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Very Good

#84 of 404 private schools in NC

Top 21% of private schools

Durham Academy

School

3130 PICKETT 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

1,196

Student-Teacher

6.3:1

Score

7.4

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Durham

#7 of 19

public schools

North Carolina schools

#46 of 238

About Durham Academy

Durham Academy serves 1,196 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Durham, North Carolina. With 191 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 6.3:1, allowing for more individualized attention and smaller class sizes than typically found in public education. The school has earned a strong 8.7 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout, reflecting its commitment to educational excellence.

While ranked #263 out of 404 schools statewide, placing it in the 35th percentile, Durham Academy continues to focus on student development and academic growth within North Carolina's competitive educational landscape. Located on Pickett Road, the school serves families in the 27705 ZIP code area, where the median household income is $65,935 and median home values reach $363,000. The surrounding community is notably well-educated, with 63% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, creating an environment that values learning and academic achievement.

The neighborhood's college-educated population and middle-class stability provide a supportive backdrop for the school's educational mission. Durham Academy operates within Durham's large city setting, giving students access to the cultural and educational opportunities that come with urban proximity while maintaining its focus on comprehensive K-12 education.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 6.3:1, Durham Academy 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, Durham Academy 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.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$33,299
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$35,613
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.07x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
90%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$116.1M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 1,196 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Durham Academy compares to 68 public schools serving similar grades in Durham, NC

Student-Teacher Ratio
6.3:1
This School
vs
13.8:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
1,196
This School
vs
648
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.4
This School
vs
7.0
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 54.8% vs 0%
Asian 15.9% vs 0%
Black 9.2% vs 0%
Hispanic 3.1% vs 0%
Durham Academy Durham Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Durham Academy (this school) 7.4
Community School of Digital & Visual Art 6.7
Forest View Elementary 6.6
Hope Valley Elementary 6.3
Lakewood Elementary 7.4
Rogers-Herr Middle 8.9
Lakewood Montessori Middle 9.2
Sherwood Githens Middle 7.2
Morehead Montessori 8.8
Durham Charter School 8.6
C C Spaulding Elementary 8.0
E K Powe Elementary 6.9
Fayetteville Street Elementary 8.2
W G Pearson Elementary 8.3
Ignite Online Academy 4.7
Creekside Elementary 4.4
J D Clement Early College HS 4.5
C E Jordan High 6.2
George Watts Elementary 7.7
Durham School of the Arts 7.9
James E Shepard Middle 8.8

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 8.9 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 6.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 5.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,218
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.6 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 64%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C 2.8 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 1,196
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 54.8%
Two or More 16.3%
Asian 15.9%
Black 9.2%
Hispanic 3.1%
Native American 0.6%
Pacific Islander 0.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

3130 PICKETT RD, Durham, NC 27705

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Durham Academy may also want to explore other schools in the area. CRESSET CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (rated 8.4/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is HILL LEARNING CENTER (rated 7.4/10, 0.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, TRINITY SCHOOL OF DURHAM & CHAPEL HILL (rated 7.3/10, 1.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Durham, see our Durham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.5 mi
School Distance Rating
HILL LEARNING CENTER Durham 0.2 mi 7.4
CRESSET CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Durham 0.4 mi 8.4
Community School of Digital & Visual Art Durham 0.8 mi 6.7
LERNER JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL Durham 0.8 mi 5.9
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF DURHAM Durham 0.9 mi 7.1
HOPE CREEK ACADEMY Durham 1.3 mi 7.2
HOPE CREEK ACADEMY Durham 1.3 mi 6.9
DUKE SCHOOL Durham 1.5 mi 8.2
DURHAM ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL DIV Durham 1.5 mi 6.2
TRINITY SCHOOL OF DURHAM & CHAPEL HILL Durham 1.5 mi 7.3
Forest View Elementary Durham 1.5 mi 6.6
INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Durham 1.6 mi 8.2
Hope Valley Elementary Durham 1.9 mi 6.3
Lakewood Elementary Durham 1.9 mi 7.4
Rogers-Herr Middle Durham 1.9 mi 8.9
Sherwood Githens Middle Durham 2.4 mi 7.2
FIVE OAKS SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Durham 2.6 mi
Lakewood Montessori Middle Durham 2.3 mi 9.2
INSIGHT COLEARNING CENTER Durham 2.4 mi
TRIANGLE DAY SCHOOL Durham 3.5 mi 7.1

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 Durham Academy 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
Henderson Collegiate Henderson, NC 7.5
Triad Math and Science Academy Greensboro, NC 7.5
Socrates Academy Matthews, NC 7.3
STARS Charter Vass, NC 7.6
GREENSBORO DAY SCHOOL Greensboro, NC 7.7
Jackson Day School Charlotte, NC 7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Durham Academy

What grades does Durham Academy serve?

Durham Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Durham Academy?

Durham Academy has an enrollment of approximately 1,196 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Durham Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Durham Academy is 6.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Durham Academy rank in NC?

Durham Academy is ranked #84 out of 404 private schools in NC.

What is Durham Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Durham Academy has a composite rating of 7.4 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 Durham Academy a private school?

Yes, Durham Academy 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 Durham Academy a religious school?

No, Durham Academy is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
10 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
23 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
41 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
1,196
Gender Split
53% M / 47% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
191
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
174 days
Setting
Large City
County
DURHAM
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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