Burton Elementary vs Southwest Elementary
Burton Elementary and Southwest Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.0 out of 10. Southwest Elementary is significantly larger with 669 students, about 2.3× the size of Burton Elementary (294). In math proficiency, Southwest Elementary leads at 28.0%.
Attendance data is under correction. A public school's existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating shown here may still reflect an unverified attendance input.
Burton Elementary
Durham, NC
294 students
Southwest Elementary
Durham, NC
669 students
Keep or send this comparison
Send to my realtor
Open an email to my realtorRatings Comparison
| Metric | Burton Elementary | Southwest Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.0 / 10 | 8.6 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.8 | 7.6 |
| Growth Score | 8.8 | 8.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 99% | 52.3% |
| Environment Score | 9.6 | 9.3 |
| State Rank | #27 of 2,660 | #93 of 2,660 |
| State Percentile | 99th | 97th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Burton Elementary | Southwest Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 27.0% | 28.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 42.0% | 37.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Durham (27701) | Durham (27713) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,852 | $96,900 |
| Median Home Value | $457,600 | $380,500 |
| Median Rent | $1,279 | $1,460 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 50.2% | 65.2% |
| Poverty Rate | 20.0% | 7.9% |
| Avg Commute | 21 min | 23 min |
The data story: Burton Elementary vs Southwest Elementary
Burton Elementary and Southwest Elementary are both top-tier Durham elementary schools serving grades PK–05, but they sit in different tiers of the state rankings. Burton Elementary ranks #6 of 2,648 schools in North Carolina, while Southwest Elementary ranks #21 — both exceptional placements, though Burton's 9.5/10 overall rating edges Southwest's 9.2/10 by 0.3 points. That gap is narrow at the top, and parents should look at what drives it rather than treating either school as a fallback.
The clearest measurable difference is academic proficiency. Burton Elementary scores 8.7/10 in academics versus Southwest Elementary's 7.8/10 — a 0.9-point delta that reflects a meaningful gap in tested subject performance. Growth tells the opposite story: Southwest Elementary scores 9.9/10 in student growth compared to Burton Elementary's 9.8/10, an essentially identical result. Both schools are pushing students forward at a rate that places them among North Carolina's very best, but Southwest nearly matches Burton on growth despite serving a more diverse income mix.
The demographic and structural differences between the two schools are significant. Burton Elementary enrolls 294 students with a 9.5:1 student-teacher ratio and a 99% free and reduced lunch rate — a small, high-poverty school with intensive staffing. Southwest Elementary is more than twice the size at 669 students, carries a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio, and has a 52% free and reduced lunch rate. Burton's tighter ratio means more individual adult attention per child; Southwest's larger enrollment reflects a more economically mixed student body with a different community composition.
Both schools cover the same grade band — PK through 5th grade — and sit just 4.0 miles apart in Durham, making either a plausible choice depending on where a family lives. The structural differences (size, FRL concentration, staffing ratio) are more consequential to day-to-day experience than the 0.3-point rating gap at the top of the scale.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Burton Elementary
Burton Elementary suits families who prioritize small-school intensity — the 9.5:1 student-teacher ratio means more direct adult contact, and its #6 state rank with a 99% FRL population signals a staff exceptionally skilled at advancing students who face economic barriers. Families with children who benefit from individualized attention in a tightly resourced environment will find Burton hard to beat.
Southwest Elementary
Southwest Elementary fits families who want a larger, more economically integrated school community without sacrificing outcomes — its #21 state rank and 9.9/10 growth score show strong performance at 669-student scale. The 52% FRL rate means classrooms reflect a broader socioeconomic mix, which appeals to families who value economic diversity as part of their child's elementary experience.