How strong are the public middle schools in Durham?
With a fresh school year kicking off, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com — which include comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews — to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year and those that lead their peers.
Sherwood Githens Middle School's overall rating improved the most among similar schools in Durham, rising from a C to a C+, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 4800 Chapel Hill Road, enrolls 923 students. Sherwood Githens Middle School serves a diverse population: 46% of students identify as black, 27% identify as Hispanic and 18% identify as white. Niche graded the school a C+ for academics (on an A-D scale).
The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.
Academically, 29% of Sherwood Githens Middle School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 36% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 27% in math and 33% in reading.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Neal Middle School saw its overall rating jump from a C- to a C. The school is located at 201 Baptist Road and is a bit smaller, currently serving 759 students, of whom 49% identify as black and 40% identify as Hispanic.
Niche graded Neal Middle School a C- for academics on an A-D scale. The school's latest math proficiency was at 11%, and reading proficiency was 22%. Its upswing is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 83% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 15% more than the city average.
Lowe's Grove Middle School also improved, from C- to C. The school is located at 4418 S. Alston Ave. and has 601 students currently enrolled, of whom 62% identify as black and 29% identify as Hispanic.
Niche graded Lowe's Grove Middle School a C for academics on an A-D scale. Its latest math proficiency was at 15%, and reading proficiency was 28%. The school also serves a less-affluent community, with 83% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
While some public middle schools in Durham are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- Lakewood Montessori Middle School, with an overall rating of B+.
- Rogers-Herr Middle School, with a B rating overall.
Want more of the latest intel on Durham schools? Hoodline also analyzed the latest Niche ratings for the city's public elementary schools.
This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.
