Best elementary schools in Durham (2025)

Schools classified as elementary by NCES. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 40 schools in Durham, North Carolina. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and North Carolina.

1
65
Central Park School For ChildrenDurham · Charter Elementary45% Math proficiency · 585 students
2
57
Pearsontown ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary63% Math proficiency · 765 students
3
47
George Watts ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary52% Math proficiency · 358 students
4
44
Easley ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary45% Math proficiency · 490 students
5
41
Morehead MontessoriDurham · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 278 students
6
40
Little River ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary38% Math proficiency · 326 students
7
37
Kestrel Heights SchoolDurham · Charter Elementary26% Math proficiency · 421 students
8
36
Hope Valley ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary45% Math proficiency · 539 students
9
35
Maureen Joy Charter SchoolDurham · Charter Elementary41% Math proficiency · 631 students
10
35
E K Powe ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary38% Math proficiency · 454 students
11
32
Burton ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 293 students
12
31
Creekside ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary41% Math proficiency · 554 students
13
30
Forest View ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary37% Math proficiency · 662 students
14
30
Club Boulevard ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary39% Math proficiency · 364 students
15
24
Southwest ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary28% Math proficiency · 639 students
16
23
Reaching All Minds AcademyDurham · Charter Elementary17% Math proficiency · 391 students
17
23
R N Harris ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 313 students
18
22
Global Scholars AcademyDurham · Charter Elementary22% Math proficiency · 201 students
19
22
W G Pearson ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary23% Math proficiency · 319 students
20
20
Lakewood ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary23% Math proficiency · 439 students
21
20
Oak Grove ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary22% Math proficiency · 395 students
22
19
Hillandale ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 586 students
23
18
Glenn ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary15% Math proficiency · 455 students
24
18
Merrick-Moore ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary22% Math proficiency · 445 students
25
18
Holt ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary24% Math proficiency · 587 students
26
17
Sandy Ridge ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary28% Math proficiency · 589 students
27
17
Research Triangle CharterDurham · Charter Elementary28% Math proficiency · 710 students
28
16
Eastway ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary10% Math proficiency · 331 students
29
16
Bethesda ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary25% Math proficiency · 442 students
30
16
C C Spaulding ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 247 students
31
16
Eno Valley ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary20% Math proficiency · 440 students
32
16
Parkwood ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary19% Math proficiency · 491 students
33
16
Lyons Farm ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary99.5% Free/reduced-price lunch · 608 students
34
15
Fayetteville Street ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 261 students
35
14
Murray-Massenburg ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary99.4% Free/reduced-price lunch · 517 students
36
14
Spring Valley ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary22% Math proficiency · 543 students
37
13
KIPP Durham College PreparatoryDurham · Charter Elementary20% Math proficiency · 380 students
38
12
Community School of Digital & Visual ArtDurham · Charter Elementary17% Math proficiency · 204 students
39
12
The Institute Development Young LeadersDurham · Charter Elementary17% Math proficiency · 419 students
40
10
Y E Smith ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 358 students

#	School	Sector	Success Index (US)	Key result	Students
1	Central Park School For Children Durham · Elementary · Grades K–8	Charter	65.0 Top 50%	45% Math proficiency	585
2	Pearsontown Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	57.3 Top 50%	63% Math proficiency	765
3	George Watts Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	46.8 Lower 50%	52% Math proficiency	358
4	Easley Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	44.3 Lower 50%	45% Math proficiency	490
5	Morehead Montessori Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	41.2 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	278
6	Little River Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	40.4 Lower 50%	38% Math proficiency	326
7	Kestrel Heights School Durham · Elementary · Grades K–8	Charter	37.3 Lower 50%	26% Math proficiency	421
8	Hope Valley Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	35.9 Lower 50%	45% Math proficiency	539
9	Maureen Joy Charter School Durham · Elementary · Grades K–8	Charter	35.4 Lower 50%	41% Math proficiency	631
10	E K Powe Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	34.7 Lower 50%	38% Math proficiency	454
11	Burton Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	31.5 Lower 50%	27% Math proficiency	293
12	Creekside Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	30.6 Lower 50%	41% Math proficiency	554
13	Forest View Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	29.9 Lower 50%	37% Math proficiency	662
14	Club Boulevard Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	29.5 Lower 50%	39% Math proficiency	364
15	Southwest Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	23.8 Lower 50%	28% Math proficiency	639
16	Reaching All Minds Academy Durham · Elementary · Grades K–8	Charter	23.1 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	391
17	R N Harris Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	22.9 Lower 50%	27% Math proficiency	313
18	Global Scholars Academy Durham · Elementary · Grades K–8	Charter	22.2 Lower 50%	22% Math proficiency	201
19	W G Pearson Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	22.2 Lower 50%	23% Math proficiency	319
20	Lakewood Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	20.2 Lower 50%	23% Math proficiency	439
21	Oak Grove Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	19.9 Lower 50%	22% Math proficiency	395
22	Hillandale Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	18.8 Lower 50%	27% Math proficiency	586
23	Glenn Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	17.9 Lower 50%	15% Math proficiency	455
24	Merrick-Moore Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	17.6 Lower 50%	22% Math proficiency	445
25	Holt Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	17.5 Lower 50%	24% Math proficiency	587
26	Sandy Ridge Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	17.2 Lower 50%	28% Math proficiency	589
27	Research Triangle Charter Durham · Elementary · Grades K–8	Charter	17.0 Lower 50%	28% Math proficiency	710
28	Eastway Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	16.4 Lower 50%	10% Math proficiency	331
29	Bethesda Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	16.3 Lower 50%	25% Math proficiency	442
30	C C Spaulding Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	16.2 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	247
31	Eno Valley Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	16.2 Lower 50%	20% Math proficiency	440
32	Parkwood Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	16.1 Lower 50%	19% Math proficiency	491
33	Lyons Farm Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	15.7 Lower 50%	99.5% Free/reduced-price lunch	608
34	Fayetteville Street Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	14.7 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	261
35	Murray-Massenburg Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	13.7 Lower 50%	99.4% Free/reduced-price lunch	517
36	Spring Valley Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	13.6 Lower 50%	22% Math proficiency	543
37	KIPP Durham College Preparatory Durham · Elementary · Grades K–8	Charter	12.9 Lower 50%	20% Math proficiency	380
38	Community School of Digital & Visual Art Durham · Elementary · Grades K–8	Charter	11.7 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	204
39	The Institute Development Young Leaders Durham · Elementary · Grades K–8	Charter	11.6 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	419
40	Y E Smith Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	10.0 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	358

Central Park School For Children in Durham leads the 2025 list of elementary schools in Durham with a Success Index (US) of 65.0. Of the 40 schools shown, 31 are public, 9 are charter.

For the full picture see the wider North Carolina elementary schools rankings, every school on the Durham page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best elementary school in Durham?

Central Park School For Children in Durham, North Carolina ranks first among elementary schools in Durham with a Success Index (US) of 65.0 out of 100 (Enrollment: 585).

How are elementary schools in Durham ranked?

Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.

Are these 2025 rankings official?

No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.