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Oak Grove Elementary

Q: Is Oak Grove Elementary a good school?

Oak Grove Elementary ranks 599 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

599^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 60% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Oak Grove Elementary is a pre-K–5 school in Durham, NC, with about 395 students, nearly all from low-income households (roughly 99% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch). It is part of Durham Public Schools, a district rated just 2 stars, yet Oak Grove itself earns 3 stars and ranks in the 60th percentile statewide — 599th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools.

The defining trend is a dramatic schoolwide turnaround. In 2023–24, Oak Grove sat at the 20th percentile with a 1-star rating; one year later it jumped to the 61st percentile, and in 2025–26 it held that level (60th percentile). Among nearby Durham elementary schools, only Glenn Elementary (62nd percentile) ranks higher; Spring Valley Elementary, Merrick-Moore Elementary, Bethesda Elementary, and Y E Smith Elementary all rank below, as do nearby charters Research Triangle Charter, Maureen Joy Charter School, and KIPP Durham College Preparatory. Science is a standout: 77.2% of 5th graders scored proficient in 2025–26, far above the district's 62.5%, and results for Oak Grove's low-income students rank in the 85th percentile statewide. This is a school getting strong results from a student body that is almost entirely economically disadvantaged.

Reading remains the clearest area for improvement: 3rd-grade reading reached 63.9% proficiency in 2025–26, above the state, but 4th- and 5th-grade reading still trail state averages. Chronic absenteeism has fallen from 40.5% to 31.1%, now below the Durham Public Schools average of 36.1%. Oak Grove also spends less per student than many neighboring schools — roughly $12,244 compared with $17,541 at Y E Smith Elementary — yet posts far stronger outcomes. Annual performance swings for some smaller student groups and persistent gaps for students with disabilities remain worth monitoring, but Oak Grove's overall story is one of sustained progress.

395

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

3810 Wake Forest Road
Durham, NC 27703-3606

(919) 560-3960

District: Durham Public Schools

Students who attend Oak Grove Elementary usually attend:

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

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

42.8%

African American:

41.5%

White:

8.6%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Oak Grove Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 29th percentile in 2016 → 60th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 31 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the North Carolina median (60th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

District avg55%

North Carolina avg61%

599^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 40%▲ up 31 pts since 2016

From bottom 29% (2016) to top 40% (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	59.1	599 of 1492	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.1	580 of 1490	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	24.3	1202 of 1505	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.4	1049 of 1502	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.4	975 of 1514	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.6	1197 of 1489	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.3	1258 of 1473	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.9	893 of 1434	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	30.7	1063 of 1429	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.6	1018 of 1425	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	27.7	1113 of 1440	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	36.9	902 of 1390	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	22.8	1140 of 1403	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	30.3	1084 of 1388	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	20.2	1197 of 1381	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	24.4	1119 of 1363	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	20.4	1147 of 1354	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	14.1	1199 of 1324	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	15.3	1176 of 1293	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	22.6	1085 of 1276	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	88.3	59 of 903	93.5%	★★★★★
2025	79.2	112 of 918	87.8%	★★★★☆
2024	45.7	489 of 924	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.6	336 of 933	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.9	434 of 927	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.2	498 of 896	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.1	503 of 949	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	67.2	230 of 927	75.2%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	62.1	151 of 634	76.2%	★★★★☆
2019	20.0	807 of 878	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	19.9	821 of 897	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.4	250 of 519	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.6	144 of 563	74.4%	★★★★☆
2024	43.1	273 of 533	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.0	205 of 514	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.2	94 of 485	80.6%	★★★★☆
2021	51.6	126 of 385	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.6	305 of 497	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	63.9	96 of 421	77.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.1	664 of 1447	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.9	620 of 1451	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	27.3	1123 of 1455	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.5	993 of 1459	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.3	864 of 1458	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.0	1169 of 1440	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.6	1083 of 1424	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	51.2	721 of 1405	48.7%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.6	587 of 743	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	70.8	28 of 710	96.1%	★★★★★
2022	70.2	14 of 500	97.2%	★★★★★
2019	43.9	513 of 612	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.7	426 of 981	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.9	220 of 961	77.1%	★★★★☆
2024	37.6	629 of 951	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.4	413 of 915	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.8	366 of 893	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	34.0	579 of 843	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.8	517 of 865	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.0	296 of 851	65.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.9	218 of 1434	84.8%	★★★★☆
2025	71.0	295 of 1437	79.5%	★★★★☆
2024	36.8	971 of 1450	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.7	773 of 1437	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.9	676 of 1366	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.0	905 of 1329	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.7	1078 of 1361	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	58.0	537 of 1332	59.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.8	527 of 1451	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.0	506 of 1450	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	24.3	1176 of 1464	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.7	1039 of 1461	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.7	1023 of 1464	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.4	1156 of 1444	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.1	1293 of 1430	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	33.5	1031 of 1413	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	14.8	781 of 801	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)93rd percentile+34 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)85th percentile+25 vs school

Disabled (2022)76th percentile+41 vs school

Male (2026)64th percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2026)57th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)54th percentile-6 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)52nd percentile-8 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)21st percentile-39 vs school

Special Education (2024)2nd percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science77%+10 vs state

Mathematics65%~ state avg

Reading57%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Oak Grove 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	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
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
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		$11,287	$1,274	$10,013
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
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		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
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		$10,668	$1,389	$9,280
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		$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		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
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
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
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		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

Frequently Asked Questions about Oak Grove Elementary

What district is Oak Grove Elementary in?

Durham Public Schools

How many students attend Oak Grove Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 395 students attended Oak Grove Elementary.

Is Oak Grove Elementary a good school?

Oak Grove Elementary ranks 599^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Oak Grove Elementary?

Students at Oak Grove Elementary are 43% Hispanic, 42% African American, 9% White, 5% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Oak Grove Elementary attend?

Students who attend Oak Grove Elementary usually go on to attend:

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

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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.