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%)
For the 2024-25 school year, there are 15 public high schools serving 11,993 students in Durham School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Durham School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 54% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Durham School District have a Graduation Rate of 83%, 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 81% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high school average of 54% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
56 Schools
752 Schools
# Students
31,531 Students
559,056 Students
# Teachers
2,352 Teachers
32,592 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Durham School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 321 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.
Overall District Rank
#214 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
63%
Graduation Rate
84%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.70
0.69
# American Indian Students
44 Students
5,904 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
655 Students
19,945 Students
% Asian Students
2%
4%
# Hispanic Students
10,785 Students
109,180 Students
% Hispanic Students
34%
19%
# Black Students
12,138 Students
138,132 Students
% Black Students
38%
25%
# White Students
6,152 Students
258,223 Students
% White Students
20%
46%
# Hawaiian Students
22 Students
769 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,735 Students
28,636 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
407
615
# Students in K Grade:
2,233
6,480
# Students in 1st Grade:
2,495
6,758
# Students in 2nd Grade:
2,200
6,722
# Students in 3rd Grade:
2,248
6,899
# Students in 4th Grade:
2,318
7,141
# Students in 5th Grade:
2,265
7,365
# Students in 6th Grade:
2,139
11,110
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,177
11,749
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,259
12,074
# Students in 9th Grade:
3,382
139,774
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,806
128,053
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,401
111,043
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,201
103,273
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,452 is higher than the state median of $11,229. The school district revenue/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,183 is higher than the state median of $11,655. The school district spending/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$456 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$447 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,452
$11,229
Spending / Student
$14,183
$11,655
Best Durham School District Public High Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(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:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1801 Fayetteville Street, Nccu
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Grades: 9-12
| 395 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
| 1,705 students
Rank: #33.
Durham School Of Technology
Magnet School
(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
| 251 students
Rank: #44.
Riverside High School
Magnet 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
| 1,812 students
Rank: #55.
Dps Hospital School
Magnet 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: #66.
C E Jordan High School
Magnet 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
| 2,040 students
Rank: #77.
Northern High School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
117 Tom Wilkinson Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3956
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3956
Grades: 9-12
| 1,308 students
Rank: #88.
City Of Medicine Academy
Magnet School
(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
| 349 students
Rank: #99.
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
| 1,526 students
Rank: #1010.
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
| 540 students
Rank: #1111.
Durham's Performance Learning Center
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
| 155 students
Rank: #1212.
Ignite Online Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
5321 Ephesus Church Rd.
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3749
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3749
Grades: K-12
| 467 students
Rank: #1313.
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
| 1,283 students
Rank: #1414.
Lakeview School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
| 56 students
Rank: n/an/a
Middle College High School Dtcc
Magnet School
1637 Lawson Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 536-7203
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 536-7203
Grades: 11-12
| 106 students
Recent Articles
College Application Requirement for High School Graduation? DC Weighs Possibility
The article discusses a proposal in Washington D.C. to make college applications a requirement for high school graduation. It examines the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a policy, including its impact on graduation rates and college attendance. The piece also considers similar initiatives in other states and the debate surrounding this approach
Bribing Students to Get Good Grades: The Debate
This piece explores the controversial practice of offering monetary rewards to students for good grades. It examines studies conducted in various cities, discussing the effectiveness of such programs and the ethical concerns they raise. The article presents arguments from both supporters and critics of this approach to student motivation.
September 27, 2024
Understanding RubricsThis 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.
