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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Durham County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 31 public preschools serving 10,870 students in Durham County, NC.
The top-ranked public preschools in Durham County, NC are Pearsontown Elementary School, George Watts Elementary School and Easley Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham County, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Durham County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 78% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Preschools in Durham County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Gr: PK-5 | 765 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #22.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Gr: PK-5 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #33.
Easley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
302 Lebanon Circle
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Gr: PK-5 | 490 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #44.
Morehead Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
909 Cobb Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Gr: PK-5 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #55.
Mangum Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
9008 Quail Roost Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Gr: PK-5 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
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.
Burton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1500 Mathison Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Gr: PK-5 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #88.
R N Harris Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1520 Cooper Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3967
Gr: PK-5 | 313 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #99.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2320 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Gr: PK-5 | 639 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1010.
E K Powe Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
913 9th Street
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Gr: PK-5 | 454 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Forest View Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3007 Mount Sinai Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Gr: PK-5 | 662 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Little River Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2315 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3940
Gr: PK-5 | 326 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1313.
Spring Valley Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2051 Northern Durham Prky
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Gr: PK-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1414.
Sandy Ridge Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1417 Old Oxford Highway
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2695
Gr: PK-5 | 589 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1515.
Creekside Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5321 Ephesus Church Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3919
Gr: PK-5 | 554 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1616.
Eno Valley Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
117 Milton Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3915
Gr: PK-5 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1717.
Hillandale Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2730 Hillandale Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3924
Gr: PK-5 | 586 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1818.
Oak Grove Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3810 Wake Forest Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3960
Gr: PK-5 | 395 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #1919.
Merrick-moore Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2325 Cheek Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3952
Gr: PK-5 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2020.
Holt Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4019 Holt School Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3928
Gr: PK-5 | 587 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2121.
Parkwood Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
5207 Revere Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3962
Gr: PK-5 | 491 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2222.
Glenn Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2415 E Geer Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3920
Gr: PK-5 | 455 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2323.
W G Pearson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3501 Fayettville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3988
Gr: PK-5 | 319 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2424.
Eastway Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
610 North Alston Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3910
Gr: PK-5 | 331 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2525.
Bethesda Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2009 S Miami Boulevard
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3904
Gr: PK-5 | 442 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Fayetteville Street Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2905 Fayetteville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3944
Gr: PK-5 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Lakewood Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2520 Vesson Avenue
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3939
Gr: PK-5 | 439 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #2828.
Y E Smith Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2410 E Main Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3900
Gr: PK-5 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2929.
C C Spaulding Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1531 S Roxboro Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3974
Gr: PK-5 | 247 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: n/an/a
Lyons Farm Elementary School
906 Scott King Rd
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3749
Gr: PK-5 | 608 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: n/an/a
Murray-massenburg Elementary School
3901 S Roxboro St
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3749
Gr: PK-5 | 517 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 75%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Durham County, NC?
The top-ranked public preschools in Durham County, NC include Pearsontown Elementary School, George Watts Elementary School and Easley Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Durham County?
26 public preschools are located in Durham County.
What is the racial composition of students in Durham County?
Durham County public preschools minority enrollment is 78% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschools average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Durham County are often viewed compared to one another?

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