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Merrick-Moore Elementary

Q: Is Merrick-Moore Elementary a good school?

Merrick-Moore Elementary ranks 884 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

884^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 41% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Merrick-Moore Elementary is a PK–5 school in Durham Public Schools serving 445 students in Durham, NC, where 99.3% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school's current statewide ranking — 884th of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools, or the 41st percentile — puts it in the lower-middle range, but that marks a real turnaround. As recently as 2020-21 the school sat in the 8th percentile, and a decade ago it was routinely near the very bottom of the state (1st–6th percentile). Since 2022-23, Merrick-Moore has stabilized between the 34th and 41st percentiles. Among nearby schools with similarly high poverty rates, it outperforms Y E Smith Elementary, Eastway Elementary, Club Boulevard Elementary, KIPP Durham College Preparatory, Global Scholars Academy, and Maureen Joy Charter School, while trailing Burton Elementary, Glenn Elementary, Oak Grove Elementary, and Reaching All Minds Academy.

Academically, the school's profile is unbalanced. Math is a relative strength, with grades 3–5 proficiency between 60% and 63% — close to district and state averages. Science is a genuine bright spot: 71.4% of 5th graders scored proficient, above the district's 62.5% and the state's 67.7%. Reading is the clear weakness, especially early on. Only 36.4% of 3rd graders read proficiently, compared with 55.6% statewide, though reading improves to 48.1% by 5th grade. Subgroup results tell a more optimistic story: the school ranks in the 77th percentile statewide for both low-income and special education students, the 84th percentile for gifted students, and the 68th percentile for African American students.

Chronic absenteeism is the school's biggest non-academic barrier. At 40.1% in 2024-25, it's far above the state rate of 24.2% and the district's 36.1%. The comparison with nearby schools is instructive: higher-performing Burton Elementary (24.4%), Glenn Elementary (28.0%), and Oak Grove Elementary (31.1%) all have meaningfully better attendance. The data point to three priorities that could move the needle most: early literacy intervention in K–3, attendance outreach to match the profile of higher-performing neighbors, and continuing the subgroup supports that are already yielding strong results.

445

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2325 Cheek Road
Durham, NC 27704-5203

(919) 560-3952

District: Durham Public Schools

Students who attend Merrick-Moore Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Neal Middle
High:	Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

52.1%

African American:

39.3%

White:

3.8%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Merrick-Moore Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 1st percentile in 2016 → 41st in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 40 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (55% vs 61% meeting standards)

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

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school55%

District avg55%

North Carolina avg61%

884^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 41%▲ up 40 pts since 2016

From bottom 1% (2016) to bottom 41% (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	41.7	884 of 1492	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.3	977 of 1490	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.7	960 of 1505	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.2	927 of 1502	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.3	1221 of 1514	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.7	1368 of 1489	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.3	1391 of 1473	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.8	1367 of 1434	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	4.5	1391 of 1429	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	2.6	1410 of 1425	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	2.6	1431 of 1440	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	5.2	1348 of 1390	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	8.7	1342 of 1403	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	5.5	1352 of 1388	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	6.6	1343 of 1381	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	13.0	1249 of 1363	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	4.8	1321 of 1354	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	13.8	1204 of 1324	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	15.2	1177 of 1293	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	23.3	1077 of 1276	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.4	288 of 903	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	46.3	478 of 918	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	68.1	210 of 924	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	75.6	145 of 933	84.5%	★★★★☆
2022	67.2	214 of 927	76.9%	★★★★☆
2021	48.8	371 of 896	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	21.7	844 of 949	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.2	871 of 927	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	33.1	422 of 634	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.4	593 of 878	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.0	481 of 897	46.4%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	50.9	202 of 519	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.1	255 of 563	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.8	267 of 533	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.9	254 of 514	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.6	289 of 485	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.8	343 of 497	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.5	282 of 421	33.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.6	695 of 1447	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	45.1	814 of 1451	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.2	760 of 1455	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.7	906 of 1459	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.4	1176 of 1458	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.2	1187 of 1440	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.0	1363 of 1424	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	4.0	1383 of 1405	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.6	122 of 743	83.6%	★★★★☆
2025	58.7	356 of 710	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	68.0	102 of 582	82.5%	★★★★☆
2019	41.0	547 of 612	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.6	408 of 981	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.1	274 of 961	71.5%	★★★★☆
2024	54.1	402 of 951	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.3	476 of 915	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.1	771 of 893	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.6	781 of 843	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.3	725 of 865	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.7	632 of 851	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.6	328 of 1434	77.1%	★★★★☆
2025	46.6	770 of 1437	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.4	631 of 1450	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.8	673 of 1437	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.6	811 of 1366	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	16.3	1218 of 1329	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.0	1238 of 1361	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.7	1236 of 1332	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	29.1	1081 of 1451	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.8	1105 of 1450	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.6	1048 of 1464	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.8	888 of 1461	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	21.5	1201 of 1464	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	8.8	1386 of 1444	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	11.9	1327 of 1430	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	16.4	1262 of 1413	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	63.9	185 of 815	77.3%	★★★★☆
2025	33.7	567 of 821	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.2	508 of 801	36.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2026)84th percentile+43 vs school

Special Education (2026)77th percentile+37 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)77th percentile+36 vs school

African American (2026)68th percentile+27 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)61st percentile+20 vs school

Hispanic (2026)58th percentile+18 vs school

Female (2026)52nd percentile+11 vs school

Disabled (2022)33rd percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)25th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science71%+4 vs state

Mathematics62%~ state avg

Reading42%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Merrick-Moore 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/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
Merrick-Moore Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2325 Cheek Road	Durham	27704	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3952	445	35	12.6	99.3%	17 (3.8%)	175 (39.3%)	232 (52.1%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.6%)	41.7	884^th of 1492 public elementary schools	40.8%		36.3	977^th of 1490 public elementary schools	34.4%	93	60.0	63.1	62.3				36.4	40.0	48.1				71.4		$13,272	$3,313	$9,959
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
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	99.2%	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
Glenn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2415 E Geer Street	Durham	27704	Durham County	Durham Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 560-3920	455	44	10.3	99.3%	30 (6.6%)	134 (29.5%)	265 (58.2%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.8%)	60.8	567^th of 1492 public elementary schools	62.0%		38.5	945^th of 1490 public elementary schools	36.6%	378	87.7	71.4	68.3				54.8	58.7	41.5				72.0		$12,627	$1,574	$11,053
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	99.2%	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		$17,541	$3,182	$14,359
Maureen Joy Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	107 South Driver Street	Durham	27703	Durham County	Maureen Joy Charter	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 908-1600	631	54	11.6	99.2%	15 (2.4%)	158 (25.0%)	425 (67.4%)	10 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (3.5%)	38.6	931^st of 1492 public elementary schools	37.6%		37.2	959^th of 1490 public elementary schools	35.6%	28	67.2	67.7	40.0	69.1	81.9	68.1	45.3	54.8	41.4	42.6	56.9	71.0	50.0	79.7
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	99.1%	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
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	98.5%	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
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
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	99.2%	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

Frequently Asked Questions about Merrick-Moore Elementary

How many students attend Merrick-Moore Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 445 students attended Merrick-Moore Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Merrick-Moore Elementary?

Students at Merrick-Moore Elementary are 52% Hispanic, 39% African American, 4% White, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Merrick-Moore Elementary in?

Durham Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Merrick-Moore Elementary attend?

Students who attend Merrick-Moore Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Neal Middle
High : Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi

Is Merrick-Moore Elementary a good school?

Merrick-Moore Elementary ranks 884^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Merrick-Moore Elementary!

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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.