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Excellent

#11 of 2,612 schools in NC

Top 1% in state

Burton Elementary

Elementary School · Durham Public Schools

1500 Mathison Avenue, Durham, NC 27701

294
Students
9.5:1
Student-Teacher
Pre-K – 5th
Grades Served
Top 1%
in NC

About Burton Elementary

Burton Elementary serves 294 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade in Durham, North Carolina, earning recognition as one of the county's stronger elementary schools. With an impressive MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10, the school ranks in the 88th percentile statewide, placing it at #319 among North Carolina's 2,661 elementary schools. The school maintains an excellent student-teacher ratio of 9.5:1 with 31 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for more individualized attention in the classroom.

Academically, Burton Elementary demonstrates solid performance with 63% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and 64% meeting or exceeding standards in mathematics. These results reflect the school's commitment to helping students build strong foundational skills across core subjects. Burton Elementary draws families from the 27701 zip code area, where the median household income is $61,475 and half of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

The neighborhood shows a mix of economic diversity, with median home values around $414,100 alongside a poverty rate of 21.9%. This demographic blend creates a learning environment where students from various backgrounds come together in pursuit of academic excellence. The school operates within Durham's large city setting, providing students access to the educational and cultural resources that come with urban community life.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.7Exceptional36%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+5.01 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics8.0Excellent36%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency64.1%
Reading/ELA Proficiency63.5%
Math vs. State Avg+0.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+16.9 pts
Overall Proficiency64%
Expected (poverty-adj.)46%
vs. Expected+17.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile78th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.5Exceptional29%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.5:1

Burton Elementary — Students at Burton Elementary score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Component weights adjusted due to data availability.

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 52.5%
School
State
59.4%
ELA Proficiency 56.2%
School
State
52.7%

Based on 12 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

📈 Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2025
Math
63.9%
ELA
63.4%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.7/10.

How Burton Elementary Compares

See how Burton Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.0/10
100th percentile in NC
Academic
8.0/10
8.0/10
Growth
9.7/10
Above average
Equity
5.5/10
Above average
Environment
9.5/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
31 teachers

Location

1500 Mathison Avenue, Durham, NC 27701

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Middle College HS @ DTCC Durham 0.5 mi 6.4
R N Harris Elementary Durham 0.6 mi 5.7
Maureen Joy Charter School Durham 0.7 mi 6.6
Eastway Elementary Durham 0.8 mi 7.1
Durham's Performance Learning Center Durham 0.9 mi 4.4
J D Clement Early College HS Durham 0.8 mi 5.8
Y E Smith Elementary Durham 0.9 mi 4.5
KIPP Durham College Preparatory Durham 1.1 mi 4.4
C C Spaulding Elementary Durham 1.0 mi 7.0
James E Shepard Middle Durham 1.2 mi 8.1
Global Scholars Academy Durham 1.5 mi 6.4
Fayetteville Street Elementary Durham 1.4 mi 7.0
Morehead Montessori Durham 1.6 mi 8.0
Central Park School For Children Durham 1.9 mi 5.0
W G Pearson Elementary Durham 1.8 mi 7.4
Hillside High Durham 2.0 mi 2.8
Durham School of the Arts Durham 2.0 mi 5.7
Durham School of Technology Durham 2.0 mi 8.6
Durham Charter School Durham 1.9 mi 8.7
George Watts Elementary Durham 2.4 mi 6.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2018-2022)

Census data for ZIP 27701 (ACS 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$61,475

Median Home Value

$414,100

Median Rent

$1,117/mo

Population

24,380

College Educated

49.5%

Homeownership

29.6%

Avg Commute

21.8 min

Poverty Rate

21.9%

Median Age

33.9

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Wingate Elementary Wingate, NC 8.9
Bethel Hill Charter Roxboro, NC 8.8
Lincoln Heights Montessori Charlotte, NC 8.7
Partnership Elementary Raleigh, NC 8.7
Rocky Point Elementary Rocky Point, NC 8.7
Sherwood Park Elementary Fayetteville, NC 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Burton Elementary

What grades does Burton Elementary serve?

Burton Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Burton Elementary?

Burton Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 294 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Burton Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Burton Elementary is 9.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Burton Elementary rank in NC?

Burton Elementary is ranked #11 out of 2,612 schools in NC.

What is Burton Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Burton Elementary has a composite rating of 9.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, equity, and school environment into a single score.

What are the test scores at Burton Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Burton Elementary has 52.5% math proficiency and 56.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Burton Elementary a charter school?

No, Burton Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Burton Elementary a Title I school?

No, Burton Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Burton Elementary?

99.0% of students at Burton Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
294
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
31
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Durham County
Data Year
2023–2024

How We Rate Schools

Our ratings combine academic performance, growth, equity, and school environment into a single 1-10 score using publicly available data.

Read our methodology
Data Sources: School Info: NCES CCD (SY 2022-23) Test Scores: NC NC (2024-25) Neighborhood: Census ACS (2018-2022) Ratings: MySchoolScout (2024) Full data source details