Merrick-Moore Elementary vs Easley Elementary
Merrick-Moore Elementary has a higher overall rating of 6.4/10 compared to 5.9/10. In math proficiency, Easley Elementary leads at 45.0%.
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.
Merrick-Moore Elementary
Durham, NC
535 students
Easley Elementary
Durham, NC
478 students
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| Metric | Merrick-Moore Elementary | Easley Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 6.4 / 10 | 5.9 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 6.2 | 7.3 |
| Growth Score | 6.2 | 3.5 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 99.4% | 35.8% |
| Environment Score | 7.4 | 9.8 |
| State Rank | #1,309 of 2,660 | #1,676 of 2,660 |
| State Percentile | 51th | 37th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Merrick-Moore Elementary | Easley Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 22.0% | 45.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 18.0% | 55.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Durham (27704) | Durham (27712) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,435 | $91,190 |
| Median Home Value | $270,000 | $324,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,306 | $1,614 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 33.2% | 48.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 13.5% | 7.2% |
| Avg Commute | 25 min | 27 min |
The data story: Merrick-Moore Elementary vs Easley Elementary
Easley Elementary ranks #33 out of 2,648 schools in North Carolina, while Merrick-Moore Elementary sits at #167 in the same statewide field — a gap of 134 positions that signals meaningfully different standing within Durham. On the 10-point overall scale, Easley Elementary scores 9.2 versus Merrick-Moore Elementary's 8.7, a 0.5-point difference that, read alongside the state rank gap, understates how much ground separates these two schools at the top of the distribution.
The academic scores tell the sharpest story: Merrick-Moore Elementary posts a 6.4 out of 10 against Easley Elementary's 8.7 — a 2.3-point difference in measured proficiency. The growth scores run the other direction. Merrick-Moore Elementary earns a 9.8 growth score versus Easley Elementary's 9.2, meaning students at Merrick-Moore are advancing at a faster pace relative to their starting points, even though their absolute proficiency levels trail. Parents weighing current achievement against year-over-year momentum will find genuinely different answers at each school.
Merrick-Moore Elementary enrolls 535 students compared to Easley Elementary's 478, and its student-teacher ratio of 12.4:1 is tighter than Easley's 13.3:1 — slightly more adult attention per child despite larger total enrollment. The starkest demographic divide is economic: Merrick-Moore Elementary serves a 99% free- and reduced-price lunch population, while Easley Elementary's FRL rate is 36%. Both schools run kindergarten through fifth grade, serving identical grade spans across their 6.4-mile separation in Durham.
Both schools share the same grade configuration — KG through 5 — so there is no structural advantage on program range or level access. The differentiator is context: Merrick-Moore Elementary is doing high-growth work with a nearly entirely economically disadvantaged population, while Easley Elementary combines strong growth with significantly higher academic attainment in a more economically mixed student body. A family choosing purely on current proficiency outcomes will find a larger cushion at Easley; a family focused on how well a school accelerates students from where they start will find Merrick-Moore's 9.8 growth score among the most impressive in North Carolina.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Merrick-Moore Elementary
Merrick-Moore Elementary suits families who prioritize growth trajectory over current test-score snapshots — its 9.8 growth score is exceptional. It also fits parents who value a lower student-teacher ratio (12.4:1) and want their child in a school that has demonstrated it can move students forward quickly from a wide range of starting points.
Easley Elementary
Easley Elementary is the stronger fit for families who want both high academic proficiency and strong growth in the same building — an 8.7 academic score paired with a 9.2 growth score puts it in North Carolina's top 2% statewide. Parents who prioritize current achievement benchmarks and a more economically mixed peer environment will find Easley's profile compelling.