Summary
Lyons Farm Elementary is a public PK-5 school in Durham, NC, serving 608 students within Durham Public Schools. Although the district ranks in the lower half of North Carolina districts, Lyons Farm is a notable bright spot: in 2025-26 it ranks 283rd of 1,492 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 81st percentile with a 4-star rating. The school has held steady in the 81st–83rd percentile for four consecutive years, making it one of the highest-performing public elementary schools in its immediate Durham area.
Academically, Lyons Farm exceeds Durham Public Schools averages in nearly every grade and subject, sometimes by more than 25 percentage points, and often beats state averages as well. Its strongest showing is in 3rd and 4th grade reading, where proficiency has climbed sharply over three years. Among nearby DPS elementary schools, Lyons Farm is the top-ranked option, ahead of Pearsontown Elementary, Southwest Elementary, Murray-Massenburg Elementary, and Parkwood Elementary. The gap with Parkwood, only 1.55 miles away, is particularly stark in both achievement and attendance. Across the county line, however, elite Wake County Schools such as Mills Park Elementary, Parkside Elementary, Alston Ridge Elementary, and Hortons Creek Elementary rank in the 91st–98th percentiles statewide and post higher scores in most subjects, though Lyons Farm's 4th grade reading matches Alston Ridge at 77.7%.
Attendance is another strength: Lyons Farm's 16.8% chronic absenteeism rate is less than half the Durham Public Schools average of 36.1%. The caveats worth noting are 5th grade reading, which sits at 60.2% proficient—a clear drop from 70.1% the prior year—and science scores that fell from an exceptional 90.2% to 71.1%, though both remain above state averages. Outcomes for certain student groups have slipped relative to statewide peers, and the overall state rank has eased downward from 256th to 283rd over four years—still strong, but a gentle decline. For families comparing Durham Public Schools options, Lyons Farm is clearly among the best. For those considering nearby Wake County schools, the performance gap is real but narrowest in early-grade reading and math.
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