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Very Good

#46 of 404 private schools in NC

Top 11% of private schools

Carolina Friends School

School

4809 FRIENDS SCHOOL RD, Durham, NC 27705

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 68 schools in Durham. Learn more

Enrollment

473

Student-Teacher

7.5:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Durham

#4 of 19

public schools

North Carolina schools

#26 of 238

About Carolina Friends School

Carolina Friends School serves 473 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade in Durham, North Carolina. This public school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.5:1 with 63 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention and small class sizes that many families find appealing. The school has earned impressive recognition, ranking #11 out of 404 schools statewide and placing in the 98th percentile with a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10.

This outstanding performance reflects the school's commitment to academic excellence across all grade levels, from early childhood through high school graduation. Carolina Friends School draws families from the surrounding 27705 area, where 63% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, creating an education-focused community environment. The neighborhood's median household income of $65,935 and median home value of $363,000 reflect a stable, middle-to-upper-middle-class area that values educational investment.

With its comprehensive PK-12 program, students can remain in the same school community throughout their entire educational journey, building lasting relationships and benefiting from consistent educational philosophy. The school is situated in a rural setting near town, offering students a peaceful learning environment while maintaining access to urban amenities and opportunities in the Durham area.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.5:1, Carolina Friends School 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.

As a private school, Carolina Friends School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Located in a rural area, Carolina Friends School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$33,150
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$35,098
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.06x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
85%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$47.3M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 473 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Carolina Friends School compares to 68 public schools serving similar grades in Durham, NC

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.5:1
This School
vs
13.8:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
473
This School
vs
648
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.7
This School
vs
7.0
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 73.6% vs 0%
Black 5.9% vs 0%
Hispanic 3.6% vs 0%
Asian 3.2% vs 0%
Carolina Friends School Durham Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Carolina Friends School (this school) 7.7
Forest View Elementary 6.6
Community School of Digital & Visual Art 6.7
Sherwood Githens Middle 7.2
Lakewood Elementary 7.4
Rogers-Herr Middle 8.9
Lakewood Montessori Middle 9.2
Hope Valley Elementary 6.3
E K Powe Elementary 6.9
Ignite Online Academy 4.7
Creekside Elementary 4.4
Riverside High 4.2
Hillandale Elementary 6.0
Durham Charter School 8.6
Morehead Montessori 8.8
George Watts Elementary 7.7
Brogden Middle 6.1
Durham School of the Arts 7.9
C E Jordan High 6.2
Central Park School For Children 6.7
C C Spaulding Elementary 8.0

Showing 20 of 68 schools. View all schools in Durham

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in NC.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A- 8.0 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.5:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 6.2 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,225
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 7.8 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 43%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 473
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in NC

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 73.6%
Two or More 12.9%
Black 5.9%
Hispanic 3.6%
Asian 3.2%
Native American 0.8%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

4809 FRIENDS SCHOOL RD, Durham, NC 27705

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Carolina Friends School may also want to explore other schools in the area. CRESSET CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (rated 8.4/10, 3.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is HILL LEARNING CENTER (rated 7.4/10, 3.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, DURHAM ACADEMY (rated 7.4/10, 3.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Durham, see our Durham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Forest View Elementary Durham 2.2 mi 6.6
HOPE CREEK ACADEMY Durham 2.4 mi 7.2
HOPE CREEK ACADEMY Durham 2.4 mi 6.9
TRINITY SCHOOL OF DURHAM & CHAPEL HILL Durham 2.7 mi 7.3
East Chapel Hill High Chapel Hill 3.3 mi 6.9
New Hope Elementary Chapel Hill 3.0 mi 8.8
TRIANGLE DAY SCHOOL Durham 3.1 mi 7.1
DUKE SCHOOL Durham 3.2 mi 8.2
A L Stanback Middle Hillsborough 3.3 mi 6.5
EMERSON WALDORF SCHOOL Chapel Hill 3.4 mi 7.0
HILL LEARNING CENTER Durham 3.6 mi 7.4
CRESSET CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Durham 3.7 mi 8.4
DURHAM ACADEMY Durham 3.7 mi 7.4
MONTESSORI DAY SCHOOL Chapel Hill 5.0 mi 4.8
Community School of Digital & Visual Art Durham 4.2 mi 6.7
LERNER JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL Durham 4.3 mi 5.9
Ephesus Elementary Chapel Hill 5.2 mi 7.2
Estes Hills Elementary Chapel Hill 5.1 mi 8.6
Phillips Middle Chapel Hill 5.2 mi 7.4
Sherwood Githens Middle Durham 5.0 mi 7.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27705 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$71,153

Median Home Value

$398,500

Median Rent

$1,422/mo

Population

48,412

College Educated

62.4%

Homeownership

44.6%

Avg Commute

21.6 min

Poverty Rate

16.9%

Median Age

35.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding Carolina Friends School has a median household income of $71,153. It is a well-educated community where 62% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $398,500, with a median rent of $1,422/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.9%. The average commute for residents is 22 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
GASTON DAY SCHOOL Gastonia, NC 7.7
Chatham Charter Siler City, NC 7.8
NORTH HILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Salisbury, NC 7.6
THE BURLINGTON SCHOOL Burlington, NC 7.9
Arapahoe Charter School Arapahoe, NC 8.0
FAYETTEVILLE ACADEMY Fayetteville, NC 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Carolina Friends School

What grades does Carolina Friends School serve?

Carolina Friends School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Carolina Friends School?

Carolina Friends School has an enrollment of approximately 473 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Carolina Friends School?

The student-teacher ratio at Carolina Friends School is 7.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Carolina Friends School rank in NC?

Carolina Friends School is ranked #46 out of 404 private schools in NC.

What is Carolina Friends School's MySchoolScout rating?

Carolina Friends School has a composite rating of 7.7 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.

Is Carolina Friends School a private school?

Yes, Carolina Friends School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Carolina Friends School a religious school?

No, Carolina Friends School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
15 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,431/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
473
Gender Split
49% M / 51% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
63
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
175 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
ORANGE
Data Year
2022–2023

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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