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Excellent

#146 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 6% in state

Pearsontown Elementary

Elementary School · Durham Public Schools

4915 Barbee Road, Durham, NC 27713

Enrollment

740

Student-Teacher

14.5:1

Score

8.7

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#146 of 2,648

In Durham

#8 of 68

public schools

In district

#9 of 54

Durham Public Schools

School environment

9.7 / 10

Excellent

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Pearsontown Elementary

8.7/10

Elementary School in Durham · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Southwest Elementary

8.3/10

0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

North Carolina Cyber Academy

4.6/10

1.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Pearsontown Elementary

Pearsontown Elementary is a public elementary school in Durham, NC, part of Durham Public Schools. Pearsontown Elementary serves approximately 740 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Pearsontown Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #146 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Pearsontown Elementary show 71% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.9 pts above district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.8
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.63 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency71.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency69.4% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+7.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+22.8 pts
Overall Proficiency70% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)67% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+3.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile72th
Resources & Environment9.7Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,239
Chronic Absenteeism14.5%

Pearsontown Elementary — Students at Pearsontown Elementary score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

31.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 71.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 69.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
90%
ELA
81%
2010
Math
89%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
94%
ELA
86%
2012
Math
63%
ELA
57%
2013
Math
66%
ELA
64%
2014
Math
66%
ELA
59%
2015
Math
62%
ELA
61%
2016
Math
63%
ELA
61%
2017
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
63%
ELA
67%
2019
Math
63%
ELA
67%
2020*
Math
64%
ELA
73%
2021*
Math
64%
ELA
73%
2022
Math
78.5%
ELA
82%
2025
Math
71.3%
ELA
69.7%

* 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: 8.6/10.

How Pearsontown Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.7/10
95th percentile in NC
Academic
8.1/10
Excellent
Growth
8.6/10
Excellent
Environment
9.7/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
32%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
51 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.5%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

4915 Barbee Road, Durham, NC 27713

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Pearsontown Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Southwest Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 8.2/10, 3.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, W G Pearson Elementary (rated 7.2/10, 1.8 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Durham, see our Durham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Southwest Elementary Durham 0.9 mi 8.3
North Carolina Cyber Academy Durham 1.4 mi 4.6
Durham School of Technology Durham 1.4 mi 9.3
Hillside High Durham 1.5 mi 5.5
NC Virtual Academy Durham 1.5 mi 4.7
W G Pearson Elementary Durham 1.8 mi 7.2
FAITH ASSEMBLY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Durham 2.1 mi 6.9
QUALITY EDUCATION INSTITUTE OF DURHAM Durham 2.1 mi
Fayetteville Street Elementary Durham 2.2 mi 5.6
Lowe's Grove Middle Durham 2.2 mi 4.1
James E Shepard Middle Durham 2.3 mi 7.6
Kestrel Heights School Durham 2.6 mi 3.7
Parkwood Elementary Durham 2.8 mi 4.5
J D Clement Early College HS Durham 3.0 mi 7.5
THE STUDIO SCHOOL OF DURHAM Durham 2.5 mi 5.9
C C Spaulding Elementary Durham 3.2 mi 4.9
Hope Valley Elementary Durham 2.9 mi 6.5
R N Harris Elementary Durham 3.0 mi 5.4
Rogers-Herr Middle Durham 3.2 mi 8.7
INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Durham 3.2 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27713 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$96,900

Median Home Value

$380,500

Median Rent

$1,460/mo

Population

58,409

College Educated

65.2%

Homeownership

59.3%

Avg Commute

22.6 min

Poverty Rate

7.9%

Median Age

34.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Albert H Bangert Elementary New Bern, NC 8.7
Bath Elementary Bath, NC 8.7
Easley Elementary Durham, NC 8.7
Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School Forest City, NC 8.7
G R Whitfield Grimesland, NC 8.7
Jones Dairy Elementary Wake Forest, NC 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pearsontown Elementary

What grades does Pearsontown Elementary serve?

Pearsontown Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Pearsontown Elementary?

Pearsontown Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 740 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Pearsontown Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Pearsontown Elementary is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Pearsontown Elementary rank in NC?

Pearsontown Elementary ranks #146 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Pearsontown Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Pearsontown Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Pearsontown Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Pearsontown Elementary has 71% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Pearsontown Elementary a charter school?

No, Pearsontown Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Pearsontown Elementary a Title I school?

No, Pearsontown Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pearsontown Elementary?

31.9% of students at Pearsontown 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
16 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
36 Some Transit
Bike Score
32 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
740
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
51
Free/Reduced Lunch
31.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Durham County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.5%

District

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

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