The Institute for the Development of You

The Institute for the Development of You is a single-school district in Durham, NC, serving one K–8 school, The Institute Development Young Leaders, with 419 students and a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Because there is just one school, this analysis focuses on grade-level patterns within the building rather than school-to-school comparisons.

In 2025–2026, the school posted mixed results against North Carolina state averages. Math proficiency averaged 49.0% (state: 59.9%), reading averaged 42.4% (state: 56.0%), but science came in above the state at 70.9% versus 68.2%. The standout bright spot is 5th grade, where students exceeded state averages in both reading (66.7% vs. 55.3%) and math (69.0% vs. 62.9%). The 8th grade science score of 75.0% also topped the state's 68.6%. Meanwhile, 7th graders made dramatic year-over-year gains in reading and math, jumping from 32.0% to 55.8% and from 44.0% to 58.1%, respectively. However, early elementary grades show serious concern: only 23.2% of 3rd graders and 28.8% of 4th graders were proficient in reading, trailing their state counterparts by more than 28 points. The school's statewide ranking fell to the 24th percentile in 2025–2026, down from the 38th percentile the prior year.

The most pressing issue is chronic absenteeism. At 40.1%, the school's rate is nearly double the state average of 24.2%, and this likely connects to weak reading outcomes in grades 3, 4, 6, and 8. Large year-to-year swings — such as 6th grade reading dropping from 65.9% to 37.9% — point to a highly variable learning environment, possibly amplified by small grade cohorts across the K–8 span. The school has demonstrated it can produce above-state results, particularly in 5th grade, so the primary opportunity is replicating that success in the lower grades and stabilizing middle school achievement.