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Durham School of the Arts

Public, Magnet Grades 6-12
111th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 641 North Carolina High Schools
Better than 83% of North Carolina high schools
Summary

Durham School of the Arts is a public magnet high school serving grades 6-12 in Durham, North Carolina, with a total enrollment of 1,767 students. As part of the Durham Public Schools district, the school consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state, maintaining a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past several years.

Durham School of the Arts is known for its exceptional academic performance, with students significantly outperforming their peers in the district and the state across various subject areas and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 87.9% of Durham School of the Arts students were proficient or better in EOC/English II, compared to 53.5% in the district and 59.6% statewide. The school also boasts a high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 80.4% to 94.8% over the past few years, which is higher than the district and state averages.

When compared to other high schools in the Durham Public Schools district, Durham School of the Arts stands out as a high-performing institution. Nearby schools like Northern High, Southern School of Energy and Sustainability, and Hillside High have significantly lower test scores and academic rankings. Despite having a relatively high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, Durham School of the Arts continues to excel academically, suggesting that the school is able to overcome socioeconomic challenges and provide a high-quality education to all students.

1,764
Students ?
17.6
Student/teacher ratio ?
$10,260
Per pupil spending ?
99.2%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 401 North Duke Street
       Durham, NC  27701-2048

(919) 560-3926

District: Durham Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:
34.7%
Hispanic:
30.7%
African American:
24.8%
more
 See top rated North Carolina high schools

 Compare Durham School of the Arts to nearby high schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Declining — 90th percentile in 2015 → 83rd in 2025
Strengths
Test scores above the North Carolina average (77% vs 54% meeting standards)
Ranks in the top 17% of North Carolina high schools
95% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (87%)
Worth a look
!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2015
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school77%
District avg47%
North Carolina avg54%
Middle school
68th of 773
North Carolina public middle schools ?
Top 9%▲ up 6 pts since 2015
From top 15% (2015) to top 9% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
111th of 641
North Carolina public high schools ?
Top 17%▼ down 8 pts since 2015
From top 10% (2015) to top 17% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
3rd of 12High Schools in the Durham Public Schools
163rd of 242Durham 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)
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202588.268 of 77391.2%★★★★★
202489.566 of 79391.7%★★★★★
202388.078 of 78490.1%★★★★★
202288.177 of 78690.2%★★★★★
202176.2161 of 74178.3%★★★★☆
201987.462 of 73791.6%★★★★★
201888.347 of 69193.2%★★★★★
201782.993 of 69486.6%★★★★☆
201681.696 of 69286.1%★★★★☆
201582.5103 of 70585.4%★★★★☆
201479.7116 of 62781.5%★★★★☆
201379.6109 of 67383.8%★★★★☆
201269.8202 of 66269.5%★★★☆☆
201166.7228 of 64864.8%★★★☆☆
201056.8334 of 64047.8%★★☆☆☆
200959.6302 of 63052.1%★★★☆☆
200865.5227 of 62063.4%★★★☆☆
200758.8283 of 60653.3%★★★☆☆
200668.3175 of 59870.7%★★★★☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202588.147 of 54691.4%★★★★★
202489.441 of 56092.7%★★★★★
202389.735 of 55993.7%★★★★★
202293.427 of 55095.1%★★★★★
202180.155 of 53389.7%★★★★☆
201992.229 of 51994.4%★★★★★
201893.517 of 49496.6%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202571.140 of 11164.0%★★★☆☆
201879.920 of 9578.9%★★★★☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202283.132 of 44992.9%★★★★★
202165.476 of 47884.1%★★★★☆
201985.923 of 50495.4%★★★★★
201874.747 of 47590.1%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202546.1161 of 37156.6%★★★☆☆
202458.985 of 35676.1%★★★★☆
202372.530 of 31890.6%★★★★★
202264.155 of 31282.4%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202587.068 of 73390.7%★★★★★
202489.062 of 73891.6%★★★★★
202388.272 of 73190.2%★★★★★
202287.174 of 73389.9%★★★★★
202171.7175 of 70675.2%★★★★☆
201982.692 of 68486.5%★★★★☆
201883.880 of 65687.8%★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202569.697 of 45878.8%★★★★☆
202465.0152 of 46167.0%★★★☆☆
202370.194 of 45279.2%★★★★☆
202265.6134 of 45070.2%★★★★☆
202145.0315 of 44829.7%★★☆☆☆
201949.4285 of 41631.5%★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202579.670 of 56287.5%★★★★☆
202482.257 of 56489.9%★★★★★
202377.873 of 55386.8%★★★★☆
202277.667 of 54187.6%★★★★☆
202155.6193 of 52263.0%★★★☆☆
201979.359 of 49388.0%★★★★☆
201888.519 of 47296.0%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202574.1114 of 72984.4%★★★★☆
202477.995 of 74387.2%★★★★☆
202380.489 of 73587.9%★★★★☆
202280.674 of 68989.3%★★★★☆
202165.8150 of 63376.3%★★★★☆
201984.148 of 63992.5%★★★★★
201889.920 of 60496.7%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202587.569 of 73390.6%★★★★★
202487.377 of 75189.7%★★★★☆
202385.190 of 74788.0%★★★★☆
202286.778 of 74889.6%★★★★☆
202179.7125 of 71182.4%★★★★☆
201990.045 of 69793.5%★★★★★
201891.933 of 66595.0%★★★★★

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202588.621 of 32893.6%★★★★★
202491.217 of 30694.4%★★★★★
202394.210 of 30296.7%★★★★★
202296.86 of 28397.9%★★★★★
202193.610 of 24896.0%★★★★★
201866.260 of 22172.9%★★★★☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202581.927 of 47894.4%★★★★★
202494.99 of 47398.1%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202596.07 of 64998.9%★★★★★
202497.17 of 65298.9%★★★★★
202397.62 of 65699.7%★★★★★
202296.69 of 65898.6%★★★★★
202192.628 of 63295.6%★★★★★
201897.14 of 59699.3%★★★★★
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202585.1111 of 64182.7%★★★★☆
202480.5132 of 64079.4%★★★★☆
202381.6118 of 62681.2%★★★★☆
202281.1123 of 62180.2%★★★★☆
202166.9172 of 59471.0%★★★★☆
201984.443 of 51491.6%★★★★★
201886.034 of 46992.8%★★★★★
201781.838 of 47692.0%★★★★★
201676.448 of 50790.5%★★★★★
201576.952 of 53190.2%★★★★★
201471.962 of 45186.3%★★★★☆
201377.026 of 50594.9%★★★★★
201272.255 of 50289.0%★★★★☆
201173.964 of 50687.4%★★★★☆
201069.978 of 49984.4%★★★★☆
200960.4162 of 49066.9%★★★☆☆
200862.5127 of 47773.4%★★★★☆
200772.261 of 45386.5%★★★★☆
200670.467 of 43184.5%★★★★☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202590.643 of 44090.2%★★★★★
202484.662 of 43785.8%★★★★☆
202383.267 of 43484.6%★★★★☆
202287.452 of 43087.9%★★★★☆
202164.759 of 36483.8%★★★★☆
201981.927 of 36992.7%★★★★★
201890.319 of 35994.7%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202487.86 of 10194.1%★★★★★
202275.325 of 9172.5%★★★★☆
202150.845 of 8345.8%★★☆☆☆
201988.73 of 8996.6%★★★★★

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202290.116 of 33095.2%★★★★★
202179.831 of 33490.7%★★★★★
201993.111 of 36497.0%★★★★★
201877.845 of 34987.1%★★★★☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202584.017 of 27393.8%★★★★★
202466.841 of 26284.4%★★★★☆
202393.18 of 22696.5%★★★★★
202265.024 of 15684.6%★★★★☆
202126.9100 of 12419.4%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202585.597 of 61084.1%★★★★☆
202482.1119 of 60280.2%★★★★☆
202381.8106 of 58882.0%★★★★☆
202280.1122 of 59479.5%★★★★☆
202165.1106 of 47577.7%★★★★☆
201983.044 of 47590.7%★★★★★
201886.828 of 44993.8%★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202577.880 of 41280.6%★★★★☆
202467.3133 of 40367.0%★★★☆☆
202369.1129 of 40368.0%★★★☆☆
202271.997 of 39875.6%★★★★☆
202146.1220 of 33734.7%★★☆☆☆
201962.8113 of 32565.2%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202582.285 of 46281.6%★★★★☆
202472.598 of 45478.4%★★★★☆
202373.890 of 44980.0%★★★★☆
202270.3104 of 43676.1%★★★★☆
202152.2100 of 37073.0%★★★★☆
201985.422 of 35493.8%★★★★★
201887.121 of 34093.8%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202577.7116 of 60680.9%★★★★☆
202470.7148 of 61375.9%★★★★☆
202373.6125 of 59779.1%★★★★☆
202273.6111 of 54479.6%★★★★☆
202154.994 of 43278.2%★★★★☆
201971.638 of 44691.5%★★★★★
201882.829 of 42493.2%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202582.2127 of 60178.9%★★★★☆
202476.8144 of 60776.3%★★★★☆
202380.5127 of 60278.9%★★★★☆
202280.7117 of 58580.0%★★★★☆
202167.096 of 48180.0%★★★★☆
201983.937 of 48892.4%★★★★★
201881.954 of 46388.3%★★★★☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202595.33 of 25398.8%★★★★★
202496.68 of 26196.9%★★★★★
202396.65 of 24998.0%★★★★★
202296.43 of 22698.7%★★★★★
202193.95 of 19997.5%★★★★★
201995.26 of 19596.9%★★★★★
201898.01 of 18599.5%★★★★★

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202586.017 of 35295.2%★★★★★
202472.345 of 34987.1%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202591.140 of 54292.6%★★★★★
202491.047 of 55391.5%★★★★★
202390.747 of 53791.2%★★★★★
202291.246 of 53491.4%★★★★★
202187.923 of 43994.8%★★★★★
201993.47 of 44498.4%★★★★★
201891.414 of 42796.7%★★★★★
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)
Middle school
White (2025)99th percentile+8 vs school
Special Education (2025)94th percentile+3 vs school
Multi-racial (2025)94th percentile~ school
Disabled (2022)93rd percentile+3 vs school
African American (2025)91st percentile~ school
Female (2025)91st percentile~ school
Male (2025)91st percentile~ school
Hispanic (2025)88th percentile-4 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)84th percentile-7 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2025)79th percentile-12 vs school
Asian (2025)64th percentile-27 vs school
English Language Learner (2025)57th percentile-35 vs school
High school
Multi-racial (2025)99th percentile+16 vs school
Special Education (2025)95th percentile+12 vs school
Disabled (2022)95th percentile+15 vs school
Asian (2024)94th percentile+15 vs school
English Language Learner (2025)94th percentile+11 vs school
White (2025)93rd percentile+10 vs school
African American (2025)90th percentile+8 vs school
Female (2025)84th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2025)82nd percentile~ school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)81st percentile~ school
Gifted and Talented (2025)81st percentile~ school
Male (2025)79th percentile-4 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?
English II88%+28 vs state
Math III87%+20 vs state
Science79%+18 vs state
Biology77%+29 vs state
Mathematics76%+23 vs state
Reading74%+22 vs state
Math I59%+25 vs state

5.0
3 ratings · 1 written review
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What people are saying
by a parent
Friday, August 8, 2014

Open Quote DSA is a phenomenal school who really cares about the success of their students. From exceptional children to advanced kids- DSA caters to it all. Teachers are great there and the entire environment is uplifting. I have 2 kids there and will never move because they are at the perfect school for them. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Durham School of the Arts

Durham School of the Arts ranks 111th of 641 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,764 students attended Durham School of the Arts.

Students at Durham School of the Arts are 35% White, 31% Hispanic, 25% African American, 7% Two or more races, 3% Asian.


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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.





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