Durham Public Schools School District

Durham Public Schools serves 31,339 students across 56 schools in North Carolina, making it one of the state's larger urban districts. Of those schools, 54 carry a ranking, and they average a 7.2 out of 10 — a competitive baseline that reflects consistent performance across a sizable, diverse system.

Elementary options are where Durham's strongest ratings concentrate. Burton Elementary leads the district with a 9.5 out of 10, placing it among the highest-scoring schools in the state. Oak Grove Elementary follows at 9.3, with Southwest Elementary and Easley Elementary close behind at 9.2 and 9.1 respectively. Parents prioritizing elementary placement will find several high-performing options within the district, giving families real choices at the foundational grades. That four of the five top-rated schools sit at the elementary level signals strong early academic programming across multiple neighborhoods.

At the middle school level, Lakewood Montessori Middle earns a 9.2 out of 10 — the only middle school in the top five and a standout for families drawn to project-based, student-directed learning. Its Montessori model distinguishes it structurally from traditional middle schools in the district, offering a different path for students who thrive with more autonomy in their schoolwork.

The district's 7.2 average score across 54 ranked schools means most Durham schools fall in the solid-to-strong range, though performance does vary. Parents comparing schools should weigh individual ratings against school-specific factors like program focus, size, and proximity. With a top school scoring 9.5 and a district-wide average well above the midpoint, Durham Public Schools offers a range that can work for families with different priorities — whether that's a high-rated neighborhood elementary, a specialized middle school model, or something in between. Checking individual school pages on MySchoolScout will give you the most detailed, side-by-side comparison for your specific situation.