Best high schools in Durham (2025)
Schools classified as high schools by NCES. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 12 schools in Durham, North Carolina. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and North Carolina.
- 185Research Triangle High SchoolDurham · Charter High82% Math proficiency · 572 students
- 259City of Medicine AcademyDurham · Public High72% Math proficiency · 329 students
- 358J D Clement Early College HSDurham · Public High87% Math proficiency · 380 students
- 452Durham School of the ArtsDurham · Public High68% Math proficiency · 1,764 students
- 544Middle College HS @ DTCCDurham · Public High67% Math proficiency · 164 students
- 635The School for Creative StudiesDurham · Public High30% Math proficiency · 350 students
- 729Riverside HighDurham · Public High42% Math proficiency · 1,900 students
- 828C E Jordan HighDurham · Public High32% Math proficiency · 2,189 students
- 926Durham School of TechnologyDurham · Public High22% Math proficiency · 219 students
- 1019Northern HighDurham · Public High26% Math proficiency · 1,281 students
- 1119Hillside HighDurham · Public High25% Math proficiency · 1,433 students
- 128Southern School of Energy and SustainabiDurham · Public High11% Math proficiency · 1,384 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (US) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research Triangle High School Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Charter | 84.5 Top 5% | 82% Math proficiency | 572 |
| 2 | City of Medicine Academy Durham · High · Grades 9–13 | Public | 58.5 Top 50% | 72% Math proficiency | 329 |
| 3 | J D Clement Early College HS Durham · High · Grades 9–13 | Public | 57.7 Top 50% | 87% Math proficiency | 380 |
| 4 | Durham School of the Arts Durham · High · Grades 6–12 | Public | 52.2 Top 50% | 68% Math proficiency | 1,764 |
| 5 | Middle College HS @ DTCC Durham · High · Grades 11–13 | Public | 43.5 Lower 50% | 67% Math proficiency | 164 |
| 6 | The School for Creative Studies Durham · High · Grades 6–12 | Public | 34.8 Lower 50% | 30% Math proficiency | 350 |
| 7 | Riverside High Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 29.2 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 1,900 |
| 8 | C E Jordan High Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 27.8 Lower 50% | 32% Math proficiency | 2,189 |
| 9 | Durham School of Technology Durham · High · Grades 9–13 | Public | 25.6 Lower 50% | 22% Math proficiency | 219 |
| 10 | Northern High Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 18.9 Lower 50% | 26% Math proficiency | 1,281 |
| 11 | Hillside High Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 18.7 Lower 50% | 25% Math proficiency | 1,433 |
| 12 | Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 7.9 Lower 50% | 11% Math proficiency | 1,384 |
Research Triangle High School in Durham leads the 2025 list of high schools in Durham with a Success Index (US) of 84.5. Of the 12 schools shown, 11 are public, 1 are charter.
For the full picture see the wider North Carolina high 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 high school in Durham?
Research Triangle High School in Durham, North Carolina ranks first among high schools in Durham with a Success Index (US) of 84.5 out of 100 (Enrollment: 572).
How are high 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.