Merrick-Moore Elementary vs Oak Grove Elementary
Merrick-Moore Elementary and Oak Grove Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 7.3 out of 10. In math proficiency, Oak Grove Elementary leads at 72.0%.
Merrick-Moore Elementary
Durham, NC
535 students
Oak Grove Elementary
Durham, NC
448 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Merrick-Moore Elementary | Oak Grove Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 7.3 / 10 | 7.5 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 6.1 | 7.7 |
| Growth Score | 8.0 | 7.2 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 99.4% | 99.3% |
| Environment Score | 7.4 | 8.1 |
| State Rank | #798 of 2,648 | #704 of 2,648 |
| State Percentile | 70th | 74th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Merrick-Moore Elementary | Oak Grove Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 67.0% | 72.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 47.0% | 51.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Merrick-Moore Elementary | Oak Grove Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Pre-K – 5th |
| Enrollment | 535 | 448 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 12.4:1 | 12.4:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 99.4% | 99.3% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 49.9% | 45.3% |
| District | Durham Public Schools | Durham Public Schools |
| City | Durham | Durham |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Durham (27704) | Durham (27703) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,435 | $86,953 |
| Median Home Value | $270,000 | $340,500 |
| Median Rent | $1,306 | $1,469 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 33.2% | 45.1% |
| Poverty Rate | 13.5% | 10.1% |
| Avg Commute | 25 min | 24 min |
The data story: Merrick-Moore Elementary vs Oak Grove Elementary
Oak Grove Elementary holds a meaningfully higher overall rating than Merrick-Moore Elementary — 9.1 out of 10 versus 8.7 out of 10 — but the gap in state rank tells a sharper story. Oak Grove Elementary sits at #55 of 2,648 North Carolina elementary schools, placing it in the top 2 percent statewide. Merrick-Moore Elementary ranks #167 of 2,648, which is still a strong top-7-percent placement, but the 112-position difference reflects a real performance distinction between two schools just 2.6 miles apart in Durham.
The academic score drives most of that gap. Oak Grove Elementary scores 8.0 out of 10 on academics compared to Merrick-Moore Elementary's 6.4 — a 1.6-point delta that represents a concrete difference in tested proficiency outcomes. Growth, however, is nearly a wash: Merrick-Moore Elementary earns a 9.8 out of 10 on growth while Oak Grove Elementary scores 9.9, meaning both schools are exceptional at accelerating students forward from their starting points. A family whose child enters below grade level will find strong momentum at either campus.
Despite the academic gap, both schools share identical student demographics. Merrick-Moore Elementary and Oak Grove Elementary each report 99 percent of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, so neither serves a more economically advantaged population that would inflate its raw proficiency numbers. The student-teacher ratio is also identical at 12.4:1 at both schools, meaning class sizes are not a differentiating factor. Merrick-Moore Elementary enrolls 535 students versus Oak Grove Elementary's 448, giving Oak Grove a somewhat smaller campus feel overall.
One concrete structural difference separates the two campuses: Oak Grove Elementary serves grades PK through 5, offering a Pre-K entry point that Merrick-Moore Elementary does not. Merrick-Moore Elementary begins at Kindergarten. For families with a four-year-old, Oak Grove Elementary is the only option of the two, and an early placement there creates a longer relationship with the school community before the transition to middle school.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Merrick-Moore Elementary
Merrick-Moore Elementary suits families who prioritize proven academic growth — its 9.8 growth score matches Oak Grove's near-perfectly — and who want a slightly larger school community starting at Kindergarten. It's the right call for a family with a kindergarten-age child who is already at or near grade level and would benefit from the school's demonstrated ability to push students forward.
Oak Grove Elementary
Oak Grove Elementary is the stronger fit for families who want top-tier academic proficiency combined with outstanding growth, and especially for those with a Pre-K-age child — it's the only one of the two that offers that early entry point. Its #55 statewide rank makes it one of Durham's highest-performing high-poverty schools, a combination that is rare and worth the priority.