Top 10 Best Durham County Public High Schools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 20 public high schools serving 20,629 students in Durham County, NC.
The top ranked public high schools in Durham County, NC are J D Clement Early College High School, Research Triangle High 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 high schools have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 52%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 57% statewide average). High schools in Durham County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public high schools.
Durham County, NC public high school have a Graduation Rate of 82%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Durham School Of The Arts, with 98% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high school average of 53% (majority Black).

Best Public High Schools in Durham County (2024)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
J D Clement Early College High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1801 Fayetteville Street, Nccu
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Grades: 9-12
| 395 students
Rank: #22.
Research Triangle High School
Charter School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3106 East Nc Highway 54
Durham, NC 27709
(919) 998-6757
Grades: 9-12
| 577 students
Rank: #33.
City Of Medicine Academy
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
301 Crutchfield Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2001
Grades: 9-12
| 352 students
Rank: #44.
Voyager Academy
Charter School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
101 Hock Parc Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 433-3301
Grades: K-12
| 1,358 students
Rank: #55.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Grades: 6-12
| 1,763 students
Rank: #66.
Excelsior Classical Academy
Charter School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
4100 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 213-8585
Grades: K-10
| 899 students
Rank: #77.
Dps Hospital School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Dumc Room 3605
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-5684
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
Rank: #88.
Lakeview School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3507 Dearborn Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2520
Grades: 6-12
| 30 students
Rank: #99.
Hillside New Tech High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Grades: 9-12
| 292 students
Rank: #1010.
Riverside High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3218 Rose Of Sharon Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3965
Grades: 9-12
| 1,731 students
Rank: #1111.
North Carolina Cyber Academy
Charter School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2800 Meridian Parkway, Suite 1
Durham, NC 27713
(984) 262-9237
Grades: K-12
| 2,815 students
Rank: #1212.
Nc Virtual Academy
Charter School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4220 Nc Highway 55, Suite 130
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Grades: K-12
| 2,891 students
Rank: #1313.
C E Jordan High School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
6806 Garrett Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3912
Grades: 9-12
| 1,939 students
Rank: #1414.
The School For Creative Studies
Magnet School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5001 Red Mill Rd
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Grades: 6-12
| 565 students
Rank: #1515.
Northern High School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
117 Tom Wilkinson Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3956
Grades: 9-12
| 1,307 students
Rank: #1616.
Hillside High School
Magnet School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3925
Grades: 9-12
| 1,475 students
Rank: #1717.
Southern School Of Energy And Sustainabi
Magnet School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
800 Clayton Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3968
Grades: 9-12
| 1,269 students
Rank: #1818.
Durham's Performance Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
401 North Driver Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9190
Grades: 9-12
| 132 students
Rank: n/an/a
Ignite Online Academy
511 Cleveland St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3749
Grades: K-12
| 715 students
Rank: n/an/a
1637 Lawson Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 536-7203
Grades: 11-12
| 124 students
[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Durham County, NC

Durham County Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
8305 Roxboro Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 471-8655
Grades: 6-10
| 64 students
401 N Driver St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3931
Grades: 5-12
| 174 students
1219 Broad Street
Durham, NC 27715
(919) 416-2600
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
2700 Meridian Parkway
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 224-4040
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
4220 Nc Highway 55
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
910 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27717
(919) 687-0870
Grades: K-8
| 63 students
800 Clayton Rd
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9184
Grades: 9-12
| 278 students
600 E Umstead St
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
Grades: K-8
| n/a students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public high schools in Durham County, NC?
The top ranked public high schools in Durham County, NC include J D Clement Early College High School, Research Triangle High School and City Of Medicine Academy.
How many public high schools are located in Durham County, NC?
20 public high schools are located in Durham County, NC.
What is the racial composition of students in Durham County, NC?
Durham County, NC public high schools minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high schools average of 53% (majority Black).

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