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Maureen Joy Charter School

Public, Charter Grades K-8
931st
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools
Better than 38% of North Carolina elementary schools
Summary

Maureen Joy Charter School is a K-8 charter school in east Durham, NC, serving 631 students in a high-poverty community where about 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is also the sole member of the Maureen Joy Charter district, and its 11.6-to-1 student-teacher ratio is relatively favorable. Statewide, it ranks in the 38th percentile (2 stars), placing 931st out of 1,492 North Carolina schools, though it has improved steadily since its pandemic-era low point.

Academically, math is a clear strength. The school matched or exceeded the state average in math at five of six tested grade levels in 2025-2026, and its 7th grade math proficiency (81.9%) far surpassed nearby charters such as Central Park School for Children (49.2%), KIPP Durham College Preparatory (66.1%), and Global Scholars Academy (46.7%). It even beat Central Park, which serves a much wealthier student body, in five of six math grades, although Central Park had the edge in elementary reading. Reading is the bigger challenge, especially in grades 3–6, where proficiency trails the state average. There are bright spots: 8th grade reading (71.0%) and science (79.7%) are well above state averages, suggesting students make real gains as they progress through the school. The weakest spot is 5th grade, where scores fell below state averages in math, reading, and science.

The school's 2-star rating undersells how well it serves students compared with other high-poverty schools. Among schools with similar student populations, it ranks in the 56th percentile for low-income students and the 60th percentile for English learners. Chronic absenteeism has improved to 30.3%, below most nearby high-poverty schools, and its overall state rank beats most immediate geographic neighbors. The contrast with Y E Smith Elementary, just a quarter-mile away with nearly identical poverty levels but a 4th-percentile rank, suggests school practices matter. The biggest opportunity for growth is early literacy, particularly in grades 3 through 5.

631
Students ?
11.6
Student/teacher ratio ?
99.2%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 107 South Driver Street
       Durham, NC  27703

(919) 908-1600

District: Maureen Joy Charter

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
67.4%
African American:
25.0%
Two or more races:
3.5%
more
 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Maureen Joy Charter School to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 58th percentile in 2016 → 38th in 2026
Strengths
✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher
Worth a look
!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2016
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school60%
North Carolina avg59%
Elementary school
931st of 1,492
North Carolina public elementary schools ?
Bottom 38%▼ down 21 pts since 2016
From top 42% (2016) to bottom 38% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
213th of 778
North Carolina public middle schools ?
Top 27%▲ up 12 pts since 2016
From top 39% (2016) to top 27% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
91st of 246Maureen Joy Charter among North Carolina districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202638.6931 of 149237.6%★★☆☆☆
202537.2959 of 149035.6%★★☆☆☆
202441.8894 of 150540.6%★★☆☆☆
202339.2948 of 150236.9%★★☆☆☆
202219.71275 of 151415.8%★☆☆☆☆
202110.41380 of 14897.3%☆☆☆☆☆
201946.9820 of 147344.3%★★☆☆☆
201852.2707 of 143450.7%★★★☆☆
201747.5792 of 142944.6%★★☆☆☆
201657.6593 of 142558.4%★★★☆☆
201549.7758 of 144047.4%★★☆☆☆
201424.71091 of 139021.5%★☆☆☆☆
201340.7832 of 140340.7%★★☆☆☆
201256.3669 of 138851.8%★★★☆☆
201139.4929 of 138132.7%★★☆☆☆
201034.11009 of 136326.0%★☆☆☆☆
200922.41128 of 135416.7%★☆☆☆☆
200819.61137 of 132414.1%★☆☆☆☆
200712.81199 of 12937.3%☆☆☆☆☆
20069.91219 of 12764.5%☆☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202646.5478 of 90347.1%★★☆☆☆
202544.6502 of 91845.3%★★☆☆☆
202455.7355 of 92461.6%★★★☆☆
202349.3440 of 93352.8%★★★☆☆
202236.3599 of 92735.4%★★☆☆☆
202141.1486 of 89645.8%★★☆☆☆
201975.0146 of 94984.6%★★★★☆
201871.3178 of 92780.8%★★★★☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
201946.8415 of 87852.7%★★★☆☆
201837.0580 of 89735.3%★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202650.4209 of 51959.7%★★★☆☆
202559.4154 of 56372.6%★★★★☆
202453.9187 of 53364.9%★★★☆☆
202356.2163 of 51468.3%★★★☆☆
202230.3375 of 48522.7%★☆☆☆☆
201948.8215 of 49756.7%★★★☆☆
201834.0296 of 42129.7%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202641.3882 of 144739.0%★★☆☆☆
202541.4877 of 145139.6%★★☆☆☆
202436.2984 of 145532.4%★★☆☆☆
202341.7857 of 145941.3%★★☆☆☆
202218.01294 of 145811.2%★☆☆☆☆
202112.01329 of 14407.7%☆☆☆☆☆
201936.0974 of 142431.6%★★☆☆☆
201852.3700 of 140550.2%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202652.6445 of 98154.6%★★★☆☆
202553.4431 of 96155.2%★★★☆☆
202457.2361 of 95162.0%★★★☆☆
202356.6334 of 91563.5%★★★☆☆
202235.5614 of 89331.2%★★☆☆☆
202118.4769 of 8438.8%☆☆☆☆☆
201966.5230 of 86573.4%★★★★☆
201875.2148 of 85182.6%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202652.8631 of 143456.0%★★★☆☆
202548.8723 of 143749.7%★★☆☆☆
202455.4595 of 145059.0%★★★☆☆
202354.3611 of 143757.5%★★★☆☆
202227.61087 of 136620.4%★☆☆☆☆
202119.11157 of 132912.9%★☆☆☆☆
201970.1310 of 136177.2%★★★★☆
201874.7226 of 133283.0%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202638.0918 of 145136.7%★★☆☆☆
202534.51002 of 145030.9%★★☆☆☆
202445.9808 of 146444.8%★★☆☆☆
202337.7956 of 146134.6%★★☆☆☆
202223.61168 of 146420.2%★☆☆☆☆
202110.91344 of 14446.9%☆☆☆☆☆
201957.1617 of 143056.9%★★★☆☆
201854.9652 of 141353.9%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202639.0477 of 81541.5%★★☆☆☆
202545.2393 of 82152.1%★★★☆☆
202441.5429 of 80146.4%★★☆☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202669.5213 of 77872.6%★★★★☆
202553.4353 of 77354.3%★★★☆☆
202450.5388 of 79351.1%★★★☆☆
202331.5543 of 78430.7%★★☆☆☆
202227.4588 of 78625.2%★☆☆☆☆
202130.7511 of 74131.0%★★☆☆☆
201968.3220 of 73770.1%★★★★☆
201861.4270 of 69160.9%★★★☆☆
201759.7283 of 69459.2%★★★☆☆
201660.3271 of 69260.8%★★★☆☆
201557.5295 of 70558.2%★★★☆☆
201435.2399 of 62736.4%★★☆☆☆
201341.5396 of 67341.2%★★☆☆☆
201275.5141 of 66278.7%★★★★☆
201158.3314 of 64851.5%★★★☆☆
201064.1252 of 64060.6%★★★☆☆
200947.2394 of 63037.5%★★☆☆☆
200830.4474 of 62023.5%★☆☆☆☆
200720.0531 of 60612.4%★☆☆☆☆
200618.6522 of 59812.7%★☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202670.4122 of 55377.9%★★★★☆
202574.493 of 54683.0%★★★★☆
202470.7115 of 56079.5%★★★★☆
202348.6247 of 55955.8%★★★☆☆
202260.6153 of 55072.2%★★★★☆
202139.1306 of 53342.6%★★☆☆☆
201980.954 of 51989.6%★★★★☆
201881.354 of 49489.1%★★★★☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
201936.6329 of 50434.7%★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202687.517 of 36395.3%★★★★★
202577.739 of 37189.5%★★★★☆
202461.172 of 35679.8%★★★★☆
202351.1108 of 31866.0%★★★☆☆
202228.0258 of 31217.3%★☆☆☆☆
201963.337 of 21182.5%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202666.6218 of 73170.2%★★★★☆
202552.6336 of 73354.2%★★★☆☆
202446.5395 of 73846.5%★★☆☆☆
202332.2500 of 73131.6%★★☆☆☆
202223.5589 of 73319.6%★☆☆☆☆
202129.7499 of 70629.3%★☆☆☆☆
201969.2192 of 68471.9%★★★★☆
201859.5284 of 65656.7%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202682.667 of 56688.2%★★★★☆
202564.9149 of 56273.5%★★★★☆
202464.9140 of 56475.2%★★★★☆
202345.3294 of 55346.8%★★☆☆☆
202229.9406 of 54125.0%★☆☆☆☆
202144.6280 of 52246.4%★★☆☆☆
201987.925 of 49394.9%★★★★★
201881.146 of 47290.3%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202680.882 of 72588.7%★★★★☆
202577.699 of 72986.4%★★★★☆
202464.2217 of 74370.8%★★★★☆
202337.5472 of 73535.8%★★☆☆☆
202249.4308 of 68955.3%★★★☆☆
202143.5338 of 63346.6%★★☆☆☆
201989.131 of 63995.1%★★★★★
201885.434 of 60494.4%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202670.6184 of 73675.0%★★★★☆
202552.1340 of 73353.6%★★★☆☆
202452.0343 of 75154.3%★★★☆☆
202330.4536 of 74728.2%★☆☆☆☆
202232.0521 of 74830.3%★★☆☆☆
202131.5496 of 71130.2%★★☆☆☆
201964.8239 of 69765.7%★★★☆☆
201860.0270 of 66559.4%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202636.0310 of 50038.0%★★☆☆☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Elementary school
English Language Learner (2026)60th percentile+22 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)56th percentile+18 vs school
Hispanic (2026)55th percentile+17 vs school
Disabled (2019)53rd percentile+8 vs school
African American (2026)47th percentile+9 vs school
Special Education (2026)41st percentile+4 vs school
Female (2026)39th percentile~ school
Male (2026)37th percentile~ school
Middle school
English Language Learner (2026)95th percentile+23 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)89th percentile+16 vs school
Hispanic (2026)88th percentile+16 vs school
African American (2026)78th percentile+5 vs school
Male (2026)75th percentile~ school
Female (2026)70th percentile~ school
Special Education (2026)38th percentile-35 vs school
Disabled (2019)35th percentile-35 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?
Mathematics66%+6 vs state
Science65%-3 vs state
Reading52%-4 vs state

3.0
3 ratings · 2 written reviews
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What people are saying
by a citizen
Friday, November 14, 2014

Open Quote The school is making tremendous strides with knowledgeable, caring teachers and administrators. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Open Quote This school really focus on the students and making sure each child is successful. Not only does the school encourage learning but character building as well. A phenomenal school and a rare gem in Durham. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Maureen Joy Charter School

In the 2024-25 school year, 631 students attended Maureen Joy Charter School.

Students at Maureen Joy Charter School are 67% Hispanic, 25% African American, 3% Two or more races, 2% White, 2% Asian.

Maureen Joy Charter School ranks 931st of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »
2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026
2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026
2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025
2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025


SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

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