Needs Improvement
#2431 of 2,648 schools in NC
Kestrel Heights School
Elementary School · Kestrel Heights School · Durham, NC
A charter elementary school in Durham, NC where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.
4700 South Alston Ave., Durham, NC 27713
- Math 45% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 49% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Kestrel Heights School score 46% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 15 points since 2020, reaching 47% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 44% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 42 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
53.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Kestrel Heights School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 39Car-Dependent
- Transit 30Some Transit
- Bike 30Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,431/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Durham), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$96,900
Median home value
$380,500
Median rent
$1,460/mo
College educated
65.2%
Homeownership
59.3%
Poverty rate
7.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27713; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkwood ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 576 | Compare → |
| Nc Virtual AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.7 | K–12 | 1.1 mi | 2,959 | Compare → |
| North Carolina Cyber AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.6 | K–12 | 1.2 mi | 2,523 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Kestrel Heights School
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $10,698NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- The source release did not match this district identifier.
Kestrel Heights School is listed in Kestrel Heights School; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Kestrel Heights School
Kestrel Heights School is a public elementary school in Durham, NC, part of Kestrel Heights School, serving approximately 440 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10 and ranks #2,431 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Kestrel Heights School
What grades does Kestrel Heights School serve?
Kestrel Heights School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Kestrel Heights School?
Kestrel Heights School has an enrollment of approximately 440 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Kestrel Heights School?
The student-teacher ratio at Kestrel Heights School is 14.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Kestrel Heights School rank in NC?
Kestrel Heights School ranks #2,431 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Kestrel Heights School's MySchoolScout rating?
Kestrel Heights School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Kestrel Heights School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Kestrel Heights School has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Kestrel Heights School a charter school?
Yes, Kestrel Heights School is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Kestrel Heights School a Title I school?
No, Kestrel Heights School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Kestrel Heights School?
53.9% of students at Kestrel Heights School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 440
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Durham County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.9%
- Phone
- (919) 484-1300
- Area population (ZIP 27713)
- 58,409
- Area average commute
- 22.6 min
- Area median age
- 34.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27713; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.