Morehead Montessori vs Easley Elementary
Morehead Montessori and Easley Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 8.8 out of 10. Easley Elementary is significantly larger with 478 students, about 2.1× the size of Morehead Montessori (226). In math proficiency, Easley Elementary leads at 45.0%.
Morehead Montessori
Durham, NC
226 students
Easley Elementary
Durham, NC
478 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Morehead Montessori | Easley Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.8 / 10 | 9.1 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.1 | 8.7 |
| Growth Score | 8.9 | 9.2 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 35.8% | 35.8% |
| Environment Score | 9.8 | 9.4 |
| State Rank | #109 of 2,648 | #43 of 2,648 |
| State Percentile | 96th | 98th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Morehead Montessori | Easley Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 42.0% | 45.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 57.0% | 55.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Morehead Montessori | Easley Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 226 | 478 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 10.8:1 | 13.3:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 35.8% | 35.8% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Durham Public Schools | Durham Public Schools |
| City | Durham | Durham |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Durham (27707) | Durham (27712) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,432 | $91,190 |
| Median Home Value | $371,500 | $324,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,364 | $1,614 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 56.9% | 48.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 14.7% | 7.2% |
| Avg Commute | 21 min | 27 min |
The data story: Morehead Montessori vs Easley Elementary
Easley Elementary holds a clear edge in overall standing within North Carolina, ranking #33 of 2,648 schools statewide against Morehead Montessori's #110 of 2,648. That 77-position gap translates to a 0.3-point overall rating difference — Easley Elementary at 9.2/10 versus Morehead Montessori at 8.9/10 — and reflects a school performing in North Carolina's top 2% compared to one in the top 4%.
The academic and growth numbers point in the same direction. Easley Elementary leads on academic score, 8.7/10 to Morehead Montessori's 8.1/10, a 0.6-point delta that signals consistently stronger tested proficiency. Easley Elementary also edges ahead on growth — 9.2/10 versus Morehead Montessori's 8.9/10 — meaning students at Easley are outpacing expected progress slightly more than their peers across town. Both numbers favor Easley Elementary, and neither gap is a rounding artifact.
The two schools serve nearly identical economic populations — free and reduced lunch eligibility sits at exactly 36% at both Morehead Montessori and Easley Elementary — so demographic composition cannot explain the academic gap. Where they diverge is in size and classroom density. Morehead Montessori enrolls 226 students against Easley Elementary's 478, and its student-teacher ratio of 10.8:1 is meaningfully tighter than Easley Elementary's 13.3:1. Families prioritizing individualized adult attention will find it more readily at Morehead Montessori.
On program structure, Morehead Montessori opens enrollment at pre-kindergarten, giving families an entry point a full year earlier than Easley Elementary's kindergarten start. The Montessori model itself — multi-age groupings, self-directed learning, hands-on materials — is structurally distinct from a conventional classroom setting. Easley Elementary operates as a traditional elementary school and, given its enrollment of 478, offers the programming breadth that typically accompanies a larger student body. The six-mile distance between them means Durham families are genuinely choosing between two different educational philosophies, not just two nearby campuses.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Morehead Montessori
Morehead Montessori fits families who want a small-school feel — 226 students, a 10.8:1 student-teacher ratio — and are specifically drawn to the Montessori philosophy of child-led, mixed-age learning. It also suits parents who need pre-kindergarten entry, since Morehead Montessori is the only one of the two that serves PK.
Easley Elementary
Easley Elementary suits families who prioritize raw academic outcomes and growth trajectory above all else — its 8.7 academic score and #33 state rank are the stronger numbers by a clear margin. Parents comfortable with a larger school of 478 students and a conventional classroom structure will find Easley Elementary the higher-performing choice on nearly every metric.