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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Durham Public High Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 22 public high schools serving 22,294 students in Durham, NC.
The top-ranked public high schools in Durham, NC are J D Clement Early College High School, Research Triangle High School and Durham School Of The Arts. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham, NC public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 58% statewide average). High schools in Durham have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public high schools.
Durham, NC public high school have a Graduation Rate of 81%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Durham School Of The Arts, with 96% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public High Schools in Durham, NC (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
J D Clement Early College High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1801 Fayetteville Street, Nccu
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Gr: 9-13 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #22.
Research Triangle High School
Charter School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3106 East Nc Highway 54
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 998-6757
Gr: 9-12 | 572 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
Durham School Of Technology
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Gr: 9-13 | 219 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #66.
Riverside High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3218 Rose Of Sharon Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3965
Gr: 9-12 | 1,900 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
C E Jordan High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
6806 Garrett Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3912
Gr: 9-12 | 2,189 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1212.
Northern High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4622 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3956
Gr: 9-12 | 1,281 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1313.
City Of Medicine Academy
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
301 Crutchfield Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2001
Gr: 9-13 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1414.
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: #1515.
Hillside High School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3925
Gr: 9-12 | 1,433 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1616.
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: #1717.
Durham's Performance Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
401 North Driver Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9190
Gr: 9-12 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
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.
Southern School Of Energy And Sustainabi
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
800 Clayton Road
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3968
Gr: 9-12 | 1,384 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2020.
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%
Rank: n/an/a
Holton Career And Resource Center
Vocational School
401 North Driver St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2219
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Middle College High School Dtcc
1637 Lawson Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 536-7203
Gr: 11-13 | 158 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 68%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public high schools in Durham, NC?
The top-ranked public high schools in Durham, NC include J D Clement Early College High School, Research Triangle High School and Durham School Of The Arts.
How many public high schools are located in Durham?
23 public high schools are located in Durham.
What is the racial composition of students in Durham?
Durham public high schools minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public high schools in Durham are often viewed compared to one another?

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