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George Watts Elementary

Q: Is George Watts Elementary a good school?

George Watts Elementary ranks 421 st of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

421^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 72% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

George Watts Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Durham, NC, enrolling 358 students in the Durham Public Schools district—a school system that ranks in the bottom half of North Carolina—but George Watts Elementary itself rates in the top quarter statewide, currently 421st of 1,492 elementary schools with a 4-star rating. Academic results are strongest in reading: 3rd grade reading proficiency reached 67.3% and 5th grade 69%, well above state averages. Math is softer—5th grade math (61.9%) slipped just below the state (62.9%). One important caution: George Watts reported 99.2% free/reduced-price lunch in 2024–2025, but that figure is inflated because Durham schools adopted the federal Community Eligibility Provision that year; before that change, the school's rate was about 28%.

Compared with nearby elementary schools, George Watts is one of the strongest traditional options. It ranks above Burton Elementary (459th) and far above Eastway Elementary, Lakewood Elementary, Club Boulevard Elementary, and E K Powe Elementary; only Morehead Montessori (309th) finishes higher. The school also posts remarkable attendance numbers for Durham: chronic absenteeism was 24.4% in 2024–2025, far below the district's 36.1% and well under C C Spaulding Elementary (45.8%), Eastway (38.1%), and Global Scholars Academy (41.5%). Just a year earlier, George Watts logged an 11.9% absenteeism rate—extraordinarily low for the area.

The biggest challenge at George Watts is internal. Its strong overall ranking masks wide gaps: White students perform at the 97th percentile statewide, while Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students rank in the bottom 10% of their peer groups. Boys' scores have also fallen sharply—from the 86th percentile in 2023–2024 to 58th by 2025–2026—creating a widening gender gap. Morehead Montessori posts better reading scores, attendance, and spending (about $1,600 more per student), though George Watts exceeds Morehead in 4th grade math. For a neighborhood school, George Watts is a high-achieving choice, but families should weigh how their child fits within the larger student experience.

358

Students ?

14.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701-1726

(919) 560-3947

District: Durham Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

49.2%

Hispanic:

25.1%

African American:

15.4%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare George Watts Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 90th percentile in 2023 → 72nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (68% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 90th-percentile peak (2023) to 72nd (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school68%

District avg55%

North Carolina avg61%

421^st of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From top 44% (2016) to top 28% (2026)

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	69.8	421 of 1492	71.8%	★★★★☆
2025	76.9	299 of 1490	79.9%	★★★★☆
2024	83.4	196 of 1505	87.0%	★★★★☆
2023	86.0	150 of 1502	90.0%	★★★★★
2022	85.9	164 of 1514	89.2%	★★★★☆
2021	85.5	178 of 1489	88.0%	★★★★☆
2019	70.4	397 of 1473	73.0%	★★★★☆
2018	60.1	574 of 1434	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	54.9	666 of 1429	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	56.2	620 of 1425	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	49.9	753 of 1440	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	61.7	512 of 1390	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	62.2	485 of 1403	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	35.2	1008 of 1388	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	16.9	1241 of 1381	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	25.0	1109 of 1363	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	14.9	1220 of 1354	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	12.5	1221 of 1324	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	20.0	1135 of 1293	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	4.3	1265 of 1276	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	66.1	241 of 927	74.0%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2021	82.1	53 of 646	91.8%	★★★★★
2019	74.4	121 of 878	86.2%	★★★★☆
2018	49.3	386 of 897	57.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	78.7	240 of 1447	83.4%	★★★★☆
2025	80.1	215 of 1451	85.2%	★★★★☆
2024	81.9	191 of 1455	86.9%	★★★★☆
2023	85.3	149 of 1459	89.8%	★★★★☆
2022	83.3	183 of 1458	87.4%	★★★★☆
2021	82.7	187 of 1440	87.0%	★★★★☆
2019	73.5	326 of 1424	77.1%	★★★★☆
2018	48.3	776 of 1405	44.8%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.0	340 of 743	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.6	362 of 710	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	64.7	219 of 669	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.0	172 of 582	70.4%	★★★★☆
2022	63.0	195 of 500	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.5	193 of 494	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.8	434 of 612	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.8	60 of 69	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	12.9	947 of 981	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	19.5	861 of 961	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.3	722 of 915	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	53.4	360 of 893	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	26.4	689 of 843	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.5	687 of 865	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.5	621 of 851	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	15.3	1343 of 1434	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.7	1359 of 1437	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	51.3	665 of 1450	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.4	1062 of 1437	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.7	1081 of 1361	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.8	959 of 1332	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	56.6	608 of 1451	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.8	384 of 1450	73.5%	★★★★☆
2024	81.3	207 of 1464	85.9%	★★★★☆
2023	83.8	171 of 1461	88.3%	★★★★☆
2022	83.5	184 of 1464	87.4%	★★★★☆
2021	84.8	170 of 1444	88.2%	★★★★☆
2019	64.3	463 of 1430	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.7	394 of 1413	72.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	65.2	166 of 801	79.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	90.4	31 of 1146	97.3%	★★★★★
2025	91.4	36 of 1172	96.9%	★★★★★
2024	87.0	94 of 1166	91.9%	★★★★★
2023	94.5	8 of 1183	99.3%	★★★★★
2022	92.4	28 of 1194	97.7%	★★★★★
2021	95.0	15 of 1172	98.7%	★★★★★
2019	90.5	42 of 1183	96.4%	★★★★★
2018	82.9	142 of 1178	87.9%	★★★★☆

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)

White (2026)97th percentile+26 vs school

Disabled (2021)92nd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)83rd percentile+12 vs school

Special Education (2024)79th percentile-8 vs school

African American (2018)74th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)58th percentile-14 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)54th percentile-18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)6th percentile-65 vs school

Hispanic (2026)3rd percentile-68 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science74%+6 vs state

Reading67%+11 vs state

Mathematics67%+4 vs state

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Schools Near George Watts 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 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 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
George Watts Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	700 Watts Street	Durham	27701	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(919) 560-3947	358	25	14.2	—	176 (49.2%)	55 (15.4%)	90 (25.1%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	30 (8.4%)	69.8	421^st of 1492 public elementary schools	71.8%		76.9	299^th of 1490 public elementary schools	79.9%	122	69.1	69.2	61.9				67.3	65.4	69.0				73.8		$15,158	$1,151	$14,007
Central Park School For Children	Public, Charter	K-8	724 Foster Street	Durham	27701	Durham County	Central Park School For Children	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 682-1200	585	47	12.4	35.6%	284 (48.5%)	133 (22.7%)	108 (18.5%)	13 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (7.9%)	40.5	898^th of 1492 public elementary schools	39.8%		55.6	642^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	56.9%	256	54.4	53.2	48.4	41.8	49.2	51.9	52.9	66.1	50.8	58.2	61.3	70.4	57.4	75.9
E K Powe Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	913 9th Street	Durham	27705	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3963	454	36	12.7	—	170 (37.4%)	81 (17.8%)	161 (35.5%)	10 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.8%)	43.1	858^th of 1492 public elementary schools	42.5%		41.8	884^th of 1490 public elementary schools	40.7%	26	51.7	58.3	60.7				43.3	62.5	54.1				59.0		$12,287	$1,073	$11,214
Club Boulevard Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-5	400 W Club Boulevard	Durham	27704	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(919) 560-3918	364	25	14.6	—	141 (38.7%)	73 (20.1%)	128 (35.2%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.2%)	31.1	1072^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	28.2%		51.6	717^th of 1490 public elementary schools	51.9%	355	50.8	51.8	47.0				41.5	64.3	48.2				53.0		$12,570	$1,172	$11,398
Global Scholars Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	1305 W Club Blvd	Durham	27705	Durham County	Global Scholars Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 682-5903	201	17	11.8	—	0 (0.0%)	77 (38.3%)	121 (60.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	18.7	1302^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	12.7%		16.8	1328^th of 1490 public elementary schools	10.9%	26	50.0	64.0	55.0	42.9	46.7	60.0	16.7	28.0	15.0	28.6	33.3	50.0	40.0	90.0
Morehead Montessori	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	909 Cobb Street	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(919) 560-3954	278	20	14.2	—	136 (48.9%)	55 (19.8%)	46 (16.5%)	12 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (10.4%)	75.6	309^th of 1492 public elementary schools	79.3%		77.3	287^th of 1490 public elementary schools	80.7%	22	81.8	55.0	67.6				81.8	65.0	73.5				80.0		$16,804	$1,621	$15,183
Eastway Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	610 North Alston Avenue	Durham	27701	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3910	331	31	10.5	—	12 (3.6%)	128 (38.7%)	173 (52.3%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.6%)	22.9	1226^th of 1492 public elementary schools	17.8%		17.1	1327^th of 1490 public elementary schools	10.9%	101	73.2	60.4	51.7				31.7	26.4	24.1				36.2		$13,790	$3,532	$10,259
KIPP Durham College Preparatory	Public, Charter	K-8	1107 Holloway Street	Durham	27701	Durham County	KIPP Durham College Preparatory	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 973-0285	380	26	14.9	—	9 (2.4%)	180 (47.4%)	183 (48.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.8%)	10.7	1409^th of 1492 public elementary schools	5.6%		19.2	1289^th of 1490 public elementary schools	13.5%	120	57.9	28.9		36.1	66.1	52.4	21.1	24.4		22.2	33.9	38.1		57.5
C C Spaulding Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1531 S Roxboro Road	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3974	247	24	10.2	—	22 (8.9%)	88 (35.6%)	117 (47.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.7%)	33.9	1029^th of 1492 public elementary schools	31.0%		26	1156^th of 1490 public elementary schools	22.4%	127	59.5	48.5	80.8				40.5	24.2	38.5				69.2		$16,448	$4,879	$11,568
Lakewood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2520 Vesson Avenue	Durham	27707	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3939	439	39	11.2	—	91 (20.7%)	119 (27.1%)	188 (42.8%)	15 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.9%)	32.6	1045^th of 1492 public elementary schools	30.0%		16.7	1330^th of 1490 public elementary schools	10.7%	285	48.3	47.8	68.1				50.0	50.7	42.0				50.7		$14,031	$1,898	$12,133

Frequently Asked Questions about George Watts Elementary

How many students attend George Watts Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 358 students attended George Watts Elementary.

Is George Watts Elementary a good school?

George Watts Elementary ranks 421^st of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of George Watts Elementary?

Students at George Watts Elementary are 49% White, 25% Hispanic, 15% African American, 8% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is George Watts Elementary in?

Durham Public Schools

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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.