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Research Triangle Charter

Public, Charter Grades K-8

1157^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 22% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Research Triangle Charter is a K-8 charter school in Durham, NC, that enrolls about 710 students and serves an almost entirely low-income population, with 99.6% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch in 2024-2025. Because it is a single-school charter district, its school and district rankings are identical. On the 2025-2026 state ranking, the school sits at #1157 of 1492 North Carolina schools, placing it in the 22nd percentile with 1 star - a real but partial rebound from its 12th-percentile low the prior year, though still well below its 38th-percentile standing a decade earlier.

One of the school's clearest operational challenges is class size. Its student-teacher ratio of 21.8 to 1 is far higher than nearby Bethesda Elementary (13.8), W G Pearson Elementary (9.9), and Brier Creek Elementary (13.4). Test scores are generally below state averages, with 3rd grade math (30.9% proficient vs. 66.4% statewide) and 8th grade science (50.0% vs. 68.6%) among the biggest gaps. However, the school has genuine bright spots: 4th grade reading hit 62.5% proficiency, above the state average of 57.7%, and 8th grade math reached 55.6%, beating both the statewide rate (53.0%) and nearby Kestrel Heights School (18.9%).

Attendance is not the problem at Research Triangle Charter: its 19.8% chronic absenteeism rate is below the state average of 24.2% and far better than Bethesda Elementary's 40.2% and R N Harris Elementary's 38.6%. Poverty alone does not explain the outcomes, either. Pearsontown Elementary serves the same 99.6% low-income population yet ranks in the 75th percentile and beats the charter school by 20 to 30 points in most subjects. Still, the school outperformed nearby Bethesda Elementary in several elementary reading and science tests in 2025-2026. Priorities for improvement should include the very high student-teacher ratio, weak early-elementary math, the pronounced underperformance of female students (19th percentile statewide vs. 23rd-30th for boys), and wide year-to-year swings driven by small grade-level cohorts.

710

Students ?

21.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2418 Ellis Road
Durham, NC 27703-5543

(919) 957-7108

District: Research Triangle Charter

Racial breakdown:

African American:

64.6%

Hispanic:

23.9%

Two or more races:

7.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Research Triangle Charter to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 38th percentile in 2016 → 22nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (47% vs 59% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

North Carolina avg59%

Elementary school

1,157^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 22%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From bottom 38% (2016) to bottom 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

532^nd of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 32%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

From bottom 35% (2016) to bottom 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

194^th of 246Research Triangle 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

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.1	1157 of 1492	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.1	1314 of 1490	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.6	1199 of 1505	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.5	1201 of 1502	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.8	1212 of 1514	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.0	1208 of 1489	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.7	1171 of 1473	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.6	1113 of 1434	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	35.8	987 of 1429	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	42.7	879 of 1425	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	42.2	874 of 1440	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	19.3	1164 of 1390	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	18.2	1216 of 1403	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	16.8	1251 of 1388	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	18.3	1223 of 1381	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	24.4	1120 of 1363	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	23.9	1105 of 1354	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	21.6	1114 of 1324	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	16.0	1169 of 1293	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	42.6	832 of 1276	34.8%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.7	580 of 903	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.1	606 of 918	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.1	469 of 924	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.2	492 of 933	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.1	520 of 927	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.2	460 of 896	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.4	483 of 949	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.8	424 of 927	54.3%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	21.7	798 of 897	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	47.6	253 of 563	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	30.2	419 of 533	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	59.2	143 of 514	72.2%	★★★★☆
2022	50.0	196 of 485	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.2	168 of 385	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	85.2	38 of 497	92.4%	★★★★★
2018	78.9	42 of 421	90.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	25.2	1169 of 1447	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	13.6	1348 of 1451	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.4	1283 of 1455	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.7	1285 of 1459	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	1237 of 1458	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.5	1125 of 1440	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.9	1174 of 1424	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.5	918 of 1405	34.7%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.4	431 of 981	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	33.8	679 of 961	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.7	707 of 951	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	52.6	391 of 915	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.2	476 of 893	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.4	643 of 843	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.3	346 of 865	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.8	440 of 851	48.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.0	1026 of 1434	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.3	1265 of 1437	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.0	1098 of 1450	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.3	970 of 1437	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.5	888 of 1366	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.4	961 of 1329	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.5	984 of 1361	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.6	930 of 1332	30.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.6	1056 of 1451	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.2	1115 of 1450	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.5	1030 of 1464	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.4	1029 of 1461	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.1	1130 of 1464	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.9	1197 of 1444	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.3	1105 of 1430	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.0	1240 of 1413	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	36.2	529 of 815	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.3	378 of 821	54.0%	★★★☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	32.7	532 of 778	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	28.2	563 of 773	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.9	467 of 793	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.6	309 of 784	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.4	419 of 786	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.3	542 of 741	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	54.6	342 of 737	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.3	383 of 691	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	47.6	391 of 694	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	37.9	450 of 692	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	53.8	326 of 705	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	29.7	449 of 627	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	36.4	436 of 673	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	40.6	461 of 662	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.5	447 of 648	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	38.9	454 of 640	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	40.8	434 of 630	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	27.4	483 of 620	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	32.9	468 of 606	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	49.2	359 of 598	40.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	47.1	260 of 553	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.4	243 of 546	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.3	169 of 560	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	78.9	77 of 559	86.2%	★★★★☆
2022	61.7	143 of 550	74.0%	★★★★☆
2021	51.5	199 of 533	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.0	84 of 519	83.8%	★★★★☆
2018	69.6	90 of 494	81.8%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	55.3	102 of 371	72.5%	★★★★☆
2024	67.8	48 of 356	86.5%	★★★★☆
2023	85.7	18 of 318	94.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.5	582 of 731	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.1	605 of 733	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	46.2	400 of 738	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	67.7	204 of 731	72.1%	★★★★☆
2022	52.7	337 of 733	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	30.6	494 of 706	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.6	324 of 684	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.1	305 of 656	53.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	55.6	221 of 566	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.7	256 of 562	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.2	153 of 564	72.9%	★★★★☆
2023	71.3	108 of 553	80.5%	★★★★☆
2022	73.4	92 of 541	83.0%	★★★★☆
2021	42.2	299 of 522	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	69.4	97 of 493	80.3%	★★★★☆
2018	63.4	134 of 472	71.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.6	373 of 725	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.5	505 of 729	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.1	349 of 743	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.8	142 of 735	80.7%	★★★★☆
2022	64.7	177 of 689	74.3%	★★★★☆
2021	39.6	374 of 633	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.6	162 of 639	74.6%	★★★★☆
2018	54.2	259 of 604	57.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.7	456 of 736	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.1	449 of 733	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.7	489 of 751	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.6	398 of 747	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.6	459 of 748	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.8	535 of 711	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	53.5	332 of 697	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.3	446 of 665	32.9%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	32.7	345 of 500	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	18.3	462 of 478	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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

Hispanic (2026)56th percentile+34 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)55th percentile+43 vs school

African American (2026)36th percentile+13 vs school

Special Education (2026)35th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)28th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2026)27th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)19th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2018)11th percentile-11 vs school

Middle school

English Language Learner (2025)73rd percentile+45 vs school

Hispanic (2026)61st percentile+29 vs school

African American (2026)53rd percentile+21 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)49th percentile+17 vs school

Male (2026)38th percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2026)31st percentile~ school

Female (2026)20th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science58%-10 vs state

Reading49%-7 vs state

Mathematics42%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Research Triangle Charter

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Research Triangle Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	2418 Ellis Road	Durham	27703	Durham County	Research Triangle Charter	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 957-7108	710	33	21.8	99.6%	23 (3.2%)	459 (64.6%)	170 (23.9%)	6 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (7.2%)	27.1	1157^th of 1492 public elementary schools	22.5%		18.1	1314^th of 1490 public elementary schools	11.8%	157	30.9	45.8	37.1	33.3	50.0	55.6	36.2	62.5	54.8	40.5	52.5	50.8	66.1	50.0
North Oak Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	2201 E Geer St	Durham	27704	Durham County	North Oak Academy	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(919) 695-9900																			(n/a)	49.2	44.7	37.8				35.4	46.1	31.1				44.4
Bethesda Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2009 S Miami Boulevard	Durham	27703	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3904	442	32	13.8	99.3%	33 (7.5%)	209 (47.3%)	171 (38.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.9%)	24.2	1203^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	19.4%		25.5	1169^th of 1490 public elementary schools	21.5%	34	40.6	49.4	44.9				44.9	52.5	42.3				50.6		$10,668	$1,389	$9,280
Spring Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2051 Northern Durham Prky	Durham	27703	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-2890	543	33	16.5	99.3%	81 (14.9%)	273 (50.3%)	134 (24.7%)	17 (3.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.8%)	48.1	764^th of 1492 public elementary schools	48.8%		46	818^th of 1490 public elementary schools	45.1%	54	72.1	54.7	57.3				60.3	53.1	52.4				59.8		$11,287	$1,274	$10,013
The Institute Development Young Leaders	Public, Charter	K-8	4300 S. Miami Blvd.	Durham	27703	Durham County	The Institute for the Development of You	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 308-9731	419	26	16.2		5 (1.2%)	214 (51.1%)	181 (43.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.8%)	28.1	1133^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	24.1%		39.3	930^th of 1490 public elementary schools	37.6%	203	26.8	36.5	69.0	53.4	58.1	50.0	23.2	28.8	66.7	37.9	55.8	41.7	66.7	75.0
R N Harris Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1520 Cooper Street	Durham	27703	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(919) 560-3967	313	22	14.5	99.0%	11 (3.5%)	146 (46.6%)	136 (43.5%)	3 (1.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.8%)	37.4	954^th of 1492 public elementary schools	36.1%		25.1	1183^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	20.6%	229	54.1	44.7	67.3				41.5	34.0	45.3				78.4		$14,110	$1,680	$12,430
Pearsontown Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4915 Barbee Road	Durham	27713	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(919) 560-3964	765	56	13.5	99.6%	276 (36.1%)	272 (35.6%)	112 (14.6%)	19 (2.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	85 (11.1%)	72.4	369^th of 1492 public elementary schools	75.3%		80.8	237^th of 1490 public elementary schools	84.1%	132	70.1	61.7	67.8				70.9	70.8	73.7				72.9		$11,050	$680	$10,370
Kestrel Heights School	Public, Charter	K-8	4700 South Alston Ave.	Durham	27713	Durham County	Kestrel Heights School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 484-1300	421	29	14.4	56.3%	29 (6.9%)	244 (58.0%)	86 (20.4%)	29 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.8%)	38.7	924^th of 1492 public elementary schools	38.1%		36.3	976^th of 1490 public elementary schools	34.5%	52	64.9	65.2	56.4	48.2	41.5	18.9	39.5	56.5	53.8	46.4	48.1	53.7	56.4	64.8
Oak Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3810 Wake Forest Road	Durham	27703	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3960	395	34	11.6	99.2%	34 (8.6%)	164 (41.5%)	169 (42.8%)	7 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.3%)	59.1	599^th of 1492 public elementary schools	59.9%		59.1	580^th of 1490 public elementary schools	61.1%	19	68.9	70.6	56.1				63.9	52.9	52.6				77.2		$12,244	$1,497	$10,747
W G Pearson Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	3501 Fayettville Street	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(919) 560-3988	319	32	9.9	97.2%	14 (4.4%)	184 (57.7%)	93 (29.2%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.8%)	32.6	1047^th of 1492 public elementary schools	29.8%		35.8	986^th of 1490 public elementary schools	33.8%	61	68.4	34.9	48.6				63.2	41.9	48.6				45.7		$14,391	$3,740	$10,650

Frequently Asked Questions about Research Triangle Charter

How many students attend Research Triangle Charter?

In the 2024-25 school year, 710 students attended Research Triangle Charter.

What district is Research Triangle Charter in?

Research Triangle Charter

Is Research Triangle Charter a good school?

Research Triangle Charter ranks in the bottom 22.5% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Research Triangle Charter?

Students at Research Triangle Charter are 65% African American, 24% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 3% White.

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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.