Public School Review - Established 2003

Northern High School vs. Riverside High School

Should you attend Northern High School or Riverside High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Northern High School
117 Tom Wilkinson Road
Durham, NC 27712
: 
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Riverside High School
3218 Rose Of Sharon Road
Durham, NC 27712
: 
7/
10
Top 50%
Top Rankings

Northern High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Most improved public schools
Most improved public schools (Top 20%)

Riverside High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Most improved public schools
Most improved public schools (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 20%)
Overview
Serving 1,308 students in grades 9-12, Northern High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 55-59% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 39% (which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 50%).
The student:teacher ratio of 15:1 is equal to the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 82% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Serving 1,812 students in grades 9-12, Riverside High School ranks in the top 50% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 60-64% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 55% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 50%).
The student:teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Total Students
1,308 students
1,812 students
This chart displays total students of Northern High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Riverside High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
52% | 48%
56% | 44%
This chart displays gender of Northern High School
This chart displays gender of Riverside High School
Total Classroom Teachers
86 teachers
100 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Northern High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Riverside High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
18:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Northern High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Riverside High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#1375 out of 2617 schools in NC
(Bottom 50%)
#794 out of 2617 schools in NC
(Top 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Northern High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Riverside High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
55-59%
(Top 50% in NC)
60-64%
(Top 30% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Northern High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Riverside High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
39%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
55%
(Top 50% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Northern High School 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.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Riverside High School 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.
25%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
37%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Northern High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Riverside High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
83%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
75%
(Bottom 50% in NC)
This chart displays graduation rate of Northern High School and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Riverside High School and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Northern High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Riverside High School by grade.
Grade 9 Students
400
597
Grade 10 Students
352
506
Grade 11 Students
293
382
Grade 12 Students
263
327

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Northern High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2013-14 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Riverside High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2013-14 school year data.
% Asian
2%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Northern High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Riverside High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
35%
38%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Northern High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Riverside High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
41%
29%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Northern High School and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Riverside High School and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
18%
26%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Northern High School and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Riverside High School and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Northern High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Riverside High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.68
0.71
This chart displays the diversity score of Northern High School and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Riverside High School and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
61%
48%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Northern High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Riverside High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Northern High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Riverside High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
 
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