Durham Unified: Durham Unified elementary schools add +13.2 points from grade 3 to 5 — a signal that schools are adding real value.
Durham Unified has 3 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 44.4/100 — within 0.4 points of the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Durham High at 46/100, where 14.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $11,877 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 16.2%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 45.5/100 | 1 | 15.1% | 9.7% |
| Middle | Developing 42.2/100 | 1 | 18.8% | 19.2% |
| High | Developing 45.6/100 | 1 | 14.6% | 19.6% |
Durham Unified's high schools average 45.6/100 — within 1.8 points of the state average.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Durham Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Durham Unified has 3 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 44.4/100 — within 0.4 points of the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Durham Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 45.6.
District-wide elementary growth averages +13.2pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are adding meaningful value beyond what students arrive with.
Score range of 3.4 points — remarkably consistent between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 16.2%, 1.8pp near the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 4.2%, above the state average of 1.6%.
Durham High leads the district at 46 with 14.6% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Durham Unified
Hidden gems: 1 school in Durham Unified is classified as Growth Engine — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Durham Unified spends $11,877 per student in current expenditures — $2,938 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Every school in Durham Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (1)
Durham Unified has 1 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.5 — within 0.7 points of the state average of 44.8.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +13.2pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Durham Elementary with a Scope Score of 46 and 15.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham Elementary Durham Unified Growth Engine | 15.1% | Developing 46/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Durham Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 42.2 — within 0.4 points of the state average of 42.6.
Growth averages -8.1pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Durham Intermediate with a Scope Score of 42 and 18.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham Intermediate Durham Unified Building Momentum | 18.8% | Developing 42/100 |
High Schools (1)
Durham Unified has 1 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.6 — within 1.8 points of the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is Durham High with a Scope Score of 46 and 14.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham High Durham Unified Building Momentum | 14.6% | Developing 46/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology