Best traditional public schools in Durham (2025)
District-run public schools. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 51 schools in Durham, North Carolina. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and North Carolina.
- 159City of Medicine AcademyDurham · Public High72% Math proficiency · 329 students
- 258J D Clement Early College HSDurham · Public High87% Math proficiency · 380 students
- 357Pearsontown ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary63% Math proficiency · 765 students
- 455Lakewood Montessori MiddleDurham · Public Middle56% Math proficiency · 309 students
- 552Durham School of the ArtsDurham · Public High68% Math proficiency · 1,764 students
- 647George Watts ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary52% Math proficiency · 358 students
- 744Easley ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary45% Math proficiency · 490 students
- 844Middle College HS @ DTCCDurham · Public High67% Math proficiency · 164 students
- 941Morehead MontessoriDurham · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 278 students
- 1040Little River ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary38% Math proficiency · 326 students
- 1140Rogers-Herr MiddleDurham · Public Middle45% Math proficiency · 660 students
- 1236Hope Valley ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary45% Math proficiency · 539 students
- 1335The School for Creative StudiesDurham · Public High30% Math proficiency · 350 students
- 1435E K Powe ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary38% Math proficiency · 454 students
- 1532Burton ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 293 students
- 1631Creekside ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary41% Math proficiency · 554 students
- 1730Forest View ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary37% Math proficiency · 662 students
- 1830Club Boulevard ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary39% Math proficiency · 364 students
- 1929Riverside HighDurham · Public High42% Math proficiency · 1,900 students
- 2028C E Jordan HighDurham · Public High32% Math proficiency · 2,189 students
- 2126Durham School of TechnologyDurham · Public High22% Math proficiency · 219 students
- 2225Sherwood Githens MiddleDurham · Public Middle30% Math proficiency · 878 students
- 2324Southwest ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary28% Math proficiency · 639 students
- 2423R N Harris ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 313 students
- 2522W G Pearson ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary23% Math proficiency · 319 students
- 2622George L Carrington MiddleDurham · Public Middle30% Math proficiency · 771 students
- 2722Lucas MiddleDurham · Public Middle30% Math proficiency · 400 students
- 2820Lakewood ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary23% Math proficiency · 439 students
- 2920Oak Grove ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary22% Math proficiency · 395 students
- 3019Northern HighDurham · Public High26% Math proficiency · 1,281 students
- 3119Hillandale ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 586 students
- 3219Hillside HighDurham · Public High25% Math proficiency · 1,433 students
- 3318Glenn ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary15% Math proficiency · 455 students
- 3418Merrick-Moore ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary22% Math proficiency · 445 students
- 3518Holt ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary24% Math proficiency · 587 students
- 3617Sandy Ridge ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary28% Math proficiency · 589 students
- 3716Eastway ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary10% Math proficiency · 331 students
- 3816Bethesda ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary25% Math proficiency · 442 students
- 3916C C Spaulding ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 247 students
- 4016Eno Valley ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary20% Math proficiency · 440 students
- 4116Parkwood ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary19% Math proficiency · 491 students
- 4216Brogden MiddleDurham · Public Middle25% Math proficiency · 753 students
- 4316James E Shepard MiddleDurham · Public Middle19% Math proficiency · 423 students
- 4416Lyons Farm ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary99.5% Free/reduced-price lunch · 608 students
- 4515Neal MiddleDurham · Public Middle18% Math proficiency · 706 students
- 4615Fayetteville Street ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 261 students
- 4714Murray-Massenburg ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary99.4% Free/reduced-price lunch · 517 students
- 4814Spring Valley ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary22% Math proficiency · 543 students
- 4910Y E Smith ElementaryDurham · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 358 students
- 5010Lowe's Grove MiddleDurham · Public Middle16% Math proficiency · 564 students
- 518Southern School of Energy and SustainabiDurham · Public High11% Math proficiency · 1,384 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (US) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Medicine Academy Durham · High · Grades 9–13 | Public | 58.5 Top 50% | 72% Math proficiency | 329 |
| 2 | J D Clement Early College HS Durham · High · Grades 9–13 | Public | 57.7 Top 50% | 87% Math proficiency | 380 |
| 3 | Pearsontown Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 57.3 Top 50% | 63% Math proficiency | 765 |
| 4 | Lakewood Montessori Middle Durham · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 54.5 Top 50% | 56% Math proficiency | 309 |
| 5 | Durham School of the Arts Durham · High · Grades 6–12 | Public | 52.2 Top 50% | 68% Math proficiency | 1,764 |
| 6 | George Watts Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 46.8 Lower 50% | 52% Math proficiency | 358 |
| 7 | Easley Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 44.3 Lower 50% | 45% Math proficiency | 490 |
| 8 | Middle College HS @ DTCC Durham · High · Grades 11–13 | Public | 43.5 Lower 50% | 67% Math proficiency | 164 |
| 9 | Morehead Montessori Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 41.2 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 278 |
| 10 | Little River Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 40.4 Lower 50% | 38% Math proficiency | 326 |
| 11 | Rogers-Herr Middle Durham · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 39.7 Lower 50% | 45% Math proficiency | 660 |
| 12 | Hope Valley Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 35.9 Lower 50% | 45% Math proficiency | 539 |
| 13 | The School for Creative Studies Durham · High · Grades 6–12 | Public | 34.8 Lower 50% | 30% Math proficiency | 350 |
| 14 | E K Powe Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 34.7 Lower 50% | 38% Math proficiency | 454 |
| 15 | Burton Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 31.5 Lower 50% | 27% Math proficiency | 293 |
| 16 | Creekside Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 30.6 Lower 50% | 41% Math proficiency | 554 |
| 17 | Forest View Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 29.9 Lower 50% | 37% Math proficiency | 662 |
| 18 | Club Boulevard Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 29.5 Lower 50% | 39% Math proficiency | 364 |
| 19 | Riverside High Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 29.2 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 1,900 |
| 20 | C E Jordan High Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 27.8 Lower 50% | 32% Math proficiency | 2,189 |
| 21 | Durham School of Technology Durham · High · Grades 9–13 | Public | 25.6 Lower 50% | 22% Math proficiency | 219 |
| 22 | Sherwood Githens Middle Durham · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 25.0 Lower 50% | 30% Math proficiency | 878 |
| 23 | Southwest Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 23.8 Lower 50% | 28% Math proficiency | 639 |
| 24 | R N Harris Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 22.9 Lower 50% | 27% Math proficiency | 313 |
| 25 | W G Pearson Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 22.2 Lower 50% | 23% Math proficiency | 319 |
| 26 | George L Carrington Middle Durham · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 21.9 Lower 50% | 30% Math proficiency | 771 |
| 27 | Lucas Middle Durham · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 21.7 Lower 50% | 30% Math proficiency | 400 |
| 28 | Lakewood Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 20.2 Lower 50% | 23% Math proficiency | 439 |
| 29 | Oak Grove Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 19.9 Lower 50% | 22% Math proficiency | 395 |
| 30 | Northern High Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 18.9 Lower 50% | 26% Math proficiency | 1,281 |
| 31 | Hillandale Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 18.8 Lower 50% | 27% Math proficiency | 586 |
| 32 | Hillside High Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 18.7 Lower 50% | 25% Math proficiency | 1,433 |
| 33 | Glenn Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 17.9 Lower 50% | 15% Math proficiency | 455 |
| 34 | Merrick-Moore Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 17.6 Lower 50% | 22% Math proficiency | 445 |
| 35 | Holt Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 17.5 Lower 50% | 24% Math proficiency | 587 |
| 36 | Sandy Ridge Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 17.2 Lower 50% | 28% Math proficiency | 589 |
| 37 | Eastway Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 16.4 Lower 50% | 10% Math proficiency | 331 |
| 38 | Bethesda Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 16.3 Lower 50% | 25% Math proficiency | 442 |
| 39 | C C Spaulding Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 16.2 Lower 50% | 12% Math proficiency | 247 |
| 40 | Eno Valley Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 16.2 Lower 50% | 20% Math proficiency | 440 |
| 41 | Parkwood Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 16.1 Lower 50% | 19% Math proficiency | 491 |
| 42 | Brogden Middle Durham · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 16.0 Lower 50% | 25% Math proficiency | 753 |
| 43 | James E Shepard Middle Durham · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 15.7 Lower 50% | 19% Math proficiency | 423 |
| 44 | Lyons Farm Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 15.7 Lower 50% | 99.5% Free/reduced-price lunch | 608 |
| 45 | Neal Middle Durham · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 15.1 Lower 50% | 18% Math proficiency | 706 |
| 46 | Fayetteville Street Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 14.7 Lower 50% | 12% Math proficiency | 261 |
| 47 | Murray-Massenburg Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 13.7 Lower 50% | 99.4% Free/reduced-price lunch | 517 |
| 48 | Spring Valley Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 13.6 Lower 50% | 22% Math proficiency | 543 |
| 49 | Y E Smith Elementary Durham · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 10.0 Lower 50% | 12% Math proficiency | 358 |
| 50 | Lowe's Grove Middle Durham · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 9.7 Lower 50% | 16% Math proficiency | 564 |
| 51 | Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi Durham · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 7.9 Lower 50% | 11% Math proficiency | 1,384 |
City of Medicine Academy in Durham leads the 2025 list of traditional public schools in Durham with a Success Index (US) of 58.5. Of the 51 schools shown, 51 are public.
For the full picture see the wider North Carolina traditional public 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 public school in Durham?
City of Medicine Academy in Durham, North Carolina ranks first among traditional public schools in Durham with a Success Index (US) of 58.5 out of 100 (Enrollment: 329).
How are traditional public 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.