Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 106 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 115 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 130 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 48 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 56 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 80 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Drivers\Memcached\Item::jsonSerialize() should either be compatible with JsonSerializable::jsonSerialize(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Core/Item/ItemExtendedTrait.php on line 438 Durham School District (2026) - Durham, NC
Public School Review - Established 2003

Durham School District

511 Cleveland Street
Durham, NC 27701-3334
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Tel: (919) 560-3749
www.dpsnc.net

Top Rankings

Durham School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 14 public middle schools serving 7,993 students in Durham School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Durham School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 80% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
57 Schools
875 Schools
# Students
31,791 Students
497,279 Students
# Teachers
2,104 Teachers
31,075 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
Kind947
11249
21349
31250
41949
52356
62,117320
72,144336
82,185338
944537
1042234
1132430
1226826
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District Rank

Durham School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has increased from 81% over five school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (NC)
#214 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearDurham School District
2023#214
2022#214
2021#228
2019#212
2018#204
2017#215
2016#213
2015#193
2014#186
2013#172
2012#182
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(21-22)
42%
51%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
202242%51%
202129%42%
201932%42%
201833%48%
201735%47%
201633%47%
201532%44%
201430%43%
201329%42%
201274%82%
201171%82%
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44%
50%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
202244%50%
202139%47%
201937%46%
201833%47%
201736%46%
201635%47%
201535%46%
201435%46%
201335%45%
201261%73%
201156%70%
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56%
63%

Science Proficiency Trends

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
202256%63%
202147%61%
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(21-22)
84%
86%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
202284%86%
202187%85%
202084%86%
201983%85%
201881%86%
201781%88%
201682%88%
201581%87%
201482%86%
201380%85%
201277%83%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.71
0.71

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
20240.700.71
20230.700.71
20220.690.70
20210.690.69
20200.680.68
20190.680.68
20180.660.67
20170.660.67
20160.660.66
20150.650.66
20140.660.65
20130.650.65
20120.650.64
20110.640.64
20100.600.61
20090.600.61
20080.610.61
20070.610.60
20060.580.58
20050.570.58
20040.560.57
20030.560.56
20020.560.55
20010.550.53
20000.540.53
19990.530.52
19980.530.52
19970.530.50
19960.530.50
19950.530.49
19940.530.48
19930.530.48
19920.490.48
19910.480.48
19900.480.48
19890.470.48
19880.460.47
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% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
4%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
20242%4%
20233%4%
20222%4%
20212%4%
20203%3%
20193%3%
20182%3%
20172%3%
20163%3%
20153%3%
20143%3%
20133%3%
20122%3%
20113%2%
20103%3%
20093%2%
20084%3%
20073%3%
20063%2%
20053%2%
20042%2%
20033%2%
20023%2%
20012%2%
20002%2%
19992%2%
19983%2%
19973%1%
19962%1%
19952%1%
19943%1%
19932%1%
19922%1%
19913%1%
19902%1%
19892%1%
19882%1%
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% Hispanic
35%
21%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
202435%21%
202334%20%
202234%20%
202133%19%
202031%18%
201931%18%
201830%17%
201730%17%
201629%16%
201528%16%
201425%15%
201324%14%
201223%13%
201121%13%
201019%11%
200918%11%
200818%11%
200717%10%
200614%8%
200512%8%
200410%7%
20039%6%
20028%5%
20016%4%
20005%4%
19994%3%
19983%3%
19972%2%
19962%2%
19952%2%
19941%1%
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% Black
36%
25%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
202438%25%
202339%25%
202241%25%
202142%25%
202044%25%
201944%25%
201847%26%
201747%26%
201648%26%
201549%26%
201450%26%
201351%26%
201251%26%
201152%26%
201057%31%
200957%31%
200855%29%
200755%29%
200658%32%
200559%31%
200460%31%
200359%31%
200259%31%
200159%31%
200059%31%
199959%31%
199858%30%
199757%31%
199656%31%
199555%30%
199453%30%
199352%30%
199234%30%
199133%30%
199032%30%
198932%30%
198831%30%
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% White
20%
43%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
202419%43%
202319%44%
202219%45%
202119%46%
202019%48%
201919%48%
201818%49%
201718%49%
201618%50%
201518%50%
201419%51%
201319%52%
201221%53%
201121%53%
201021%54%
200922%54%
200823%55%
200725%56%
200625%56%
200526%57%
200428%58%
200329%59%
200230%60%
200133%61%
200034%61%
199935%62%
199836%63%
199738%64%
199640%64%
199541%65%
199443%66%
199345%66%
199263%66%
199164%66%
199065%66%
198965%66%
198867%67%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2024)

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
20246%6%
20235%6%
20224%5%
20214%5%
20203%5%
20193%5%
20183%4%
20173%4%
20162%4%
20152%4%
20143%4%
20133%4%
20123%4%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,334 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,067 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$456 MM
$17,307 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
2023$456 MM$8 MM
2022$423 MM$8 MM
2021$456 MM$8 MM
2020$423 MM$8 MM
2019$414 MM$8 MM
2018$399 MM$8 MM
2017$380 MM$8 MM
2016$373 MM$8 MM
2015$429 MM$18 MM
2014$385 MM$10 MM
2012$350 MM$17 MM
2011$337 MM$19 MM
2010$429 MM$18 MM
2009$379 MM$19 MM
2008$348 MM$18 MM
2007$322 MM$18 MM
2006$301 MM$15 MM
2005$288 MM$15 MM
2004$272 MM$17 MM
2003$264 MM$17 MM
2002$277 MM$16 MM
2001$239 MM$17 MM
2000$238 MM$20 MM
1999$229 MM$23 MM
1998$209 MM$26 MM
1997$191 MM$34 MM
1996$187 MM$34 MM
1995$161 MM$32 MM
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Spending
$447 MM
$17,964 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
2023$447 MM$8 MM
2022$418 MM$8 MM
2021$447 MM$8 MM
2020$418 MM$8 MM
2019$424 MM$7 MM
2018$389 MM$8 MM
2017$382 MM$9 MM
2016$380 MM$8 MM
2015$355 MM$18 MM
2014$378 MM$11 MM
2012$397 MM$16 MM
2011$397 MM$17 MM
2010$355 MM$18 MM
2009$375 MM$18 MM
2008$335 MM$17 MM
2007$307 MM$18 MM
2006$292 MM$15 MM
2005$293 MM$15 MM
2004$274 MM$16 MM
2003$260 MM$17 MM
2002$244 MM$15 MM
2001$242 MM$17 MM
2000$231 MM$20 MM
1999$219 MM$24 MM
1998$199 MM$26 MM
1997$182 MM$36 MM
1996$179 MM$33 MM
1995$196 MM$32 MM
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Revenue / Student
$14,334
$11,168

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
2023$14,452$10,093
2022$12,657$9,918
2021$14,238$10,282
2020$12,657$9,918
2019$12,576$9,125
2018$11,889$9,419
2017$11,297$10,522
2016$10,961$9,128
2015$12,560$10,864
2014$11,553$9,046
2012$10,520$10,562
2011$10,373$12,703
2010$13,218$10,864
2009$11,519$11,105
2008$10,725$11,767
2007$10,305$9,479
2006$9,498$9,335
2005$9,297$8,913
2004$8,794$8,734
2003$8,578$8,577
2002$9,051$8,130
2001$8,023$7,294
2000$8,154$7,636
1999$7,880$7,252
1998$7,124$5,688
1997$6,574$5,690
1995$5,759$5,545
1992$5,580$4,737
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Spending / Student
$14,067
$11,592

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearDurham School DistrictNorth Carolina
2023$14,183$9,807
2022$12,510$9,654
2021$13,973$9,990
2020$12,510$9,654
2019$12,889$8,949
2018$11,615$9,637
2017$11,350$11,583
2016$11,162$9,753
2015$10,399$10,591
2014$11,345$9,388
2012$11,931$10,336
2011$12,223$11,927
2010$10,944$10,591
2009$11,394$10,880
2008$10,304$11,136
2007$9,816$9,418
2006$9,203$8,813
2005$9,459$8,647
2004$8,875$8,413
2003$8,449$8,886
2002$7,989$7,903
2001$8,124$7,301
2000$7,890$7,650
1999$7,533$7,340
1998$6,775$5,663
1997$6,280$6,040
1995$7,027$5,570
1992$6,077$4,725
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Best Durham School District Public Middle Schools (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.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
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: #1414.
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%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 57 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 31,791 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 80%
  • : 84% (Top 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 42% (Btm 50%)
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • : 56% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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