Below Average
#2160 of 2,648 schools in NC
Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi
High School · Durham Public Schools · Durham, NC
A Durham Public Schools high school where students score 20 points below what's typical for similar communities.
800 Clayton Road, Durham, NC 27703
- Math 17% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 35% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 88.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi score 26% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 9 points since 2019, reaching 26% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 21% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 29% (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 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.8%
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 Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi 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 8Car-Dependent
- Transit 22Minimal Transit
- Bike 24Somewhat 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
$86,953
Median home value
$340,500
Median rent
$1,469/mo
College educated
45.1%
Homeownership
65.2%
Poverty rate
10.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27703; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham's Performance Learning CenterEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | 9–12 | 2.9 mi | 122 | Compare → |
| Middle College HS @ DtccEnrollment path unverified | 9.5 | 11–12 | 3.4 mi | 134 | Compare → |
| Lakeview SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.6 | 6–12 | 3.8 mi | 70 | Compare → |
| Bethesda Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | K–9 | 3.9 mi | 183 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Durham Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 56
- Rank in district
- #50 of 54
- District spending per student
- $15,239NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi is listed in Durham Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi
Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi is a public high school in Durham, NC, part of Durham Public Schools, serving approximately 1,352 students in grades 9th-12th with a 18:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,160 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 29% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi
What grades does Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi serve?
Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi?
Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi has an enrollment of approximately 1,352 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi is 18:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi rank in NC?
Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi ranks #2,160 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi's MySchoolScout rating?
Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 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 Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi has 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 29% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi a charter school?
No, Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi a Title I school?
No, Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi?
99.8% of students at Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,352
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 75
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Durham County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 64.1%
- Phone
- (919) 560-3968
- 4-Year Graduation
- 88.0%
- Area population (ZIP 27703)
- 62,994
- Area average commute
- 24.3 min
- Area median age
- 35.9
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 27703; 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
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