Top 10 Best Durham County Public Preschools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 24 public preschools serving 10,296 students in Durham County, NC.
The top ranked public preschools in Durham County, NC are Pearsontown Elementary School, George Watts Elementary School and Dps Hospital School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham County, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 22% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 33% (versus the 42% statewide average). Pre schools in Durham County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 83% 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 County (2024)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Grades: PK-5
| 729 students
Rank: #22.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Grades: PK-5
| 330 students
Rank: #33.
Dps Hospital School
Dumc Room 3605
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-5684
Grades: PK-12
| 0 students
Rank: #44.
Morehead Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
909 Cobb Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Grades: PK-5
| 227 students
Rank: #55.
Little River K-8 School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2315 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3940
Grades: PK-8
| 430 students
Rank: #66.
E K Powe Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
913 9th Street
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Grades: PK-5
| 393 students
Rank: #77.
Burton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1500 Mathison Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Grades: PK-5
| 293 students
Rank: #88.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2320 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Grades: PK-5
| 628 students
Rank: #99.
Hillandale Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2730 Hillandale Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3924
Grades: PK-5
| 536 students
Rank: #1010.
Spring Valley Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2051 Northern Durham Prky
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Grades: PK-5
| 542 students
Rank: #1111.
R N Harris Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1520 Cooper Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3967
Grades: PK-5
| 278 students
Rank: #1212.
Parkwood Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
5207 Revere Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3962
Grades: PK-5
| 635 students
Rank: #1313.
Oak Grove Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3810 Wake Forest Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3960
Grades: PK-5
| 506 students
Rank: #1414.
Sandy Ridge Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1417 Old Oxford Highway
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2695
Grades: PK-5
| 483 students
Rank: #1515.
Eno Valley Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
117 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3915
Grades: PK-5
| 530 students
Rank: #1616.
Lakewood Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2520 Vesson Avenue
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3939
Grades: PK-5
| 373 students
Rank: #1717.
Holt Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4019 Holt School Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3928
Grades: PK-5
| 645 students
Rank: #1818.
Bethesda Elementary School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2009 S Miami Boulevard
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3904
Grades: PK-5
| 654 students
Rank: #1919.
Merrick-moore Elementary School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2325 Cheek Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3952
Grades: PK-5
| 539 students
Rank: #2020.
W G Pearson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3501 Fayettville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3988
Grades: PK-5
| 360 students
Rank: #2121.
Y E Smith Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2410 E Main Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3900
Grades: PK-5
| 302 students
Rank: #2222.
Eastway Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
610 North Alston Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3910
Grades: PK-5
| 420 students
Rank: #2323.
Fayetteville Street Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2905 Fayetteville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3944
Grades: PK-5
| 223 students
Rank: #2424.
C C Spaulding Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1531 S Roxboro Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3974
Grades: PK-5
| 240 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 preschools in Durham County, NC?
The top ranked public preschools in Durham County, NC include Pearsontown Elementary School, George Watts Elementary School and Dps Hospital School.
How many public preschools are located in Durham County, NC?
24 public preschools are located in Durham County, NC.
What is the racial composition of students in Durham County, NC?
Durham County, NC public preschools minority enrollment is 83% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

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