For the 2023-24 school year, there are 72 public schools serving 44,912 students in Durham County, NC (there are 38 private schools, serving 6,757 private students). 87% of all K-12 students in Durham County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Durham County, NC are Research Triangle High School, Pearsontown Elementary School and City Of Medicine Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 29% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Durham County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 55% (majority Black).
Best Durham County Public Schools (2023-24)
School (Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Research Triangle High School
Charter School
Math: 60-69% | Reading: 80-84%
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3106 East Nc Highway 54
Durham, NC 27709
(919) 998-6757
Durham, NC 27709
(919) 998-6757
Grades: 9-12
| 577 students
Rank: #22.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
Math: 64% | Reading: 73%
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Grades: PK-5
| 729 students
Rank: #33.
City Of Medicine Academy
Math: 85-89% | Reading: 55-59%
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
301 Crutchfield Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2001
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2001
Grades: 9-12
| 352 students
Rank: #44.
Lakewood Montessori Middle School
Magnet School
Math: 59% | Reading: 69%
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2119 Chapel Hill Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Grades: 6-8
| 296 students
Rank: #55.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Grades: PK-5
| 330 students
Rank: #66.
Voyager Academy
Charter School
Math: 53% | Reading: 70%
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
101 Hock Parc Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 433-3301
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 433-3301
Grades: K-12
| 1,358 students
Rank: #77.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
Math: 50% | Reading: 67%
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Grades: 6-12
| 1,763 students
Rank: #88.
Easley Elementary School
Magnet School
Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
302 Lebanon Circle
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Grades: K-5
| 461 students
Rank: #99.
Mangum Elementary School
Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9008 Quail Roost Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Grades: K-5
| 268 students
Rank: #1010.
Excelsior Classical Academy
Charter School
Math: 42% | Reading: 62%
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4100 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 213-8585
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 213-8585
Grades: K-10
| 899 students
Rank: #1111.
Forest View Elementary School
Math: 45% | Reading: 53%
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3007 Mount Sinai Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Grades: K-5
| 691 students
Rank: #1212.
Lakeview School
Alternative School
Math: <50% | Reading: <50%
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3507 Dearborn Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2520
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2520
Grades: 6-12
| 30 students
Rank: #1313.
Central Park School For Child
Charter School
Math: 40% | Reading: 58%
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
724 Foster Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-1200
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-1200
Grades: K-8
| 578 students
Rank: #1414.
Hillside New Tech High School
Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-59%
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Grades: 9-12
| 292 students
Rank: #1515.
Morehead Montessori
Magnet School
Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
909 Cobb Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Grades: PK-5
| 227 students
Rank: #1616.
Rogers-herr Middle School
Magnet School
Math: 40% | Reading: 53%
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
911 Cornwallis Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Grades: 6-8
| 642 students
Rank: #1717.
Discovery Charter
Charter School
Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1305 W. Club Blvd.
Durham, NC 27722
(984) 888-5504
Durham, NC 27722
(984) 888-5504
Grades: 6-8
| 261 students
Rank: #1818.
Sherwood Githens Middle School
Math: 36% | Reading: 53%
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4800 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3966
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3966
Grades: 6-8
| 831 students
Rank: #1919.
Riverside High School
Math: 49% | Reading: 42%
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3218 Rose Of Sharon Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3965
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3965
Grades: 9-12
| 1,731 students
Rank: #2020.
North Carolina Cyber Academy
Charter School
Math: 28% | Reading: 54%
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2800 Meridian Parkway, Suite 1
Durham, NC 27713
(984) 262-9237
Durham, NC 27713
(984) 262-9237
Grades: K-12
| 2,815 students
Rank: #2121.
Nc Virtual Academy
Charter School
Math: 31% | Reading: 50%
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4220 Nc Highway 55, Suite 130
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Grades: K-12
| 2,891 students
Rank: #2222.
Little River K-8 School
Math: 30-34% | Reading: 47%
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
| 430 students
Rank: #2323.
E K Powe Elementary School
Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
913 9th Street
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Grades: PK-5
| 393 students
Rank: #2424.
C E Jordan High School
Math: 28% | Reading: 49%
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6806 Garrett Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3912
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3912
Grades: 9-12
| 1,939 students
Rank: #2525.
Burton Elementary School
Magnet School
Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1500 Mathison Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Grades: PK-5
| 293 students
Rank: #2626.
The School For Creative Studies
Magnet School
Math: 23% | Reading: 47%
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5001 Red Mill Rd
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Grades: 6-12
| 565 students
Rank: #2727.
Creekside Elementary School
Math: 33% | Reading: 39%
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5321 Ephesus Church Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3919
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3919
Grades: K-5
| 788 students
Rank: #2828.
Kestrel Heights School
Charter School
Math: 20-24% | Reading: 40-44%
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
4700 South Alston Ave.
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 484-1300
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 484-1300
Grades: K-8
| 421 students
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Club Boulevard Elementary School
Magnet School
Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
400 W Club Boulevard
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3918
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3918
Grades: K-5
| 390 students
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Southwest Elementary School
Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2320 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Grades: PK-5
| 628 students
Rank: #3131.
Northern High School
Math: 30% | Reading: 35%
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
117 Tom Wilkinson Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3956
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3956
Grades: 9-12
| 1,307 students
Rank: #3232.
Hillside High School
Magnet School
Math: 31% | Reading: 32%
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3925
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3925
Grades: 9-12
| 1,475 students
Rank: #3333.
George L Carrington Middle School
Math: 23% | Reading: 37%
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
227 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3916
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3916
Grades: 6-8
| 827 students
Rank: #3434.
Hope Valley Elementary School
Math: 22% | Reading: 36%
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3005 Dixon Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3980
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3980
Grades: K-5
| 604 students
Rank: #3535.
Southern School Of Energy And Sustainabi
Magnet School
Math: 28% | Reading: 30%
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
800 Clayton Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3968
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3968
Grades: 9-12
| 1,269 students
Show 37 more public schools in Durham County, NC (out of 72 total schools)
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Durham County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Ann Atwater Community (Closed 2007)
Charter School
8305 Roxboro Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 471-8655
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 471-8655
Grades: 6-10
| 64 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 2021)
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 schools in Durham County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Durham County, NC include Research Triangle High School, Pearsontown Elementary School and City Of Medicine Academy.
How many public schools are located in Durham County, NC?
72 public schools are located in Durham County, NC.
What percentage of students in Durham County, NC go to public school?
87% of all K-12 students in Durham County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Durham County, NC?
Durham County, NC public schools minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 55% (majority Black).
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