For the 2025 school year, there are 26 public preschools serving 10,870 students in Durham County, NC.
The top ranked public preschools in Durham County, NC are Pearsontown Elementary School, George Watts Elementary School and Morehead Montessori. 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 45% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Durham County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 78% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools 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.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #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.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #10 - 1110. - 11.
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: #10 - 1110. - 11.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
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: #1414.
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: #1515.
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: #1616.
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: #1717.
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%
Rank: #1818.
Holt Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4019 Holt School Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3928
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3928
Gr: PK-5 | 618 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1919.
Parkwood Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
5207 Revere Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3962
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3962
Gr: PK-5 | 576 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #2020.
W G Pearson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3501 Fayettville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3988
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3988
Gr: PK-5 | 348 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2121.
Eastway Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
610 North Alston Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3910
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3910
Gr: PK-5 | 393 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Fayetteville Street Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2905 Fayetteville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3944
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3944
Gr: PK-5 | 239 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Lakewood Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2520 Vesson Avenue
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3939
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3939
Gr: PK-5 | 401 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #2424.
Y E Smith Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2410 E Main Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3900
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3900
Gr: PK-5 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2525.
C C Spaulding Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1531 S Roxboro Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3974
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3974
Gr: PK-5 | 223 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: n/an/a
906 Scott King Rd
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3749
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3749
Gr: PK-5 | 523 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
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 preschools in Durham County, NC?
The top ranked public preschools in Durham County, NC include Pearsontown Elementary School, George Watts Elementary School and Morehead Montessori.
How many public preschools are located in Durham County?
26 public preschools are located in Durham County.
What is the racial composition of students in Durham County?
Durham County public preschools minority enrollment is 78% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschools average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Durham County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Durham County include: Southwest Elementary School vs. Pearsontown Elementary School, Oak Grove Elementary School vs. Spring Valley Elementary School, Morehead Montessori vs. George Watts Elementary School
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