For the 2024-25 school year, there are 25 public preschools serving 10,580 students in Durham, NC.
The top ranked public preschools in Durham, NC are Pearsontown Elementary School, George Watts Elementary School and Morehead Montessori. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Durham have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 81% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschool average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Durham, NC (2024-25)
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
| 726 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
| 315 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
| 227 students
Rank: #44.
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: #55.
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
| 293 students
Rank: #66.
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
| 291 students
Rank: #77.
Southwest Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 663 students
Rank: #88.
E K Powe Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 383 students
Rank: #99.
Little River K-8 School
Magnet 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
| 374 students
Rank: #1010.
Spring Valley Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 534 students
Rank: #1111.
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
| 484 students
Rank: #1212.
Eno Valley Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 572 students
Rank: #1313.
Hillandale Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 537 students
Rank: #1414.
Oak Grove Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 472 students
Rank: #1515.
Merrick-moore Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2325 Cheek Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3952
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3952
Grades: PK-5
| 540 students
Rank: #1616.
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
| 636 students
Rank: #1717.
Parkwood Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 602 students
Rank: #1818.
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
| 333 students
Rank: #1919.
Eastway Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 402 students
Rank: #2020.
Bethesda Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2009 S Miami Boulevard
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3904
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3904
Grades: PK-5
| 617 students
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Fayetteville Street Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 230 students
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Lakewood Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 385 students
Rank: #2323.
Y E Smith Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 286 students
Rank: #2424.
C C Spaulding Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 230 students
Rank: n/an/a
Lyons Farm Elementary School
Magnet School
906 Scott King Rd
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3749
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3749
Grades: PK-5
| 448 students
Durham, North Carolina Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
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
Omuteko Gwamaziima Elementary School (Closed 2009)
Charter School
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
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 preschools in Durham, NC?
The top ranked public preschools in Durham, NC include Pearsontown Elementary School, George Watts Elementary School and Morehead Montessori.
How many public preschools are located in Durham?
25 public preschools are located in Durham.
What is the racial composition of students in Durham?
Durham public preschools minority enrollment is 81% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Durham are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Durham include: Southwest Elementary School vs. Pearsontown Elementary School, Parkwood Elementary School vs. Pearsontown Elementary School, Oak Grove Elementary School vs. Spring Valley Elementary School
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