- Pearsontown Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 765 students
- Forest View Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 662 students
- Southwest Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 639 students
- Lyons Farm Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 608 students
- Sandy Ridge Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 589 students
- Holt Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 587 students
- Hillandale Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 586 students
- Creekside Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 554 students
- Spring Valley Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 543 students
- Hope Valley Elementary — Grades K–5 · 539 students
- Murray-Massenburg Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 517 students
- Parkwood Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 491 students
- Easley Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 490 students
- Glenn Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 455 students
- E K Powe Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 454 students
- Merrick-Moore Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 445 students
- Bethesda Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 442 students
- Eno Valley Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 440 students
- Lakewood Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 439 students
- Oak Grove Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 395 students
- Club Boulevard Elementary — Grades K–5 · 364 students
- George Watts Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 358 students
- Y E Smith Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 358 students
- Eastway Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 331 students
- Little River Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 326 students
- + 7 more elementary schools
- Sherwood Githens Middle — Grades 6–8 · 878 students
- George L Carrington Middle — Grades 6–8 · 771 students
- Brogden Middle — Grades 6–8 · 753 students
- Neal Middle — Grades 6–8 · 706 students
- Rogers-Herr Middle — Grades 6–8 · 660 students
- Lowe's Grove Middle — Grades 6–8 · 564 students
- James E Shepard Middle — Grades 6–8 · 423 students
- Lucas Middle — Grades 6–8 · 400 students
- Lakewood Montessori Middle — Grades 6–8 · 309 students
- C E Jordan High — Grades 9–12 · 2,189 students
- Riverside High — Grades 9–12 · 1,900 students
- Hillside High — Grades 9–12 · 1,433 students
- Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi — Grades 9–12 · 1,384 students
- Northern High — Grades 9–12 · 1,281 students
- J D Clement Early College HS — Grades 9 · 380 students
- City of Medicine Academy — Grades 9 · 329 students
- Durham School of Technology — Grades 9 · 219 students
- Middle College HS @ DTCC — Grades 11 · 164 students
- Durham's Performance Learning Center — Grades 9–12 · 122 students
- Durham School of the Arts — Grades 6–12 · 1,764 students
- Ignite Online Academy — Grades K–12 · 363 students
- The School for Creative Studies — Grades 6–12 · 350 students
- Lakeview School — Grades 6–12 · 52 students
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| Metric | Durham Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | — | 3,700 | Data not available |
| Number of Schools | 54 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $10,300/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Supervisory Union | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Durham Public Schools
Durham Public Schools is the public school district that serves ZIP 27704 in Durham, North Carolina in Durham County. At 6/10 it lands near the middle of North Carolina districts on the data NCES reports. The district operates 1 school, covering Pre-K – 12th. Use the district statistics and boundary map above to confirm the area, then verify your exact school assignment with the district before making a housing decision.
Funding and Resources
According to NCES 2024–2025, Durham Public Schools spends approximately $10,300 per student per year, placing it near the North Carolina state average of approximately $10,500 and below the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Below-average funding can mean larger class sizes, fewer elective offerings, and limited extracurricular programs. Families with specialized needs should verify specific program availability directly with the district. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
At 1 schools serving grades Pre-K – 12th, Durham Public Schools qualifies as a small, community-focused district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. Small districts often benefit from tighter community cohesion, more personalized teacher-student relationships, and stronger parental involvement. The trade-off is narrower program variety: fewer elective courses, specialized tracks, or extracurricular options than larger systems offer.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
With a rating of 6/10 (average), Durham Public Schools ranks among North Carolina’s average-rated school systems. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Durham Public Schools falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 27704
Children in zip code 27704 are assigned to Durham Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 27704, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Durham Public Schools at (919)560-3749 or visit www.dpsnc.net. Typical enrollment documents include proof of address, a government-issued birth certificate, immunization records, and any existing school records or IEP documentation. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — North Carolina districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Durham
For families considering a purchase in the Durham area, district assignment matters financially. Because Durham Public Schools serves zip code 27704, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 27704 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In North Carolina, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Durham Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 27704.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Durham Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 27704 data.