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
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
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Burton Elementary — Students at Burton Elementary score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
99%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Component weights adjusted due to data availability.
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 12 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
📈 ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 27% (2019) to 64.1% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 42% (2019) to 63.5% (2025).
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.
Explore More Schools
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
- Phone
- (919) 560-3908
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
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