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
Enrollment
294
Student-Teacher
9.5:1
Score
9.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
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
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Burton Elementary — Students at Burton Elementary score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
99%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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: 9.8/10.
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 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 |
Compare Burton Elementary with similar schools nearby
Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.
- CompareBurton Elementary vs Oak Grove ElementaryDurham, NC Peer score 9.3/10 -0.2 vs Burton Elementary
- CompareBurton Elementary vs Southwest ElementaryDurham, NC Peer score 9.2/10 -0.3 vs Burton Elementary
- CompareBurton Elementary vs Easley ElementaryDurham, NC Peer score 9.1/10 -0.4 vs Burton Elementary
- CompareBurton Elementary vs Glenn ElementaryDurham, NC Peer score 8.9/10 -0.6 vs Burton Elementary
- CompareBurton Elementary vs Merrick-Moore ElementaryDurham, NC Peer score 8.8/10 -0.7 vs Burton Elementary
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
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
District
Durham Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 31,339
- Schools in District
- 56
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,239
- District Rank
- #1 of 54
Other Schools in This District
Compare This School
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 methodologyRelated reading
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