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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Durham County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 28 public middle schools serving 21,352 students in Durham County, NC.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Durham County, NC are Lakewood Montessori Middle School, Durham School Of The Arts and Voyager Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham County, NC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 50% statewide average). Middle schools in Durham County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Middle Schools in Durham County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lakewood Montessori Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2119 Chapel Hill Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Gr: 6-8 | 309 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #22.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Gr: 6-12 | 1,764 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #33.
Voyager Academy
Charter School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
101 Hock Parc Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 433-3301
Gr: K-12 | 1,360 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #44.
Rogers-herr Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
911 Cornwallis Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Gr: 6-8 | 660 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #55.
Central Park School For Children
Charter School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
724 Foster Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-1200
Gr: K-8 | 585 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #66.
Dps Hospital School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Dumc Room 3605
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-5684
Gr: PK-12
Rank: #77.
Durham Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
807 West Chapel Hill Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 956-5599
Gr: K-10 | 1,010 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #88.
Excelsior Classical Academy
Charter School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
4100 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 213-8585
Gr: K-12 | 1,032 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #99.
Discovery Charter
Charter School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
501 Orange Factory Road
Durham, NC 27722
(984) 888-5504
Gr: 6-11 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1010.
Sherwood Githens Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4800 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3966
Gr: 6-8 | 878 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1111.
James E Shepard Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2401 Dakota Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3938
Gr: 6-8 | 423 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1212.
Nc Virtual Academy
Charter School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
4220 Nc Highway 55, Suite 130
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Gr: K-12 | 3,482 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #1313.
Global Scholars Academy
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
311 Dowd St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-5903
Gr: K-8 | 201 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
Rank: #1414.
The School For Creative Studies
Magnet School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
5001 Red Mill Rd
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Gr: 6-12 | 350 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1515.
Research Triangle Charter
Charter School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2418 Ellis Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 957-7108
Gr: K-8 | 710 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1616.
Kestrel Heights School
Charter School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
4700 South Alston Ave.
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 484-1300
Gr: K-8 | 421 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1717.
George L Carrington Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
227 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3916
Gr: 6-8 | 771 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1818.
Ignite Online Academy
(Math: 19% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
5321 Ephesus Church Rd.
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 972-4400
Gr: K-12 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1919.
The Institute Development Young Leaders
Charter School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4300 S. Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 308-9731
Gr: K-8 | 419 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2020.
Lucas Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
923 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3843
Gr: 6-8 | 400 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2121.
Community School Of Digital & Visual Art
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1955 West Cornwallis Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 797-2340
Gr: K-8 | 204 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2222.
Maureen Joy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
107 South Driver Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 908-1602
Gr: K-8 | 631 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2323.
Reaching All Minds Academy
Charter School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2703 Holloway St.
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 596-1899
Gr: K-8 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2424.
Lowe's Grove Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4418 S Alston Avenue
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3946
Gr: 6-8 | 564 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2525.
Brogden Middle School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1001 Leon Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3906
Gr: 6-8 | 753 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2626.
Kipp Durham College Preparatory
Charter School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1107 Holloway Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 973-0285
Gr: K-8 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2727.
Neal Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
201 Baptist Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3955
Gr: 6-8 | 706 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2828.
Lakeview School
Alternative School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3507 Dearborn Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2520
Gr: 6-12 | 52 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 94%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Durham County, NC?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Durham County, NC include Lakewood Montessori Middle School, Durham School Of The Arts and Voyager Academy.
How many public middle schools are located in Durham County?
30 public middle schools are located in Durham County.
What is the racial composition of students in Durham County?
Durham County public middle schools minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public middle schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Durham County are often viewed compared to one another?

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