Pearsontown Elementary

Summary:

Pearsontown Elementary is a public magnet elementary school in Durham, North Carolina, serving 726 students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade. This high-performing school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, with students outperforming district and state averages in standardized tests across all grade levels and subject areas.

Pearsontown Elementary's diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 42.15% White, 32.78% African American, 9.5% Hispanic, 3.72% Asian, and 11.29% two or more races, is a notable strength. The school excels in supporting the academic success of various student subgroups, including female students, male students, African American students, Hispanic students, White students, and multi-racial students, with several subgroups ranking in the top 10 or 20 elementary schools in North Carolina. Additionally, Pearsontown has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 20.26% to 27%, compared to some nearby schools with much higher percentages of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

Pearsontown Elementary's consistent high performance, diverse student population, and strong subgroup performance set it apart from many of the surrounding schools in the Durham Public Schools district. Schools like Kestrel Heights School, Parkwood Elementary, and Hope Valley Elementary tend to have lower academic performance, higher percentages of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, and less racial diversity. Pearsontown's success serves as a model for other schools in the district, demonstrating the potential for effective strategies and interventions to improve educational outcomes across the region.


Detail:

Public, Magnet PK, KG-5

 4915 Barbee Road
       Durham, NC  27713-1603


(919) 560-3964

District: Durham Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
139th of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,050 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  14.9 Help
Number of students:  726

Racial breakdown:

White:
42.1%
African American:
32.8%
Two or more races:
11.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  27% Help


 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Pearsontown Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Pearsontown Elementary ranks better than 90.8% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks first among 30 ranked elementary schools in the Durham Public Schools District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 88.09. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Pearsontown Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Durham Public Schools District. Racial makeup is: White (42.1%), African American (32.8%), two or more races (11.3%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 27% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Durham Public Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pearsontown Elementary is 14.9, which is the highest among 30 elementary schools in the Durham Public Schools District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Pearsontown Elementary employs 48.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pearsontown Elementary is $11,050. 27 elementary schools in the Durham Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pearsontown Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Pearsontown Elementary 139th of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Pearsontown Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Durham Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Durham Public Schools 163rd of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Pearsontown Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 83.42 127th 1276 90.0%
2007 74.72 267th 1293 79.4%
2008 67.03 399th 1324 69.9%
2009 79.17 226th 1354 83.3%
2010 74.82 298th 1363 78.1%
2011 72.77 345th 1381 75.0%
2012 83.52 134th 1388 90.3%
2013 81.47 206th 1403 85.3%
2014 86.18 150th 1390 89.2%
2015 83.58 176th 1440 87.8%
2016 74.98 308th 1425 78.4%
2017 78.31 255th 1429 82.2%
2018 84.59 162nd 1434 88.7%
2019 86.90 142nd 1473 90.4%
2021 90.76 111th 1489 92.5%
2022 94.91 46th 1514 97.0%
2023 92.81 82nd 1502 94.5%
2024 88.09 139th 1505 90.8%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 98.98 1st 97 99.0%
2022 95.03 3rd 133 97.7%
2023 92.42 8th 154 94.8%
2024 91.18 6th 159 96.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 64.37 174th 801 78.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.52 303rd 1332 77.3%
2019 65.63 382nd 1361 71.9%
2021 63.86 356th 1329 73.2%
2022 92.39 34th 1366 97.5%
2023 85.04 92nd 1437 93.6%
2024 73.15 270th 1450 81.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.34 197th 1405 86.0%
2019 82.49 174th 1424 87.8%
2021 87.96 124th 1440 91.4%
2022 93.09 53rd 1458 96.4%
2023 92.62 56th 1459 96.2%
2024 89.97 97th 1455 93.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 78.29 90th 897 90.0%
2019 69.79 153rd 878 82.6%
2021 63.11 149th 646 76.9%
2022 82.21 43rd 634 93.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 64.31 235th 612 61.6%
2021 55.99 277th 494 43.9%
2022 68.24 125th 500 75.0%
2023 63.00 214th 582 63.2%
2024 63.55 238th 669 64.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.66 160th 1413 88.7%
2019 87.72 122nd 1430 91.5%
2021 90.86 92nd 1444 93.6%
2022 94.65 48th 1464 96.7%
2023 90.73 90th 1461 93.8%
2024 82.24 198th 1464 86.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 93.38 19th 927 98.0%
2019 92.63 33rd 949 96.5%
2021 90.65 47th 896 94.8%
2022 96.77 14th 927 98.5%
2023 93.80 23rd 933 97.5%
2024 85.13 71st 924 92.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 78.66 114th 851 86.6%
2019 76.05 130th 865 85.0%
2021 77.85 111th 843 86.8%
2022 74.50 156th 893 82.5%
2023 94.35 24th 915 97.4%
2024 78.13 133rd 951 86.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Pearsontown Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.25 50th 1178 95.8%
2019 92.47 28th 1183 97.6%
2021 95.95 8th 1172 99.3%
2022 97.23 2nd 1194 99.8%
2023 94.25 9th 1183 99.2%
2024 91.65 37th 1166 96.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Pearsontown Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Pearsontown Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 634 388 29 2 1 n/a n/a -2 1052
1989 629 352 37 12 0 n/a n/a 0 1030
1990 434 303 9 6 0 n/a n/a 0 752
1991 488 343 18 11 0 n/a n/a 0 860
1992 486 382 26 12 0 n/a n/a 0 906
1993 449 353 22 15 2 n/a n/a 0 841
1994 429 416 21 12 2 n/a n/a 0 880
1995 322 526 31 16 1 n/a n/a 0 896
1996 322 526 31 16 1 n/a n/a 0 896
1997 279 588 42 18 1 n/a n/a 0 928
1998 266 667 45 24 2 n/a n/a 0 1004
1999 218 689 37 9 5 n/a n/a 0 958
2000 167 673 27 9 3 n/a n/a 0 879
2001 129 641 19 16 2 n/a n/a 0 807
2002 115 665 15 34 2 n/a n/a 0 831
2003 115 665 15 34 2 n/a n/a 0 831
2004 107 698 13 43 2 n/a n/a 0 863
2005 127 699 23 52 2 n/a n/a 0 903
2006 125 663 24 48 3 n/a n/a 0 863
2007 101 642 39 48 1 n/a n/a 41 872
2008 115 659 31 55 1 n/a n/a 39 900
2009 141 667 44 52 1 n/a n/a 0 905
2010 169 621 49 58 2 n/a n/a 0 899
2011 177 549 39 72 4 0 37 0 878
2012 215 512 36 92 2 0 41 0 898
2013 225 493 33 82 2 0 38 0 873
2014 233 444 37 73 4 0 39 0 830
2015 241 421 31 90 3 0 46 0 832
2016 237 403 40 94 3 0 47 0 824
2017 270 382 40 85 3 0 51 0 831
2018 300 336 36 91 3 0 59 0 825
2019 322 307 35 85 1 2 64 0 816
2020 335 306 32 92 1 2 72 0 840
2021 325 274 31 74 1 2 68 0 775
2022 308 263 23 62 1 2 70 0 729
2023 306 238 27 69 2 2 82 0 726

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Pearsontown Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1052 40.0 26.3 5.6
1989 1030 51.0 20.1 5.1
1990 752 47.0 16.0 9.6
1991 860 52.0 16.5 8.4
1992 906 59.0 15.3 3.6
1993 841 48.0 17.5 7.1
1994 880 50.0 17.6 7.7
1995 896 53.0 16.9 12.4
1996 896 53.0 16.9 12.4
1997 928 57.0 16.3 16.2
1998 1004 62.0 16.2 17
1999 958 62.0 15.5 35.9
2000 879 62.0 14.2 48.6
2001 807 62.0 13.0 31.5
2002 831 63.0 13.2 0
2003 831 63.0 13.2 0
2004 863 63.0 13.7 41.9
2005 903 63.0 14.3 38.4
2006 863 63.0 13.7 39.9
2007 872 n/a n/a 30.2
2008 900 60.1 15.0 36
2009 905 58.9 15.4 26.5
2010 899 51.5 17.4 31.7
2011 878 48.1 18.2 31.7
2012 898 45.7 19.6 33.6
2013 873 50.0 17.4 32.6
2014 830 46.6 17.7 30.7
2015 832 48.0 17.3 33.3
2016 824 47.0 17.5 31.3
2017 831 46.0 18.0 29.6
2018 825 49.9 16.5 29.1
2019 816 53.0 15.3 29.8
2020 840 54.5 15.4 27
2021 775 56.5 13.7 20.3
2022 729 55.5 13.1 23.9
2023 726 48.5 14.9 27

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Pearsontown Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1052 40.0 26.3 5.6
1989 1030 51.0 20.1 5.1
1990 752 47.0 16.0 9.6
1991 860 52.0 16.5 8.4
1992 906 59.0 15.3 3.6
1993 841 48.0 17.5 7.1
1994 880 50.0 17.6 7.7
1995 896 53.0 16.9 12.4
1996 896 53.0 16.9 12.4
1997 928 57.0 16.3 16.2
1998 1004 62.0 16.2 17
1999 958 62.0 15.5 35.9
2000 879 62.0 14.2 48.6
2001 807 62.0 13.0 31.5
2002 831 63.0 13.2 0
2003 831 63.0 13.2 0
2004 863 63.0 13.7 41.9
2005 903 63.0 14.3 38.4
2006 863 63.0 13.7 39.9
2007 872 n/a n/a 30.2
2008 900 60.1 15.0 36
2009 905 58.9 15.4 26.5
2010 899 51.5 17.4 31.7
2011 878 48.1 18.2 31.7
2012 898 45.7 19.6 33.6
2013 873 50.0 17.4 32.6
2014 830 46.6 17.7 30.7
2015 832 48.0 17.3 33.3
2016 824 47.0 17.5 31.3
2017 831 46.0 18.0 29.6
2018 825 49.9 16.5 29.1
2019 816 53.0 15.3 29.8
2020 840 54.5 15.4 27
2021 775 56.5 13.7 20.3
2022 729 55.5 13.1 23.9
2023 726 48.5 14.9 27

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Pearsontown Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $680 (6.2%) $10,370 (93.8%) $11,050

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pearsontown Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 142nd of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 82nd of 1502 Elementary schools
 4.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Pearsontown Elementary)7780.8
 3.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Durham Public Schools)5256.5
 4.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Pearsontown Elementary)75.469.2
 6.2%
   3rd Grade Reading (Durham Public Schools)44.739.3
 5.4%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Pearsontown Elementary)72.980.8
 7.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Durham Public Schools)47.151.1
 4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (Pearsontown Elementary)72.983.1
 10.2%
   4th Grade Reading (Durham Public Schools)48.549.9
 1.4%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Pearsontown Elementary)81.882.8
 1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Durham Public Schools)46.651.5
 4.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Pearsontown Elementary)79.576.9
 2.6%
   5th Grade Reading (Durham Public Schools)44.643.1
 1.5%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Pearsontown Elementary)92.491
 1.4%
   5th Grade Science (Durham Public Schools)68.865.9
 2.9%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students816726
 11%
African American307238
 22.5%
American Indian12
 100%
Asian3527
 22.9%
Hispanic8569
 18.8%
Pacific Islander22
White322306
 5%
Two or More Races6482
 28.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients29.8%27%
 2.8%


Schools Near Pearsontown Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Pearsontown Elementary

In the 2022-23 school year, 726 students attended Pearsontown Elementary.

Yes. Pearsontown Elementary ranks in the top 9.2% of North Carolina elementary schools.

Students at Pearsontown Elementary are 42% White, 33% African American, 11% Two or more races, 10% Hispanic, 4% Asian.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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