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James E Shepard Middle

Q: Is James E Shepard Middle a good school?

James E Shepard Middle ranks 472 nd of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

472^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 39% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

James E Shepard Middle, part of Durham Public Schools in Durham, NC, serves 423 students in grades 6–8 and has climbed from the bottom of the state rankings over the past decade to sit near the middle. The school currently ranks 472 out of 778 North Carolina middle schools (39th percentile, 2 stars), and nearly all of its students (98.6%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

One of the school’s most notable strengths is attendance. Its chronic absenteeism rate was 21.5% in 2024–25, well below the Durham district average of 36.1% and even below the state average of 24.2%. That sets it apart from nearby schools like Lucas Middle and George L Carrington Middle, both of which see chronic absenteeism above 45%. Shepard also has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio (14.5) than most neighboring Durham middle schools. Academically, 8th-grade students shine: 62.9% are proficient in math and 69.2% in science, beating both district and state averages. Academic outcomes for African American and special education students are particularly strong, ranking in the 70th and 80th percentiles statewide, respectively.

The main area for growth is literacy. Reading proficiency trails district and state levels at every grade, and in 8th grade there is a stark 18-point gap between math proficiency (62.9%) and reading proficiency (44.7%). The school also saw recent drops in performance for Hispanic and English Learner students, and its gifted and talented support ranks low at the 14th percentile. Still, Shepard outperforms most comparable high-poverty Durham middle schools, including Brogden Middle, Neal Middle, and Lowe's Grove Middle. With attendance and upper-grade math already strong, improving reading could help Shepard build on its long-term upward trend rather than simply plateauing in the middle of the state pack.

423

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

2401 Dakota Street
Durham, NC 27707-4215

(919) 560-3938

District: Durham Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

62.2%

Hispanic:

30.5%

Two or more races:

3.8%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare James E Shepard Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 52nd percentile in 2023 → 39th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (52% vs 58% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 52nd-percentile peak (2023) to 39th (2026)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg53%

North Carolina avg58%

472^nd of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 30 pts since 2016

From bottom 9% (2016) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

155^th of 246Durham Public Schools 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	40.8	472 of 778	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.3	401 of 773	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.7	416 of 793	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.2	378 of 784	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.3	407 of 786	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	14.6	649 of 741	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	12.6	664 of 737	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	9.5	637 of 691	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	10.2	641 of 694	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	11.6	628 of 692	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	24.5	551 of 705	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	10.8	575 of 627	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	23.5	521 of 673	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	32.4	503 of 662	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	36.0	474 of 648	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	43.0	424 of 640	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	41.0	432 of 630	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	40.9	408 of 620	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	44.6	400 of 606	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	42.3	408 of 598	31.8%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.4	165 of 553	70.2%	★★★★☆
2025	66.9	129 of 546	76.4%	★★★★☆
2024	68.9	124 of 560	77.9%	★★★★☆
2023	71.6	101 of 559	81.9%	★★★★☆
2022	63.1	134 of 550	75.6%	★★★★☆
2021	26.1	421 of 533	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.0	447 of 519	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.0	424 of 494	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	52.2	142 of 449	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	21.0	448 of 478	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	20.1	468 of 504	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.3	472 of 475	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.4	188 of 363	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	56.9	93 of 371	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	63.2	67 of 356	81.2%	★★★★☆
2023	58.6	71 of 318	77.7%	★★★★☆
2022	66.2	49 of 312	84.3%	★★★★☆
2021	32.6	172 of 236	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.8	99 of 211	53.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.5	487 of 731	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.9	430 of 733	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.5	380 of 738	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.7	408 of 731	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.8	368 of 733	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	15.6	623 of 706	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	7.3	654 of 684	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.3	635 of 656	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.1	401 of 465	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	54.9	265 of 458	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.7	339 of 461	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	76.9	15 of 452	96.7%	★★★★★
2022	54.6	254 of 450	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.6	415 of 448	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.5	413 of 416	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.3	127 of 127	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	52.0	248 of 566	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.4	122 of 562	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	72.2	100 of 564	82.3%	★★★★☆
2023	72.3	99 of 553	82.1%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	78 of 541	85.6%	★★★★☆
2021	30.6	385 of 522	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.2	372 of 493	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.0	390 of 472	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	50.1	337 of 725	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.0	289 of 729	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.8	304 of 743	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.6	224 of 735	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.1	217 of 689	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	27.0	480 of 633	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.2	551 of 639	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.6	552 of 604	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	43.7	420 of 736	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.4	337 of 733	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.6	420 of 751	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.6	314 of 747	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.5	440 of 748	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	15.3	629 of 711	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.7	604 of 697	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.2	608 of 665	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.2	99 of 500	80.2%	★★★★☆
2025	65.2	77 of 478	83.9%	★★★★☆
2024	48.2	186 of 473	60.7%	★★★☆☆

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)

Special Education (2026)80th percentile+41 vs school

African American (2026)70th percentile+31 vs school

Disabled (2022)68th percentile+20 vs school

Hispanic (2026)56th percentile+17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)54th percentile+14 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)48th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2026)43rd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)33rd percentile-6 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)14th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science69%~ state avg

Mathematics52%-4 vs state

Reading46%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near James E Shepard Middle

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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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
James E Shepard Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	2401 Dakota Street	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(919) 560-3938	423	29	14.5	—	10 (2.4%)	263 (62.2%)	129 (30.5%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.8%)	40.8	472^nd of 778 public middle schools	39.3%		48.3	401^st of 773 public middle schools	48.1%	71	43.7	50.3	62.9	43.0	49.7	44.7	69.2	$11,998	$1,606	$10,392
Rogers-Herr Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	911 Cornwallis Road	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(919) 560-3970	660	40	16.6	—	195 (29.5%)	250 (37.9%)	155 (23.5%)	17 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	41 (6.2%)	79.5	135^th of 778 public middle schools	82.6%		83.8	104^th of 773 public middle schools	86.5%	31	65.9	68.7	67.6	66.4	72.5	72.1	83.6	$11,594	$781	$10,812
Lakewood Montessori Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	2119 Chapel Hill Rd	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(919) 560-2894	309	20	15.2	—	179 (57.9%)	51 (16.5%)	59 (19.1%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (4.5%)	78.8	139^th of 778 public middle schools	82.1%		95.7	31^st of 773 public middle schools	96.0%	108	57.3	75.4	87.7	51.8	76.9	79.2	87.7	$14,182	$1,909	$12,273
Brogden Middle	Public	6-8	1001 Leon Street	Durham	27704	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3906	753	45	16.8	—	94 (12.5%)	253 (33.6%)	344 (45.7%)	21 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (5.4%)	28.7	572^nd of 778 public middle schools	26.5%		17.1	671^st of 773 public middle schools	13.2%	99	39.8	62.4	44.4	36.7	44.1	35.6	53.1	$12,887	$1,406	$11,481
Lowe's Grove Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	4418 S Alston Avenue	Durham	27713	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(919) 560-3946	564	29	19.7	—	40 (7.1%)	269 (47.7%)	203 (36.0%)	12 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (7.1%)	15.2	683^rd of 778 public middle schools	12.2%		6.7	737^th of 773 public middle schools	4.7%	54	48.7	33.3	26.2	45.4	33.3	26.2	41.2	$11,779	$1,431	$10,349
Sherwood Githens Middle	Public	6-8	4800 Chapel Hill Road	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3966	878	51	17.1	—	235 (26.8%)	238 (27.1%)	305 (34.7%)	37 (4.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (7.1%)	43	453^rd of 778 public middle schools	41.8%		42.4	456^th of 773 public middle schools	41.0%	3	50.2	52.3	54.5	48.8	55.6	54.2	54.5	$10,235	$1,013	$9,222
Neal Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	201 Baptist Road	Durham	27704	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(919) 560-3955	706	48	14.7	—	22 (3.1%)	281 (39.8%)	363 (51.4%)	9 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	30 (4.2%)	16.4	674^th of 778 public middle schools	13.4%		17.5	665^th of 773 public middle schools	14.0%	9	38.6	41.7	29.4	37.6	28.4	35.8	53.0	$12,097	$2,570	$9,527
Alston Ridge Middle	Public	6-8	7833 Fussell Avenue	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-8044	1,494	79	19.0	21.3%	334 (22.4%)	171 (11.4%)	175 (11.7%)	736 (49.3%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	73 (4.9%)	88.8	66^th of 778 public middle schools	91.5%		92.6	44^th of 773 public middle schools	94.3%	22	78.1	83.5	76.9	72.2	73.8	76.1	87.2
Phillips Middle	Public	6-8	606 N Estes Dr	Chapel Hill	27514	Orange County	Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 929-2188	600	52	11.4	27.0%	272 (45.3%)	86 (14.3%)	59 (9.8%)	131 (21.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (8.5%)	83.5	102^nd of 778 public middle schools	86.9%		85	93^rd of 773 public middle schools	88.0%	9	76.1	71.6	70.9	67.0	76.2	71.6	82.7	$12,655	$480	$12,175
George L Carrington Middle	Public	6-8	227 Milton Road	Durham	27712	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3916	771	51	15.1	—	93 (12.1%)	291 (37.7%)	326 (42.3%)	18 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (5.6%)	22.1	635^th of 778 public middle schools	18.4%		29	556^th of 773 public middle schools	28.1%	79	40.2	41.8	33.6	40.6	50.2	36.6	47.1	$10,263	$957	$9,306

Frequently Asked Questions about James E Shepard Middle

How many students attend James E Shepard Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 423 students attended James E Shepard Middle.

Is James E Shepard Middle a good school?

James E Shepard Middle ranks 472^nd of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is James E Shepard Middle in?

Durham Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of James E Shepard Middle?

Students at James E Shepard Middle are 62% African American, 30% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% White, 1% Asian.

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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.