Excellent
#281 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 11% in state
Southwest Elementary
Elementary School · Durham Public Schools
2320 Cook Road, Durham, NC 27713
Enrollment
669
Student-Teacher
12.9:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
669
Student-Teacher
12.9:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
North Carolina schools
#281 of 2,648
In Durham
#14 of 68
public schools
In district
#14 of 54
Durham Public Schools
School environment
9.3 / 10
Excellent
Shortlisting around Southwest Elementary?
Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Southwest Elementary
Elementary School in Durham · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Spring Valley Elementary
Durham, NC. Compare side by side with Southwest Elementary before ruling this option in or out.
Burton Elementary
Durham, NC. Compare side by side with Southwest Elementary before ruling this option in or out.
About Southwest Elementary
Southwest Elementary is a public elementary school in Durham, NC, part of Durham Public Schools. Southwest Elementary serves approximately 669 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Southwest Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #281 of 2,648 schools in NC.
Structured state assessment records for Southwest Elementary show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
- This school 8.3 · Excellent
- District avg 6.8
- NC avg 6.4
What Parents Should Know
31% of students at Southwest Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Southwest Elementary — Students at Southwest Elementary score 63% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
52.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 8.4/10.
How Southwest Elementary Compares
See how Southwest Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
2320 Cook Road, Durham, NC 27713
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Southwest Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Pearsontown Elementary (rated 8.7/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 8.2/10, 3.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, W G Pearson Elementary (rated 7.2/10, 2.2 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Durham, see our Durham schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Pearsontown Elementary Durham | 0.9 mi | 8.7 |
| North Carolina Cyber Academy Durham | 1.7 mi | 4.6 |
| THE STUDIO SCHOOL OF DURHAM Durham | 1.6 mi | 5.9 |
| Durham School of Technology Durham | 2.0 mi | 9.3 |
| Hillside High Durham | 2.0 mi | 5.5 |
| W G Pearson Elementary Durham | 2.2 mi | 7.2 |
| NC Virtual Academy Durham | 2.0 mi | 4.7 |
| FAITH ASSEMBLY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Durham | 2.5 mi | 6.9 |
| C E Jordan High Durham | 2.2 mi | 5.0 |
| SOUTHPOINT ACADEMY Durham | 2.6 mi | 4.9 |
| Fayetteville Street Elementary Durham | 2.7 mi | 5.6 |
| QUALITY EDUCATION INSTITUTE OF DURHAM Durham | 2.7 mi | — |
| Lowe's Grove Middle Durham | 2.5 mi | 4.1 |
| Hope Valley Elementary Durham | 2.8 mi | 6.5 |
| Parkwood Elementary Durham | 2.8 mi | 4.5 |
| James E Shepard Middle Durham | 2.9 mi | 7.6 |
| DURHAM ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL DIV Durham | 3.0 mi | 6.2 |
| INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Durham | 3.0 mi | 8.2 |
| Rogers-Herr Middle Durham | 3.1 mi | 8.7 |
| Kestrel Heights School Durham | 2.8 mi | 3.7 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Bethany Elementary Reidsville, NC | 8.3 |
| Mountain View Elementary Hickory, NC | 8.3 |
| Myers Park Traditional Elem Charlotte, NC | 8.3 |
| North Topsail Elementary Hampstead, NC | 8.3 |
| Olde Providence Elementary Charlotte, NC | 8.3 |
| Palisades Park Elementary Charlotte, NC | 8.3 |
Compare Southwest Elementary with similar schools nearby
Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.
- CompareSouthwest Elementary vs Spring Valley ElementaryDurham, NC Peer score 7.7/10 -0.6 vs Southwest Elementary
- CompareSouthwest Elementary vs Burton ElementaryDurham, NC Peer score 9.0/10 +0.7 vs Southwest Elementary
- CompareSouthwest Elementary vs Oak Grove ElementaryDurham, NC Peer score 7.5/10 -0.8 vs Southwest Elementary
- CompareSouthwest Elementary vs Easley ElementaryDurham, NC Peer score 8.7/10 +0.4 vs Southwest Elementary
- CompareSouthwest Elementary vs Glenn ElementaryDurham, NC Peer score 7.8/10 -0.5 vs Southwest Elementary
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Southwest Elementary
What grades does Southwest Elementary serve?
Southwest Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Southwest Elementary?
Southwest Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 669 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Elementary is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southwest Elementary rank in NC?
Southwest Elementary ranks #281 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Southwest Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Southwest Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 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 Southwest Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southwest Elementary has 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southwest Elementary a charter school?
No, Southwest Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southwest Elementary a Title I school?
No, Southwest Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southwest Elementary?
52.3% of students at Southwest 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.
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Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 669
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 52
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 52.3%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Durham County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.6%
- Phone
- (919) 560-3972
Resources & Links
District
Durham Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 31,339
- Schools in District
- 56
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,239
- District Rank
- #14 of 54
Other Schools in This District
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