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Excellent

#6 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 1% in state

Burton Elementary

Elementary School · Durham Public Schools

1500 Mathison Avenue, Durham, NC 27701

Enrollment

294

Student-Teacher

9.5:1

Score

9.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Durham

#1 of 68

public schools

North Carolina elementary schools

#5 of 1,474

In district

#1 of 54

Durham Public Schools

Academic growth

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About 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.

What Parents Should Know

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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.8Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+5.01 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics8.7Excellent30%
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.)45%
vs. Expected+18.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile81th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.8Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,937

Burton Elementary — Students at Burton Elementary score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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: 9.8/10.

How Burton Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
9.5/10
100th percentile in NC
Academic
8.7/10
8.7/10
Growth
9.8/10
Above average
Environment
9.8/10
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 Alternatives

Families considering Burton Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Morehead Montessori (rated 8.8/10, 1.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is W G Pearson Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 1.8 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Fayetteville Street Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 1.4 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Durham, see our Durham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Middle College HS @ DTCC Durham 0.5 mi 7.7
R N Harris Elementary Durham 0.6 mi 6.7
Maureen Joy Charter School Durham 0.7 mi 7.7
Eastway Elementary Durham 0.8 mi 8.1
Durham's Performance Learning Center Durham 0.9 mi 6.0
J D Clement Early College HS Durham 0.8 mi 4.5
Y E Smith Elementary Durham 0.9 mi 5.2
KIPP Durham College Preparatory Durham 1.1 mi 6.2
EMPOWERED MINDS ACADEMY Durham 1.2 mi
C C Spaulding Elementary Durham 1.0 mi 8.0
James E Shepard Middle Durham 1.2 mi 8.8
QUALITY EDUCATION INSTITUTE OF DURHAM Durham 1.4 mi
GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE ACADEMY Durham 1.3 mi
Global Scholars Academy Durham 1.5 mi 7.5
Fayetteville Street Elementary Durham 1.4 mi 8.2
FAITH ASSEMBLY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Durham 1.7 mi 6.9
Morehead Montessori Durham 1.6 mi 8.8
Central Park School For Children Durham 1.9 mi 6.7
W G Pearson Elementary Durham 1.8 mi 8.3
Hillside High Durham 2.0 mi 6.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27701 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$66,852

Median Home Value

$457,600

Median Rent

$1,279/mo

Population

24,881

College Educated

50.2%

Homeownership

29.3%

Avg Commute

21.4 min

Poverty Rate

20%

Median Age

34.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Burton Elementary has a median household income of $66,852. It is a well-educated community where 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $457,600, with a median rent of $1,279/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.0%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Pathways Elementary Hillsborough, NC 9.4
Pine Level Elementary Pine Level, NC 9.4
Partnership Elementary Raleigh, NC 9.3
Rutherfordton Elementary School Rutherfordton, NC 9.3
Cliffside Elementary School Cliffside, NC 9.2
Lincoln Elementary Ruffin, NC 9.2

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 #6 out of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Burton Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Burton Elementary has a composite rating of 9.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
50 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
41 Some Transit
Bike Score
20 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,431/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Durham). Data >1 year old.

Compare This School

How does Burton Elementary stack up?

Oak Grove Elementary
9.3
Southwest Elementary
9.2
Easley Elementary
9.1
Compare Selected →

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

District

Durham Public Schools
District Enrollment
31,339
Schools in District
56
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,239
District Rank
#1 of 54

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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