Enrollment
1,764
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Durham, NC
Durham School of the Arts
Federal NCES profile for Durham School of the Arts, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370126001547
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Durham School of the Arts earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #11 of 33
- schools in Durham · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.6:1
- students per teacher
- 30.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Durham School of the Arts has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Durham School of the Arts ranks #11 of 33 schools in Durham, NC.
School address
District: Durham Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370126001547 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
113.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
30.6%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-54% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Durham School of the Arts compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Durham School of the Arts
Durham School of the Arts is a large combined-grade school in Durham, North Carolina, enrolling 1,764 students.
At 15.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 30.6% free-meal eligibility runs 54% below the North Carolina average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in North Carolina, bigger than 97% of state schools at 1,764 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 95 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #5, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (35%) and Hispanic or Latino (31%) (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 280 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.8% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Durham Public Schools spends $14,937 per pupil, 24% above the North Carolina average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Durham's public schools, it stands alongside Nc Virtual Academy (3,482 students): Durham School of the Arts is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.6:1 vs 24.7:1).
Durham Public Schools also operates C E Jordan High (2,189 students) and Riverside High (1,900 students) alongside Durham School of the Arts.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Durham School of the Arts compares
Durham School of the Arts on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▼ 1% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.6% | ▼ 54% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,764 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,764
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
30.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 57% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
22.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,937
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.3 FTE
Per 280 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
171
in-school suspensions + 37 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 34.7%
Hispanic or Latino 30.7%
African American 24.8%
Two or More 6.9%
Asian 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 34.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.8, Durham School of the Arts is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 21
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Durham Public Schools, which includes Durham School of the Arts.
$14,937
Per student
+24%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.5%
State 46.0%
Federal 19.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Durham School of the Arts Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| C E Jordan High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Riverside High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hillside High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northern High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Durham School of the Arts's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,189
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,433
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,384
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,281
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Durham
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nc Virtual Academy
Standard public school
3,482 students 24.7:1 students per teacher
North Carolina Cyber Academy
Standard public school
2,461 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Voyager Academy
Standard public school
1,360 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Excelsior Classical Academy
Standard public school
1,032 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Durham Charter School
Standard public school
1,010 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Pearsontown Elementary
Standard public school
765 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,764 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Durham School of the Arts's federal record.
- Compare Durham School of the Arts against another school. Compare schools
- Durham Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Durham School of the Arts
How many students attend Durham School of the Arts?
Durham School of the Arts has 1,764 students enrolled. It is a public school in Durham, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Durham School of the Arts?
The student-teacher ratio at Durham School of the Arts is 15.6:1, which is 1% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Durham School of the Arts?
30.6% of students at Durham School of the Arts are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Durham School of the Arts?
The largest demographic group at Durham School of the Arts is White at 34.7% of enrollment, in Durham, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Durham School of the Arts?
Durham School of the Arts has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Durham School of the Arts rank among schools in Durham?
By Resource Investment Index, Durham School of the Arts ranks #11 of 33 schools in Durham, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Durham on the city page.
Is Durham School of the Arts a good school?
Durham School of the Arts earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Durham Public Schools?
Besides Durham School of the Arts, Durham Public Schools also operates C E Jordan High (2,189 students), Riverside High (1,900 students), and Hillside High (1,433 students). See the Durham Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.