For the 2025 school year, there are 60 public elementary schools serving 35,080 students in Durham County, NC.
The top ranked public elementary schools in Durham County, NC are Pearsontown Elementary School, Lakewood Montessori Middle School and Durham School Of The Arts. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham County, NC public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 49% statewide average). Elementary schools in Durham County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Elementary Schools in Durham County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Gr: PK-5 | 740 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #22.
Lakewood Montessori Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2119 Chapel Hill Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Gr: 6-8 | 303 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #33.
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 | 1,767 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #44.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Gr: PK-5 | 309 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #55.
Voyager Academy
Charter School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
101 Hock Parc Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 433-3301
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 433-3301
Gr: K-12 | 1,363 student Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #66.
Easley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
302 Lebanon Circle
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Gr: K-5 | 478 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #77.
Rogers-herr Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
911 Cornwallis Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Gr: 6-8 | 631 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #88.
Morehead Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
909 Cobb Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Gr: PK-5 | 226 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #99.
Mangum Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9008 Quail Roost Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Gr: PK-5 | 296 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1010.
Central Park School For Children
Charter School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
724 Foster Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-1200
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-1200
Gr: K-8 | 609 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1111.
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: #1212.
Durham Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
807 West Chapel Hill Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 956-5599
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 956-5599
Gr: K-10 | 777 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1313.
Burton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1500 Mathison Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Gr: PK-5 | 294 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #1414.
Club Boulevard Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
400 W Club Boulevard
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3918
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3918
Gr: K-5 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1515.
Excelsior Classical Academy
Charter School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4100 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 213-8585
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 213-8585
Gr: K-12 | 1,029 student Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #1616.
R N Harris Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1520 Cooper Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3967
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3967
Gr: PK-5 | 301 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1717.
Discovery Charter
Charter School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
501 Orange Factory Road
Durham, NC 27722
(984) 888-5504
Durham, NC 27722
(984) 888-5504
Gr: 6-10 | 412 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1818.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2320 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Gr: PK-5 | 669 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1919.
E K Powe Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
913 9th Street
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Gr: PK-5 | 409 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Forest View Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3007 Mount Sinai Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Gr: PK-5 | 650 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Little River K-8 School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2315 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3940
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3940
Gr: PK-8 | 308 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2222.
Sherwood Githens Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4800 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3966
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3966
Gr: 6-8 | 811 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #2323.
James E Shepard Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2401 Dakota Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3938
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3938
Gr: 6-8 | 400 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2424.
Spring Valley Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2051 Northern Durham Prky
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Gr: PK-5 | 544 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #2525.
Sandy Ridge Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1417 Old Oxford Highway
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2695
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2695
Gr: PK-5 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2626.
Nc Virtual Academy
Charter School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
4220 Nc Highway 55, Suite 130
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Gr: K-12 | 2,959 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2727.
Hope Valley Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3005 Dixon Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3980
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3980
Gr: K-5 | 626 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #2828.
North Carolina Cyber Academy
Charter School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2800 Meridian Parkway, Suite 1
Durham, NC 27713
(984) 262-9237
Durham, NC 27713
(984) 262-9237
Gr: K-12 | 2,523 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2929.
Global Scholars Academy
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
311 Dowd St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-5903
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-5903
Gr: K-8 | 202 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
Rank: #3030.
Creekside Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5321 Ephesus Church Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3919
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3919
Gr: PK-5 | 551 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #3131.
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 | 438 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #3232.
Research Triangle Charter
Charter School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2418 Ellis Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 957-7108
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 957-7108
Gr: K-8 | 727 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #3333.
Eno Valley Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
117 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3915
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3915
Gr: PK-5 | 533 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #3434.
Hillandale Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2730 Hillandale Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3924
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3924
Gr: PK-5 | 529 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #3535.
Oak Grove Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3810 Wake Forest Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3960
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3960
Gr: PK-5 | 448 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Show 25 more public schools in Durham County, NC (out of 60 total schools)
Loading...
Durham County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
8305 Roxboro Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 471-8655
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 471-8655
Gr: 6-10 | 64 students Minority enrollment: 66%
Communities In School Academy (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
401 N Driver St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3931
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3931
Gr: 5-12 | 174 students Minority enrollment: 98%
1219 Broad Street
Durham, NC 27715
(919) 416-2600
Durham, NC 27715
(919) 416-2600
Gr: Inquire with school
2700 Meridian Parkway
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 224-4040
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 224-4040
Gr: PK-12
4220 Nc Highway 55
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Gr: PK-12
910 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27717
(919) 687-0870
Durham, NC 27717
(919) 687-0870
Gr: K-8 | 63 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
800 Clayton Rd
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9184
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9184
Gr: 9-12 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Wg Pearson Magnet Middle School (Closed 2015)
Magnet School
600 E Umstead St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-2208
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-2208
Gr: 8 | 79 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
The Wright School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
3132 North Roxboro St
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-5790
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-5790
Gr: K-8
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public elementary schools in Durham County, NC?
The top ranked public elementary schools in Durham County, NC include Pearsontown Elementary School, Lakewood Montessori Middle School and Durham School Of The Arts.
How many public elementary schools are located in Durham County?
60 public elementary schools are located in Durham County.
What is the racial composition of students in Durham County?
Durham County public elementary schools minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public elementary schools in Durham County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public elementary schools in Durham County include: Nc Virtual Academy vs. North Carolina Cyber Academy, North Carolina Cyber Academy vs. Nc Virtual Academy, Lucas Middle School vs. George L Carrington Middle School
Recent Articles
Why Single-Sex Public Schools are Growing in Popularity
This article examines the growing trend of single-sex public schools in the United States. It explores the potential benefits, research findings, and controversies surrounding gender-specific education, as well as the factors driving its increasing popularity among parents and educators.
When Teachers Cheat: The Standardized Test Controversies
Teachers across the country are being accused of cheating on standardized tests, using erasers to conveniently change their students’ answers. However, are these teachers driven to cheat because the funding system is flawed?
When Field Trips Turn Deadly: Who is Responsible?
Recent deaths during field trips have parents and school officials questioning the safety of these excursions. Learn about these tragedies and what parameters should be in place to ensure a safe field trip.
