Best Schools in Durham County, NC
Durham County, NC has 108 public schools (18 high, 15 middle, 58 elementary) serving 62,152 students. On average they score 53% on state proficiency tests against a projected 40%, so schools in Durham County greatly exceed expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Durham County, NC
The top high schools in Durham County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. City Of Medicine Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 349 Students
2. J D Clement Early College Hs
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 395 Students
3. Middle College Hs @ Dtcc
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 11 - 13 • 106 Students
4. Durham School Of The Arts
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 1705 Students
5. Research Triangle High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Research Triangle High School • Charter • Grades 9 - 12 • 582 Students
6. Durham School Of Technology
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 251 Students
7. Leesville Road High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wake County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2613 Students
8. Cedar Ridge High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orange County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1104 Students
9. Orange High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orange County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1341 Students
10. C E Jordan High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2040 Students
Best Middle Schools in Durham County, NC
The top middle schools in Durham County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Lakewood Montessori Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 303 Students
2. Rogers-herr Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 643 Students
3. Pine Hollow Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wake County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 850 Students
4. Orange Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orange County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 525 Students
5. Southern Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Person County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 514 Students
6. A L Stanback Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orange County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 646 Students
7. James E Shepard Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 381 Students
8. Discovery Charter
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Discovery Charter School • Charter • Grades 6 - 11 • 332 Students
9. Sherwood Githens Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 763 Students
10. George L Carrington Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 755 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Durham County, NC
The top elementary schools in Durham County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Mangum Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 301 Students
2. Sycamore Creek Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wake County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 786 Students
3. Easley Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 450 Students
4. Pearsontown Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 726 Students
5. Morehead Montessori
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 227 Students
6. Pathways Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orange County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 351 Students
7. River Park Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orange County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 559 Students
8. Lyons Farm Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 448 Students
9. George Watts Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Durham Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 315 Students
10. Helena Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Person County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 523 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Durham County, NC
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Durham County, NC has a total population of 324,833 with 26% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 90%, and 53% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Durham County, NC
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Durham County, NC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
34.45 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.88 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
29.57 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Durham County, NC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Durham County, NC.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Durham County, NC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Durham County, NC
How many schools are in Durham County, NC?
Durham County, NC has 108 public schools: 18 high schools, 15 middle schools and 58 elementary schools, serving 62,152 students in total.
How do schools in Durham County perform on state tests?
On average, 108 schools in Durham County score 53% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 40%, so on average schools in Durham County greatly exceed expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Durham County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Durham County, NC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 64%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 63%
- Projected: 53%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 64%
- Projected: 56%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 59%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 46%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 55%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 43%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 47%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 46%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Durham County
2 places in Durham County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (2)
School districts (1)
- Durham Public Schools (53 schools)