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%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 15 public middle schools serving 8,335 students in Durham School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Durham School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 79% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
57 Schools
882 Schools
# Students
31,339 Students
494,023 Students
# Teachers
2,341 Teachers
31,644 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Durham School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 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%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)42%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)84%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.70
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
4%
% Hispanic
35%
20%
% Black
37%
25%
% White
20%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,541 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,270 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$456 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$447 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,541
$11,187
Spending / Student
$14,270
$11,612
Best Durham School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #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 | 1,767 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
George L Carrington Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
227 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3916
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3916
Gr: 6-8 | 738 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1010.
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 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1111.
Lucas Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
923 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3843
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3843
Gr: 6-8 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1212.
Lowe's Grove Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4418 S Alston Avenue
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3946
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3946
Gr: 6-8 | 624 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1313.
Brogden Middle School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1001 Leon Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3906
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3906
Gr: 6-8 | 693 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1414.
Neal Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
201 Baptist Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3955
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3955
Gr: 6-8 | 770 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1515.
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 | 70 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Recent Articles

What Are Public Schools Doing to Fight Obesity and Is It Working?
Childhood obesity rates continue to climb. While many public schools have implemented policies and programs to combat the problem, there is always more to be done. Keep reading to learn what schools are doing to prevent obesity and how you can help.

Massachusetts: Boston Public Schools Offer Free Lunches
Kids in Boston Public Schools will enjoy free lunches this year, thanks to participation in a federal program that cuts out paperwork required to prove eligibility for the free lunch program.

Michigan Schools: Free Meals for All Students in Some Detroit Schools
Learn about a pilot program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would offer two free meals and snacks to all Detroit Public School students daily – a controversial decision for some taxpayers.