Top Rankings
Durham School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 16 public high schools serving 11,924 students in Durham School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Durham School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 54% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Durham School District have a Graduation Rate of 84%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Durham School Of The Arts, with 96% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 82% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
57 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
31,791 Students
568,636 Students
# Teachers
2,104 Teachers
31,535 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Durham School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has increased from 81% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#214 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)42%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
63%
Graduation Rate
82%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)40.7%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.71
0.71
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
4%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
35%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
36%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
20%
44%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,762 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,894 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$533 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$601 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$16,762
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$18,894
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Durham School District Public High Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
J D Clement Early College High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1801 Fayetteville Street, Nccu
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Gr: 9-13 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #22.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Gr: 6-12 | 1,764 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #33.
Durham School Of Technology
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Gr: 9-13 | 219 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #44.
Riverside High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3218 Rose Of Sharon Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3965
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3965
Gr: 9-12 | 1,900 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #55.
Dps Hospital 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
Gr: PK-12
Rank: #66.
C E Jordan High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6806 Garrett Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3912
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3912
Gr: 9-12 | 2,189 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #77.
Northern High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4622 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3956
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3956
Gr: 9-12 | 1,281 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #88.
City Of Medicine Academy
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
301 Crutchfield Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2001
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2001
Gr: 9-13 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #99.
Hillside High School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3925
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3925
Gr: 9-12 | 1,433 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1010.
The School For Creative Studies
Magnet School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
5001 Red Mill Rd
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Gr: 6-12 | 350 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1111.
Durham's Performance Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
401 North Driver Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9190
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9190
Gr: 9-12 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1212.
Ignite Online Academy
(Math: 19% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
5321 Ephesus Church Rd.
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 972-4400
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 972-4400
Gr: K-12 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1313.
Southern School Of Energy And Sustainabi
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
800 Clayton Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3968
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3968
Gr: 9-12 | 1,384 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1414.
Lakeview School
Alternative School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3507 Dearborn Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2520
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2520
Gr: 6-12 | 52 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: n/an/a
Holton Career And Resource Center
Vocational School
401 North Driver St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2219
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2219
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
1637 Lawson Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 536-7203
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 536-7203
Gr: 11-13 | 158 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
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