Durham Public Schools Reported Improved Academic Gains
Superintendent Anthony Lewis noted that zero local schools received an F grade in the latest state reporting.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Administration
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Durham Public Schools has successfully eliminated F-rated campuses on the North Carolina School Report Card. Superintendent Anthony Lewis credits this improvement to a sustained post-pandemic focus on instruction.
Why it matters
Academic proficiency and staffing stability are critical benchmarks for local education quality. These gains reflect the district's ongoing efforts to prioritize school funding and teacher retention.
The district began the school year with 58 teacher vacancies. Currently, one in five Durham Public Schools teachers has three years or less of experience.
The players
Anthony Lewis
He serves as the Superintendent of Durham Public Schools and leads the district's academic and staffing initiatives.
The details
District officials maintained a rigorous focus on classroom instruction following the pandemic to drive these results. Leaders also prioritized investments in school funding and educator compensation to combat staffing shortages.
Timeline
The annual State of the Schools address was delivered in September 2026.
No campuses received an F grade as of 2014, matching the current outcome.
Roadmap
This performance improvement aligns with broader statewide trends in educational accountability under the North Carolina School Report Card. The district aims to sustain this progress as it navigates future resource allocations and teacher experience distributions.
Families can expect stable school performance ratings following the district's recent improvements. Residents may see continued advocacy from district leaders as they seek additional funding from the state.
The takeaway
The district's ability to avoid failing grades marks a stable period for local students. Stakeholders should continue to monitor state-level funding discussions, as these are expected to play a major role in future staffing and instructional efforts.
Further reading
For additional context on school leadership and oversight, visit the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC11 Raleigh-Durham.
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