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Bethesda Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1203^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 19% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Bethesda Elementary is a PK–5 public school in southeastern Durham, NC, serving 442 students in Durham Public Schools. The school has ranked in the bottom quarter of North Carolina elementary schools for the past decade and currently sits at the 19th percentile statewide (1,203rd of 1,492) with a 1-star rating. Nearly every student — 99.3% — qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, and chronic absenteeism is a serious concern: 40.2% of students missed significant school time in 2024-2025, nearly double the state average of 24.2%.

Bethesda's academic proficiency trails the district and state in nearly every grade and subject, with the clearest gaps in early math and 5th grade science. Only 40.6% of 3rd graders are proficient in math, compared with 60.8% across Durham Public Schools. The bright spot is 4th grade reading, where Bethesda's 52.5% proficiency rate beats the district average. The low scores are especially striking given that nearby Oak Grove Elementary and Spring Valley Elementary serve nearly identical student populations — both above 99% free/reduced-price lunch — yet rank at the 60th and 49th percentiles, respectively. Spring Valley's 3rd grade math proficiency (72.1%) is more than 30 points higher, and both schools have meaningfully lower chronic absenteeism.

There are other positives. Bethesda also outperformed Brier Creek Elementary, part of Wake County Schools, in 3rd and 4th grade reading and in 4th grade math, and its special education students ranked at the 48th percentile statewide in 2025-2026 — well above the school's overall ranking. The most puzzling data point is the gifted and talented subgroup's ranking swinging from the 96th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 4th percentile in 2025-2026, a swing that points to a very small student cohort. For parents, the takeaway is that Bethesda's challenges are real but not inevitable: reducing chronic absenteeism and strengthening early-grade math and literacy would move the school toward the results its higher-performing neighbors achieve with the same student demographics.

442

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

81.1%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 2.7% (any vaccine)

2009 S Miami Boulevard
Durham, NC 27703-5705

(919) 560-3904

District: Durham Public Schools

Students who attend Bethesda Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Lowe's Grove Middle
	Rogers-Herr Middle
High:	Hillside High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

47.3%

Hispanic:

38.7%

White:

7.5%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Bethesda Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 17th percentile in 2016 → 19th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (47% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (19th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (40% vs 24% North Carolina)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg55%

North Carolina avg61%

1,203^rd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 19%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary 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	24.2	1203 of 1492	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.5	1169 of 1490	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.0	1269 of 1505	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.9	1245 of 1502	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.2	1310 of 1514	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.1	1401 of 1489	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	22.2	1231 of 1473	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.7	1054 of 1434	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.4	1198 of 1429	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	22.6	1181 of 1425	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	20.5	1203 of 1440	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	16.7	1211 of 1390	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	18.7	1207 of 1403	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	28.1	1111 of 1388	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	17.4	1233 of 1381	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	11.3	1276 of 1363	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	15.2	1216 of 1354	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	21.8	1111 of 1324	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	11.7	1212 of 1293	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	7.6	1243 of 1276	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.4	496 of 903	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	55.7	328 of 918	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.2	386 of 924	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.0	458 of 933	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.6	467 of 927	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.5	648 of 896	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.6	652 of 949	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.0	460 of 927	50.4%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	24.9	533 of 634	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.9	712 of 878	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.0	617 of 897	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	22.7	454 of 519	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.0	380 of 563	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.8	469 of 533	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.8	368 of 514	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.4	335 of 485	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.1	250 of 385	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.1	267 of 497	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	66.8	85 of 421	79.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.9	1216 of 1447	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.2	1224 of 1451	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.2	1236 of 1455	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.8	1222 of 1459	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.4	1212 of 1458	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.7	1321 of 1440	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.3	1185 of 1424	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.3	1023 of 1405	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.7	713 of 743	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	27.0	662 of 710	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	70.8	27 of 669	96.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	31.6	735 of 981	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.0	770 of 961	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.1	855 of 951	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.9	798 of 915	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.5	786 of 893	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.4	814 of 843	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	48.7	435 of 865	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.2	261 of 851	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.6	1223 of 1434	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.6	1109 of 1437	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.0	1170 of 1450	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.2	1231 of 1437	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.7	1252 of 1366	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.1	1202 of 1329	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	29.8	1053 of 1361	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.6	932 of 1332	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.3	1061 of 1451	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.1	1056 of 1450	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.3	1195 of 1464	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.2	1190 of 1461	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.4	1316 of 1464	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.0	1380 of 1444	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	22.5	1202 of 1430	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.8	1068 of 1413	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	26.2	102 of 133	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.4	427 of 815	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.1	558 of 821	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.6	528 of 801	34.1%	★★☆☆☆

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)48th percentile+28 vs school

African American (2026)45th percentile+26 vs school

Male (2026)27th percentile+8 vs school

Hispanic (2026)25th percentile+6 vs school

Multi-racial (2022)23rd percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)16th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2022)16th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)15th percentile-5 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)13th percentile-7 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)4th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science51%-17 vs state

Reading47%-10 vs state

Mathematics45%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bethesda Elementary

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		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 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	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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	—	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		81.1%	2.7%	$10,668	$1,389	$9,280
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	—	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	97.2%	0%
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	—	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		100%	0%	$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	100%	0%
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	—	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
Brier Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9801 Brier Creek Parkway	Raleigh	27617	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 484-4747	642	48	13.4	63.9%	146 (22.7%)	299 (46.6%)	138 (21.5%)	36 (5.6%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.1%)	16.7	1339^th of 1492 public elementary schools	10.3%		30.3	1085^th of 1490 public elementary schools	27.2%	254	45.1	41.6	49.5				39.3	36.6	34.6				52.3				$9,431	$337	$9,094
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	—	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		71%	0%	$14,110	$1,680	$12,430
Reaching All Minds Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	2703 Holloway St.	Durham	27703	Durham County	Reaching All Minds Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 596-1899	391	36	10.9	—	45 (11.5%)	52 (13.3%)	289 (73.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	45.7	809^th of 1492 public elementary schools	45.8%		52.1	710^th of 1490 public elementary schools	52.3%	99	70.0	62.5	72.7	35.3	48.8	46.3	34.0	57.5	54.5	41.2	46.5	41.5	77.3	36.6
Y E Smith Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2410 E Main Street	Durham	27703	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3900	358	23	15.6	—	11 (3.1%)	145 (40.5%)	182 (50.8%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.2%)	9.1	1430^th of 1492 public elementary schools	4.2%		3.4	1482^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	0.5%	52	58.1	39.1	19.1				30.2	34.8	8.5				14.9		45.7%	0%	$17,541	$3,182	$14,359
Pleasant Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3605 Pleasant Grove Church Rd	Morrisville	27560	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-8770	376	29	12.7	29.8%	64 (17.0%)	71 (18.9%)	24 (6.4%)	193 (51.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.1%)	82.2	212^th of 1492 public elementary schools	85.8%		62.4	525^th of 1490 public elementary schools	64.8%	313	80.0	81.0	66.7				78.5	69.6	76.5				74.5		97.3%	2.7%	$9,061	$439	$8,622

Frequently Asked Questions about Bethesda Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Bethesda Elementary?

Students at Bethesda Elementary are 47% African American, 39% Hispanic, 7% White, 6% Two or more races.

What district is Bethesda Elementary in?

Durham Public Schools

Is Bethesda Elementary a good school?

Bethesda Elementary ranks in the bottom 19.4% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Bethesda Elementary attend?

Students who attend Bethesda Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lowe's Grove Middle
Middle : Rogers-Herr Middle
High : Hillside High

How many students attend Bethesda Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 442 students attended Bethesda Elementary.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 attendance dataSep 2, 2026

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.