Durham School District

511 Cleveland Street
Durham, NC 27701-3334
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%

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

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.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#214 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Durham   School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
42%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Durham   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
44%
50%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Durham   School District 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.
56%
63%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Durham   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
84%
86%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Durham   School District and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.70
0.72
# American Indian Students
41 Students
12,383 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
661 Students
47,310 Students
% Asian Students
2%
4%
# Hispanic Students
10,975 Students
227,576 Students
% Hispanic Students
35%
21%
# Black Students
11,645 Students
268,051 Students
% Black Students
37%
25%
# White Students
6,128 Students
465,086 Students
% White Students
20%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
20 Students
1,488 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,869 Students
69,126 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
438
23,192
# Students in K Grade:
2,232
109,971
# Students in 1st Grade:
2,248
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
2,407
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
2,239
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
2,254
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
2,289
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
2,104
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,127
113,393
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,200
115,504
# Students in 9th Grade:
3,314
11,612
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,761
10,182
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,532
8,704
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,194
7,975
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

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.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$456 MM
$17,307 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Durham   School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$447 MM
$17,964 MM
This chart displays total spending of Durham   School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$14,541
$11,187
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Durham   School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$14,270
$11,612
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Durham   School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Durham School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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
| 740 students
Rank: #22.
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: #33.
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
| 1,767 students
Rank: #44.
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
| 309 students
Rank: #55.
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
| 478 students
Rank: #66.
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
| 631 students
Rank: #77.
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
| 226 students
Rank: #88.
Mangum Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
9008 Quail Roost Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Grades: PK-5
| 296 students
Rank: #99.
Dps Hospital 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: #1010.
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
| 294 students
Rank: #1111.
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
| 380 students
Rank: #1212.
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
| 301 students
Rank: #1313.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2320 Cook Road
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:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
913 9th Street
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Grades: PK-5
| 409 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Forest View Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3007 Mount Sinai Road
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:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2315 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3940
Grades: PK-8
| 308 students
Rank: #1717.
Sherwood Githens Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4800 Chapel Hill Road
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:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2401 Dakota Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3938
Grades: 6-8
| 400 students
Rank: #1919.
Spring Valley Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2051 Northern Durham Prky
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Grades: PK-5
| 544 students
Rank: #2020.
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
| 477 students
Rank: #2121.
Hope Valley Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3005 Dixon Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3980
Grades: K-5
| 626 students
Rank: #2222.
Creekside Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5321 Ephesus Church Road
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:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
5001 Red Mill Rd
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Grades: 6-12
| 438 students
Rank: #2424.
Eno Valley Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
117 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3915
Grades: PK-5
| 533 students
Rank: #2525.
Hillandale Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2730 Hillandale Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3924
Grades: PK-5
| 529 students
Rank: #2626.
Oak Grove Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3810 Wake Forest Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3960
Grades: PK-5
| 448 students
Rank: #2727.
George L Carrington Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
227 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3916
Grades: 6-8
| 738 students
Rank: #2828.
Ignite Online Academy
(Math: 19% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
5321 Ephesus Church Rd.
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 972-4400
Grades: K-12
| 369 students
Rank: #2929.
Merrick-moore Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2325 Cheek Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3952
Grades: K-5
| 535 students
Rank: #3030.
Holt Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4019 Holt School Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3928
Grades: PK-5
| 618 students
Rank: #3131.
Parkwood Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
5207 Revere Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3962
Grades: PK-5
| 576 students
Rank: #3232.
Lucas Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
923 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3843
Grades: 6-8
| 413 students
Rank: #3333.
Glenn Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2415 E Geer Street
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:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3501 Fayettville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3988
Grades: PK-5
| 348 students
Rank: #3535.
Eastway Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
610 North Alston Avenue
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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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 57 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 31,339 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 80%
  • : 84% (Btm 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 42% (Btm 50%)
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • : 56% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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