Best High Schools in Zip Code 27707

The four public high schools in Durham's 27707 zip code — C E Jordan High, Hillside High, J D Clement Early College High School, and Durham School of Technology — are all part of Durham Public Schools, a district ranked 155th of 246 statewide, and together serve roughly 4,221 students in the high school grades, with free/reduced lunch eligibility above 98 percent at every school.

There are two distinct tiers here. J D Clement Early College High School leads the way, ranked in the 90th percentile statewide with about 91 percent average EOC proficiency — far above the district's 50 percent and the state's 58.5 percent. Durham School of Technology, the smallest school, posts the top graduation rate (92.9 percent) and the lowest chronic absenteeism (25 percent). C E Jordan High sits in the middle: 56 percent average EOC proficiency and an 82.7 percent graduation rate, both above district levels but below state averages. Hillside High, while most challenged overall, improved the most in one year, jumping from 29.8 percent to 39.9 percent EOC proficiency.

The two smaller, specialized schools outperform the two larger traditional schools on every EOC subject — a notable contrast, since Hillside High and Durham School of Technology share the same Fayetteville Street address. Math I is the biggest barrier: fewer than four in ten students score proficient at the traditional schools, and even the strongest school falls well short on this test. Chronic absenteeism is also a red flag, especially at C E Jordan High (49.6 percent) and Hillside High (63.6 percent), roughly double the state average. Finally, Hillside High spends the most per student ($11,407) but shows the weakest results, while J D Clement Early College High School spends the least ($8,162) and shows the strongest — a reminder that school model and spending decisions matter as much as dollars.