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 26 public preschools serving 10,870 students in Durham School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Durham School District have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 78% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
57 Schools
994 Schools
# Students
31,339 Students
464,055 Students
# Teachers
2,341 Teachers
33,275 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.
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
0.72
# American Indian Students
41 Students
6,572 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
661 Students
18,458 Students
% Asian Students
2%
4%
# Hispanic Students
10,975 Students
105,943 Students
% Hispanic Students
35%
23%
# Black Students
11,645 Students
114,509 Students
% Black Students
37%
25%
# White Students
6,128 Students
189,147 Students
% White Students
20%
41%
# Hawaiian Students
20 Students
648 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,869 Students
28,778 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
438
23,104
# Students in K Grade:
2,232
72,144
# Students in 1st Grade:
2,248
74,289
# Students in 2nd Grade:
2,407
75,942
# Students in 3rd Grade:
2,239
68,925
# Students in 4th Grade:
2,254
69,686
# Students in 5th Grade:
2,289
66,668
# Students in 6th Grade:
2,104
5,021
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,127
3,684
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,200
3,629
# Students in 9th Grade:
3,314
214
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,761
194
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,532
187
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,194
368
# 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.
Total Revenue
$456 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$447 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,541
$11,187
Spending / Student
$14,270
$11,612
Best Durham School District Public Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Grades: PK-5
| 740 students
Rank: #22.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Grades: PK-5
| 309 students
Rank: #33.
Morehead Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
909 Cobb Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Grades: PK-5
| 226 students
Rank: #44.
Mangum Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9008 Quail Roost Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Grades: PK-5
| 296 students
Rank: #55.
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: #66.
Burton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1500 Mathison Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Grades: PK-5
| 294 students
Rank: #77.
R N Harris Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1520 Cooper Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3967
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3967
Grades: PK-5
| 301 students
Rank: #88.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2320 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Grades: PK-5
| 669 students
Rank: #99.
E K Powe Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
913 9th Street
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Grades: PK-5
| 409 students
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Forest View Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3007 Mount Sinai Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Grades: PK-5
| 650 students
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
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: #1212.
Spring Valley Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2051 Northern Durham Prky
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Grades: PK-5
| 544 students
Rank: #1313.
Sandy Ridge Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1417 Old Oxford Highway
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2695
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2695
Grades: PK-5
| 477 students
Rank: #1414.
Creekside Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5321 Ephesus Church Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3919
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3919
Grades: PK-5
| 551 students
Rank: #1515.
Eno Valley Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
117 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3915
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3915
Grades: PK-5
| 533 students
Rank: #1616.
Hillandale Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2730 Hillandale Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3924
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3924
Grades: PK-5
| 529 students
Rank: #1717.
Oak Grove Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3810 Wake Forest Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3960
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3960
Grades: PK-5
| 448 students
Rank: #1818.
Holt Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4019 Holt School Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3928
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3928
Grades: PK-5
| 618 students
Rank: #1919.
Parkwood Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
5207 Revere Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3962
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3962
Grades: PK-5
| 576 students
Rank: #2020.
W G Pearson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3501 Fayettville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3988
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3988
Grades: PK-5
| 348 students
Rank: #2121.
Eastway Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
610 North Alston Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3910
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3910
Grades: PK-5
| 393 students
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Fayetteville Street Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2905 Fayetteville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3944
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3944
Grades: PK-5
| 239 students
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Lakewood Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2520 Vesson Avenue
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3939
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3939
Grades: PK-5
| 401 students
Rank: #2424.
Y E Smith Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2410 E Main Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3900
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3900
Grades: PK-5
| 265 students
Rank: #2525.
C C Spaulding Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1531 S Roxboro Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3974
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3974
Grades: PK-5
| 223 students
Rank: n/an/a
906 Scott King Rd
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3749
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3749
Grades: PK-5
| 523 students
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