Montessori Community School Photo - One of three Primary playgrounds

Best Durham Private Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 32 private elementary schools serving 7,510 students in Durham, NC.
The top-ranked private elementary schools in Durham, NC include Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill, Durham Academy Middle School Div, and Carolina Friends School.
The average tuition cost is $16,847, which is higher than the North Carolina private elementary school average tuition cost of $12,465.
47% of private elementary schools in Durham, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).

Top-Ranked Durham Private Elementary Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Hill Learning Center
Hill Learning Center Photo - Hill Learning Center's campus is located at 3200 Pickett Road in Durham.
Special Education School
(4)
3200 Pickett Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 489-7464
Gr: 1-12 | 166 students Avg. class size: 4 students Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition listed
Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill
Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill Photo - Trinity is located in Durham, North Carolina on 22 acres bordered by trails, creeks, and forests. Trinity is a CSI and SAIS-accredited independent school where children flourish in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through grade 12. We educate within the framework of Christian faith and conviction, teaching the classical tools of learning; providing a rich yet unhurried education; and communicating truth, goodness,
(Christian)
(5)
4011 Pickett Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 402-8262
Gr: PK-12 | 622 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 9 | Extracurrculars: 20 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Camelot Academy
809 Proctor St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 688-3040
Gr: PK-12 | 129 students Avg. class size: 11 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Carolina Friends School
Carolina Friends School Photo - One of our classroom buildings on our 126+ acre, wooded Main Campus.
(2)
4809 Friends School Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 383-6602
Gr: PK-12 | 513 students Avg. class size: 8 students Sports: 11 | Extracurrculars: 17 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Duke School
Duke School Photo - Welcome to Duke School! Our students love learning; visit us and see why!
3716 Erwin Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 416-9420
Gr: PK-8 | 497 students Avg. class size: 22 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition listed
Durham Academy
3501 Ridge Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 489-3400
Gr: PK-12 | 1,253 student Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 38 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
3116 Academy Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 489-9118
Gr: PK-12 | 1,233 student Tuition listed
Immaculata Catholic School
Immaculata Catholic School Photo - With small class sizes, our students form deep and lasting friendships.
(Catholic)
(1)
721 Burch Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-5847
Gr: PK-8 | 487 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 12 Tuition listed
Liberty Christian School
(Baptist)
3864 Guess Rd
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 471-5522
Gr: K-12 | 291 students
Triangle Day School
4911 Neal Rd
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 383-8800
Gr: PK-8 | 337 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Al Huda Academy
(Islamic)
5104 Revere Rd
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 572-9500
Gr: PK-5 | 81 students
Bethesda Christian Academy
Bethesda Christian Academy Photo - Welcome to Crusader Country!
(Baptist)
1914 S Miami Blvd
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 598-0190
Gr: PK-12 | 184 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 6 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Bryson Christian Montessori School
Montessori School
6701 Garrett Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 490-0287
Gr: K-1 | 28 students
Cresset Christian Academy
(Christian)
(1)
3707 Garrett Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 354-8000
Gr: PK-12 | 224 students
Durham Nativity School
Durham Nativity School Photo - Our young men are always striving to be world changers in their community.
All-boys
1004 N. Mangum Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 597-7782
Gr: 5-8 | 61 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed
Empowered Minds Academy
Montessori School
1415 Holloway St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 949-0147
Gr: K-8 | 10 students
Faith Assembly Christian Academy
(Christian)
3120 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 687-2763
Gr: K-12 | 44 students
Fellowship Baptist Academy
(Baptist)
515 Southerland St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 596-9331
Gr: K-12 | 125 students
Five Oaks Seventh-day Adventist Christian School
(Seventh Day Adventist)
4124 Farrington Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 493-5555
Gr: K-7 | 18 students
634 Poplar St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 818-8181
Gr: K-2 | 4 students
3315 E Geer St
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 688-2567
Gr: K-8 | 105 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 2 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Hope Creek Academy
Hope Creek Academy Photo
Special Education School
4723 Erwin Rd
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 932-0360
Gr: K-12 | 52 students Tuition listed
International Montessori School
International Montessori School Photo - A 5 year old IMS student using the moveable alphabet to spell the words illustrated on cards.
Montessori School
(3)
3001 Academy Rd Ste 300
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 401-4343
Gr: PK-6 | 159 students Avg. class size: 20 students Tuition listed
Lerner Jewish Community Day School
Lerner Jewish Community Day School Photo
(Jewish)
(2)
1935 W Cornwallis Rd
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 286-5517
Gr: NS-5 | 152 students Tuition listed
Montessori Community School
Montessori Community School Photo - One of three Primary playgrounds
Montessori School
(2)
4512 Pope Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 493-8541
Gr: PK-8 | 222 students Sports: 2 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
Montessori Farm School
Montessori School
(5)
2400 Broad Street, Suite 2
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 732-5026
Gr: PK-1 | 23 students Avg. class size: 20 students Tuition listed
Montessori School Of Durham
Montessori School Of Durham Photo - A view of the MSD office.
Montessori School
(3)
2800 Pickett Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 489-9045
Gr: PK-6 | 170 students Sports: 1 | Extracurrculars: 11
Mount Zion Christian Academy
(Christian)
3519 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 688-4245
Gr: K-12 | 176 students Tuition listed
Quality Education Institute Of Durham
Quality Education Institute Of Durham Photo
(Church of Christ)
800 Elmira Avenue
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 680-6544
Gr: PK-5 | 53 students Avg. class size: 15 students Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Sya Academy Ii
3102 Cedarwood Dr
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 768-7421
Gr: K-11 | 32 students
Southpoint Academy
(Christian)
7415 Fayetteville Rd
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 544-5652
Gr: K-5 | 47 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition listed
Treasures Of Joy Christian Academy
(Christian)
3500 S Alston Ave
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 484-1881
Gr: K-6 | 12 students
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Durham, North Carolina

Durham, North Carolina Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Agape Corner Boarding School (Closed 2011)
Special Program Emphasis (Christian)
1217 Holloway St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-0546
Gr: NS-12 | 28 students
1201 W Woodcroft Parkway
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 967-2700
Gr: K-6 | 35 students Avg. class size: 17 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
2400 Sovereign St
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 286-5860
Gr: 4-6 | 5 students
Tutorial -1/2 Christian Schools (Closed 2025)
Alternative School (Christian)
3026 Holloway St
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 596-8212
Gr: PK-3 | 14 students

Overview

This Town (Durham)
This State (NC)
# Schools
32 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
7,510 Students
122,911 Students
% Average Students of Color
43%
24%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
936 Teachers
12,436 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
45%
46%
Average Class Size
15 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
12 courses
11 courses
Average SAT score
1318
(Out of 1600)
1206
Average ACT score
31
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$16,847
$12,465
Average Summer Program Cost
$1,250
$772
Average % on Financial Aid
30%
30%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$8,361
$5,232
Average Acceptance Rate
65%
80%
Average Endowment Size
$3.9 million
$46.9 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.69
0.57
# American Indian Students
8 Students
613 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
408 Students
3,946 Students
% Asian Students
6%
3%
# Hispanic Students
425 Students
5,316 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
4%
# Black Students
896 Students
9,204 Students
% Black Students
14%
8%
# White Students
2,996 Students
74,607 Students
% White Students
48%
61%
# Hawaiian Students
10 Students
476 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
1,540 Students
27,782 Students
% of Others Students
25%
23%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
11 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
6 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private elementary schools in Durham, NC?
The top-ranked private elementary schools in Durham, NC include Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill, Durham Academy Middle School Div, and Carolina Friends School.
How many private elementary schools are located in Durham?
32 private elementary schools are located in Durham.
How much do private elementary schools cost in Durham?
The average tuition cost is $16,847, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average tuition cost of $12,465.
How diverse are private elementary schools in Durham?
Durham private elementary schools are approximately 43% minority students, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average of 24%.
What percentage of private elementary schools are religiously affiliated in Durham?
47% of private elementary schools in Durham are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).
Which private elementary schools in Durham are often viewed compared to one another?

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