2024 Best Schools in Durham

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  167 reviews

Parent: NCSSM has been an incredibly enriching experience for my daughter. The classes are unique and rigorous. I expected great science and math courses, of which there are many, but there is also a robust humanities department with equally amazing classes. Many of the classes are topics you typically only see offered at colleges. The teachers challenge the students and share their passion for their area of expertise. Students have opportunities for research, mentorship with professionals, and study abroad trips. There are also many clubs and activities to keep the students engaged. The boarding school community allows the students to grow socially as well. My daughter finally found her people! The administration is supportive and there is a continuous focus on mental well being. NCSSM has nurtured my daughter and helped her become confident in being her authentic self. I am so thankful she accepted the greater challenge!... Read 167 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 976

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Cary, NC•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  104 reviews

Freshman: Cary Academy has an excellent environment for academics, athletics, and socializing. The teaching staff is one of the best parts of my experience at CA. Most, if not all teachers I have had made their role in the class very clear, being open to listening and helping their students. The staff at Cary Academy are very supportive of what each student is doing in and outside of school, going out of their way to check in. One of the worst parts of my experience was two situations where someone has been racist, whether intentionally or not. The first was with a teacher during something called a Community day, when she asked the 3 of us black students in the room if we spoke an African language, and she didn't ask any of the other 10 or 15 students. The other was with another student, who had racially motivated comments towards more than 2 people, some being my friends. We were able to resolve both situations though, which shows how supportive the rest of the staff is.... Read 104 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 789

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Durham, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  106 reviews

Parent: We are blown away by the quality of teachers at DA. Our kids have experience middle and upper school at DA and they are always sharing what they are learning about with great enthusiasm. Even in lower grades, students are challenged to use their critical thinking skills and to go deep on subject matter. The teachers take time to really get to know their students - reading report cards makes it’s clear that the truly “see” your children and understand both their gifts and areas where they need to grow. The advisory model is a great system for parents and students as you always have one person who knows what is happening with your child and has the big picture view. The arts and athletics programs are top notch - the only problem is there is not enough time in the day to take advantage of it all. The course offerings are diverse with a big emphasis on learning about people from all different walks of life and cultures. It is exciting to see my children grow at DA!... Read 106 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,237

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.48 out of 5  201 reviews

Senior: I transferred to Raleigh Charter my junior year of high school. I completed my junior year there and will complete my senior year there soon. I really like how academically challenging this school is in all aspects. I am by no means a STEM student, but there are a lot of rigorous STEM classes offered here. The humanities courses, which I prefer, are amazing as well. The teachers are extremely helpful and good at their jobs, and offer a lot of support inside and outside the classroom. The extracurricular activities that take place on campus are super fun and I always enjoy being an active part of the school community. One thing I think could change is the administration's responsiveness to issues that arise between students. Dissolving potential fights and preventing students from committing inappropriate actions from happening to other students is something that is not their strong suit. That was also an issue when my sister attended RCHS, which was years ago. Overall, a good school.... Read 201 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 559

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.46 out of 5  127 reviews

Senior: I attended Ravenscroft from middle school to now. I am a senior and I will say the academics, teachers, and college readiness are unmatched. The work is very challenging depending on the classes you take, but if you have good time management skills, it shouldn’t be that overwhelming. Teachers are very supportive and get to know you. They want you to succeed and invite every student to come during tutorial time for help. The school puts a great emphasis on leadership and character. Ever since day one, I remember Lead From Here lessons in which we learn all the values and attributes that will help us lead ourselves effectively and lead others in the real world. Hence, it is very easy to start a club, and there are tons of opportunities for students to develop and share their passions with others. I cannot say that socially this a great school for everyone though. Unfortunately, I was not really able to build friendships with the other students.... Read 127 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,239

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  48 reviews

Senior: Green Level is an amazing school with fantastic leadership. I was in the freshman class the year the school opened and will be a part of the first senior class who attended all four years. I have been in the band as a member of the percussion section. I have served as the battery captain for both marching band and indoor percussion. The school culture supports the arts as well as athletics. The academic courses offered are diverse and competitive. I feel that I have been well prepared for starting college in the fall. Green Level also supports students' social and emotional well being with Gator Ballance Days offered each quarter. These days allow students to connect with others in a more relaxed environment. I have also had the same faculty advisor all four years. They know me personally and support me in my growth. Even though the school is large, the administration makes every student feel known and valued. It is an exceptional place. I would not change a thing!... Read 48 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,936

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Durham, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  65 reviews

Parent: Moving back to the USA after 20 years in Asia, Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill has been a God-send for our Freshman daughter. With class sizes of ~50 in each year of the high school, she receives individualized attention from teachers and the Trinity school community that has helped her settle in. Academics are certainly challenging, but teachers stand at the ready to help and keep students on-track. Diversity has also exceeded our expectations at Trinity. Cannot recommend highly enough!... Read 65 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 583

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  561 reviews

Senior: I think the school is quite good for high school! I do believe that college readiness was a bit annoying because they made sure to give us like one or two slideshows and expected us to figure everything else out. My mother was the best help for this whole situation, because she could break the information down into edible bits and actually remembered how to get into college.... Read 561 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,326

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Durham, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.86 out of 5  7 reviews

Parent: GREAT school! The small, individualized classes are always engaging. Students are challenged and encouraged to think and share ideas. This is a school that meets the needs of ALL students in a safe and welcoming environment. The faculty, staff and students are like a big family. Excellent academics, electives, clubs, & team sports opportunities, too! Students graduating from Camelot are prepared for college and life!... Read 7 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 148

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  35 reviews

Parent: As my daughters prepare to graduate this May, I can't say enough about Saint Mary's School. SMS has been an exceptional experience for my two girls (twins). The level of engagement, community, academics, and spirit that SMS offers is unparalleled. Educationally, my girls and their peers are challenged to love learning and to learn to think critically. SMS helps them amplify their voices, find confidence, learn to lead, and fostered their individual growth. Both of my daughters love the Saint Mary's community and have enjoyed extracurriculars including participating in sports, the arts, and several student clubs and organizations, including student government. Saint Mary's girls truly do find and develop lifelong friendships, and I am simply in awe of the amazing network of alumnae they have available to them. I was also impressed that they were provided internship experiences prior to college! And, their four-year seminar program and college counseling is phenomenal. GoSaints!... Read 35 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 309

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  242 reviews

Senior: Cardinal Gibbons is a school that, while having strong academics and support for sporting events, sometimes has a lack of creativity or support for the arts. Everything about the school looks the same, and there is little creative freedom that can be taken with things like clubs. Because of it being a Catholic school, I often felt unsafe expressing myself as an LGBTQ minority, as there is very little to no support for that at all. Despite all that, I have been able to meet some great people through doing the theater program and it is an experience that I will carry through the rest of my life. I felt the school helped set me up well for college, and provided support for the application process. While my time at Cardinal Gibbons has been nice, I can't wait to see what awaits me in university.... Read 242 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,611

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  43 reviews

Parent: My daughter started St. David's this year and we both have been thrilled with the school. Her teachers are invested, encouraging, challenging and very responsive. More than once, my daughter has stated how supported she feels by both the teachers and fellow students. I switched her from public schools as I worried she was not getting the academic instruction she needed. St. David's has been the perfect fit. One item to note, the school is Christian faith based and that doctrine is evident in school communications, parent groups and the values instilled in students.... Read 43 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 606

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Durham, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  28 reviews

Senior: I love, love, love Carolina Friends School! It has been truly life-changing for me. Many say that it's an "easy" school--I entirely disagree. To outsiders, it may seem hard to fail, but that is only because the staff is so loving and supportive of their students.... Read 28 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 514

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: My son has been a student since kindergarten... Quest Academy offers the best education in available in a public school setting. He is at least two years ahead of the average student in NC for his grade level academically. I plan for him to finish through the 8th grade... Quest was the BEST decision we ever made!... Read 1 review

• grade A+

• Students 143

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Hillsborough, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  7 reviews

Parent: Our daughter has thrived since the day she started TES. The deep exploration of project based learning in a non-judgmental, creative STEAM environment has fostered her love of learning. The school administrators and staff have given such careful thought to the diverse group of learners and how the curriculum can be both challenging but also adjustable and engaging for everyone in the class. We have been at other schools and TES is unparalleled in the quality of education and development of the whole child. We love our school!... Read 7 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 359

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  23 reviews

Parent: Our children have attended this school since 2012 and we could not be more happy! The staff and faculty are engaged and responsive. Everything from volunteering their time to host bible studies for students to partnering with parents in monthly prayer meetings. The academics have prepared our children well as they matriculated to top tier colleges and transitioned from one grade to the next. And while all of these things are fantastic and we are grateful for them, the most endearing quality of Trinity is that the community really cares. We lift one another up when needed and celebrate alongside one another when life calls for celebration. Love seeing this school be the hands and feet of Jesus!... Read 23 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 609

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Chapel Hill, NC•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  55 reviews

Parent: I have three children at WCS and we have been incredibly pleased with our experience! I went to a small private school and see many similarities between it and the experience my children are having at Woods. We have LOVED our teachers. My son is currently being placed into a reading intervention program to receive extra help. The school and specialists have been attentive and responsive to all of our questions. It is a loving, nurturing and positive atmosphere. I am so happy we are at this school and look forward to many more years as part of the Woods family!... Read 55 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 512

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Morrisville, NC•

• Public School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Middle School Student: The diversity and to be able to do your work at your own time. The diversity of the school is good. Sterling have a lot of good teacher with different teaching style.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 618

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Wake Forest, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.17 out of 5  6 reviews

Parent: Endeavor is a fantastic school. As you can see the overall scoring is strong, but the work that goes behind those scores is what makes me love this school for my kids. The staff and teachers are an amazing group that genuinely care about the kids and their families and strive to provide the best environment and education possible for all. If I had to think of anything I wish would change... I would love to see sports offered at lower grade levels for the elementary aged kids. This could have been offered in the past and may be due to lack of interest that it didn't take. Also, I would love for the school to expand to 12th grade :)... Read 6 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 757

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Chapel Hill, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  20 reviews

Parent: As a mainstream teacher, I sought for something other than public school for my own child. Her experience at EWS has put her right on track for college. The arts are integrated across the curriculum, and there is rigorous work in the High School akin to AP level coursework elsewhere. The faculty works together to help foster independent thinking and social responsibility, and they are perpetual learners themselves. As with any other method, Waldorf Education is not right for everyone, but it's worth checking out!... Read 20 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 273

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Public School•

• 3-8

• •
  Rating 3.43 out of 5  14 reviews

Niche User: I like the small classes, it helps with focused studies. They can somehow cram all that knowledge but make it feel like a game of paper. The diversity has risen over the years, and lots of the kids are nice. It helps prepare students for upcoming years and incorporates all of the "specials" and "electives" into the classes or you can sign up for an after school activity. You get to bring your own food which helps with allergy and health worries from stressed parents. I've seen two very nice janitors and lots of encouraging words all around. Thank you Magellan Charter for being a great school.... Read 14 reviews

• grade A

• Students 405

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Pittsboro, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade A

• Students 270

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  298 reviews

Alum: East Chapel Hill High School provides top academics with numerous opportunities such as APs and engineering courses. However, the competitive nature of the school can be toxic at times. The school has a tendency to self-segregate, but there isn't much that the administration can do about the phenomenon. Overall, East provided me with a great education that allowed me to go off to prestigious institutions.... Read 298 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,475

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Cary, NC•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  78 reviews

Parent: We have fallen in love with CCS! We never predicted we would send our kids to private school, and it is the best decision we have made for them. The quality of teaching is night and day from public school. The teachers all have a true gift, and all lessons are well thought out. The teachers actually teach rather than using a computer program to do their job and babysit the class. All subjects are taught from a biblical world view and all students are held to a high standard. CCS is everything we wished for our kids' education and more!... Read 78 reviews

• grade A

• Students 785

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Holly Springs, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: Pine Springs offers one of the most rich curriculum experiences I have seen in any elementary school. My children come home teaching me something new every day. The board truly listens to parent input. The PTO is top notch. We have been thoroughly pleased with the rich education our children are receiving at PSPA.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,097

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1