Burton Elementary

Burton Elementary in Durham, North Carolina serves 294 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade. With a student-teacher ratio of 9.5 to 1, students get consistent individual attention throughout their early academic years. The school earns a composite score of 9.5 out of 10, rated Exceptional on MySchoolScout's scale.

Its academic score of 8.7 and growth score of 9.8 reflect strong foundational instruction and measurable student progress year over year. Burton ranks first out of 68 Durham public schools and fifth out of 1,474 elementary schools statewide — performance that places it among the most effective early-education institutions in North Carolina. That statewide standing is not an outlier.

Burton ranks sixth out of 2,648 public schools across all grade levels in North Carolina, outperforming every other school in the state by composite measure. For families weighing options in the Durham area, those numbers carry real weight. A small enrollment keeps the school focused and cohesive, and the low student-teacher ratio supports the kind of targeted instruction that drives the school's exceptional growth scores.

Parents seeking a public elementary school where data consistently reflects strong outcomes will find Burton difficult to overlook.

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.5:1, Burton Elementary offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

The chronic absenteeism rate at Burton Elementary is 31%, which is above the national average. Chronic absenteeism (missing 10% or more of school days) can affect classroom dynamics and pacing. Parents should ask about the school's attendance support programs and what resources are available to help families address barriers to consistent attendance.