Merrick-Moore Elementary

Set in Durham, North Carolina, Merrick-Moore Elementary is a medium-sized primary school, operated by Durham Public Schools. It instructs 445 students across grades pre-K through 5.

Across the 55 schools in Durham Public Schools (31,797 students total), Merrick-Moore Elementary accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On the student-mix side, Merrick-Moore Elementary records that the largest single group is Hispanic at 52%, but no single group is in the majority. Beyond that, the school lists 39% Black, 4% White, 4% multiracial. That is meaningfully more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 16%.

On the income-and-resources front, The school currently runs with 35 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 12.6:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 14.9:1, putting Merrick-Moore Elementary tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 99% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Merrick-Moore Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 48.5%; this one delivers 50.0%.

In the surrounding community, census data for Durham County shows median household income runs about $82,316, 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 8%. Merrick-Moore Elementary is one of 74 public schools in Durham County (combined enrollment of about 46,109 students).

Reaching All Minds Academy is the nearest neighboring public school, about 1.1 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. On composite proficiency, Merrick-Moore Elementary comes 2nd of 5 in the immediate cluster, above the nearby-schools average of 32.7%.

The school occupies an urban site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Merrick-Moore Elementary has ticked down 27%, going from 606 students in 2018 to 445 in 2025. Over the same period, the Black share edged down from 50% to 39%.

On this page, the feed for Merrick-Moore Elementary typically covers enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.