
| 202 students
Rank: #1616.
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: #1717.
Research Triangle Charter
Charter School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2418 Ellis Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 957-7108
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 957-7108
Grades: K-8
| 727 students
Rank: #1818.
Kestrel Heights School
Charter School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
4700 South Alston Ave.
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 484-1300
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 484-1300
Grades: K-8
| 440 students
Rank: #1919.
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: #2020.
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: #2121.
The Institute Development Young Leaders
Charter School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4300 S. Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 308-9731
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 308-9731
Grades: K-8
| 412 students
Rank: #2222.
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: #2323.
Community School Of Digital & Visual Art
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1955 West Cornwallis Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 797-2340
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 797-2340
Grades: K-8
| 181 students
Rank: #2424.
Maureen Joy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
107 South Driver Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 908-1602
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 908-1602
Grades: K-8
| 634 students
Rank: #2525.
Reaching All Minds Academy
Charter School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2703 Holloway St.
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 596-1899
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 596-1899
Grades: K-8
| 384 students
Rank: #2626.
Lowe's Grove Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4418 S Alston Avenue
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3946
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3946
Grades: 6-8
| 624 students
Rank: #2727.
Brogden Middle School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1001 Leon Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3906
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3906
Grades: 6-8
| 693 students
Rank: #2828.
Kipp Durham College Preparatory
Charter School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1107 Holloway Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 973-0285
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 973-0285
Grades: K-8
| 365 students
Rank: #2929.
Neal Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
201 Baptist Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3955
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3955
Grades: 6-8
| 770 students
Rank: #3030.
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
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 middle schools in Durham County, NC?
The top ranked public middle schools in Durham County, NC include Lakewood Montessori Middle School, Durham School Of The Arts and Voyager Academy.
How many public middle schools are located in Durham County?
30 public middle schools are located in Durham County.
What is the racial composition of students in Durham County?
Durham County public middle schools minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public middle schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Durham County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Durham County include: Nc Virtual Academy vs. North Carolina Cyber Academy, North Carolina Cyber Academy vs. Nc Virtual Academy, Lucas Middle School vs. George L Carrington Middle School
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