Best High Schools in Zip Code 27701

In ZIP code 27701, there is just one high school-serving public school: Durham School of the Arts, a combined middle and high school serving grades 6 through 12 with about 1,764 students, making it the only high school option listed in this neighborhood of Durham, North Carolina. DSA is a standalone standout partly because there is nowhere else to compare locally, but it also excels far beyond its own district. The school has earned a 4-star statewide rating for three consecutive years, placing it in the 77th to 83rd percentile among roughly 640 to 662 North Carolina public schools. By contrast, Durham Public Schools holds just a 2-star rating and ranks 155th out of 246 districts, meaning DSA clearly outshines the district within which it operates.

Academically, Durham School of the Arts outperforms both its district and the state in nearly every subject and grade level measured. Its most recent graduation rate is 94.8%, far above the state rate of 88.8% and even further above the district rate of 80.3%. Chronic absenteeism, a strong predictor of engagement, stands at 18.5% at DSA compared with 36.1% across Durham Public Schools and 24.2% statewide. In the most recent testing year, DSA beat the district and state in every single tested subject and grade, often by wide margins. For example, English II proficiency is 84.4% versus 64.6% statewide, 8th grade reading is 82.4% versus 56.1% statewide, and 8th grade science reaches 86.4%. Even its weakest subject, Math I at 64.6% proficiency, is roughly double the district average.

What makes these results especially notable is the school's demographic profile: 99.21% of DSA students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a very high poverty indicator. Despite that challenge, the school posts results that look like a college-preparatory program, with especially strong outcomes in literacy, English, and science. Students who reach advanced math also thrive, with Math III proficiency at 81.3%. With its arts-focused magnet identity, strong attendance, high graduation rate, and consistent top-quarter state rankings, Durham School of the Arts is a genuinely powerful public school option for families in ZIP 27701.