2023 Elementary Schools with the Best Teachers in Durham County

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-10

• •
  Rating 4.8 out of 5  10 reviews

Parent: Wonderful school with a great curriculum. We have been here from the beginning, and we have had a great experience. It feels like family here. Our students are thriving. They have more than just reading and math: our kids have studied science, social studies, art, music, and other special classes, and Spanish in K-5, and our oldest is now taking Latin in middle school. Excellent education! Great teachers! We love the fact that they provide busing, too!... Read 10 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 926

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  5 reviews

Parent: I have two children at CPSC and love the project based curricula, intentional work on inclusion and diversity, and the caring faculty and staff. Like all schools, there is always work to be done, and compared to the parochial school my children used to attend, Central Park is more focused on children, inclusion, broader learning beyond academics, and the surrounding community. The teachers care and are top notch, and all feedback is heard and promptly responded to, with a plan to address. Librarians send home books with students to keep over inter sessions, teachers create relevant and timely curricula and adapt it to the students, and students are encouraged to be responsible and design their learning.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 621

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 2 out of 5  1 review

• grade B

• grade A

• Students 645

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Students 775

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: We have two boys in mangum. The classroom teachers have been excellent each year, and the specials ( Art, Music, PE, Technology)) teachers are also amazing. We've had some surprisingly awesome conversations over dinner discussing various artists and their contributions. The principal and staff are also great. They all seem to know all the kids and make school very welcoming.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Students 296

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Students 363

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  156 reviews

Alum: I attended Voyager Academy for four years of high school and I grew to love the school as time went on. There are teachers who care deeply about the students and push them to their fullest potential in all aspects. The experience gets better as you become more involved in the school and attend events. My favorite part about attending Voyager was the hours and the project based learning. On the other hand, Voyager could work more on its diversity as there have been times I was the only minority in the classroom and felt as an outsider. Just recently in my last year have they accepted more minorities into their school which I believe has actually helped to improve the culture of the school. Overall, I would rate the school a four out of five, as the administration and teachers genuinely care about and are able to form relationships with the students and I have no regrets attending the school.... Read 156 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Students 1,345

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade C+

• grade A minus

• Students 496

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: We've had a great experience at Easley. The school is welcoming and diverse and has great and caring educators. We love the year-round calendar and our kindergardener is thriving there. There is a very active PTA and it's been lovely getting to get involved with the school as a parent.... Read 2 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Students 459

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Students 252

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.33 out of 5  82 reviews

Parent: Kestrel is a wonderful, smaller charter school. My daughter is in 2nd grade and my son will be entering Kindergarten in the fall. We have been very pleased with the school overall. The teachers are great - compassionate, kind yet firm. The administration is ALWAYS just a call or email away and regularly includes parents in decisions about the school. I have been very impressed with the level of communication during Covid times and am so very thankful my child is attending Kestrel and not one of the DPS or Wake Co. schools. Those folks always seem very confused about what's going on, and there is never any confusion on my end. I would absolutely recommend this school to anyone looking for a collaborative, effective and fun learning experience for their child.... Read 82 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B+

• Students 423

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.37 out of 5  27 reviews

Junior: I like how this school cares about a student's financial situation. This is a technology-based school where a computer is needed to function; yet if a student comes from a disadvantaged background this could be a problem. The administration actually made up a policy. They would lend the computer; if the student still uses the same computer by the end of their sophomore year they are allowed to keep. During that time, they can take it home. They also ask if the student can afford wifi at home and all. I was offered this because of my mother's paycheck. We also have to take our own lunch; so the same thing is offered to those students, they provide lunch to those who can't; I took that opportunity my freshman year. They also do fundraisers to give families food for holidays; I find that to be a very touching gesture. I love how friendly the teachers are and how engaged they are with their students. I also find it nice how they provide us with free ap exams; ap exams are expensive.... Read 27 reviews

• grade C+

• grade B+

• Students 756

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 1 out of 5  1 review

• grade B

• grade B+

• Students 472

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• grade B

• grade B+

• Students 459

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• grade B minus

• grade B+

• Students 339

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade C minus

• grade B+

• Students 349

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• K-5

• grade B

• grade B

• Students 599

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade C minus

• grade B

• Students 213

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: It is great school. The teachers are so nice. They are super supportive, loving and encouraging. There are a lot of resources for kids. It is just nice school to send our kids... Read 1 review

• grade B minus

• grade B

• Students 714

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• K-5

• grade B

• grade B

• Students 407

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• grade C+

• grade B

• Students 298

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 3.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: Great School!!! Loved it here for my daughter. All of the teachers really care about the students!:)... Read 3 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Students 803

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• grade C+

• grade B minus

• Students 562

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• grade C

• grade B minus

• Students 206

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 4.9 out of 5  10 reviews

Parent: Southwest is a true neighborhood school, nestled right in South Durham. The administration cares about the students and really leads by example. They’re consistently open for dialogue and strongly encourage parent involvement, because they truly believe that partnership leads to better outcomes for their students. The teachers also seem to really reflect school leadership, and value an overall positive environment where learning is encouraged and the child is paramount. While I’m sure they’ll be held to the antiquated “test score” measurements that so many of our primary schools are bound by, I’m happy that my children attend Southwest and appreciate the education that they’ve received thus far.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Students 658

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1