By type & area
Independent & Non-Religious Schools in Durham
16 independent & non-religious schools in Durham, 9 of them on the 2026-27 Direct Payment list. Durham County, home to Durham Academy, Duke School, a Jesuit work-study high school, Immaculata, Baptist and non-denominational K-12 schools, two schools for learning differences and many newer Islamic and microschool programs.
About this data. School facts come from the NCES Private School Survey (2023-24, plus 2021-22 rows for schools that skipped the latest round). The Direct Payment flag comes from matching names, by county and with code, against the NCSEAA Direct Payment Schools table for 2026-27, downloaded October 30, 2026. Schools found only on the state list show a name and town and nothing else. Neither source reports tuition, so ask the school.
Funding note: This group splits sharply. Ravenscroft, Durham Academy, Cary Academy and Duke School were not on the 2026-27 list; Thales and many small independents were.
| School | Affiliation | Area | Grades | Direct Payment 2026-27 | Students (federal survey) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke School 3716 Erwin Rd, Durham 27705 | Independent | Durham | PK-8 | Not listed | 436 |
| Durham Academy 3130 Pickett Rd, Durham 27705 | Independent | Durham | PK-12 | Not listed | 1,213 |
| Durham Nativity School 1004 N Mangum St, Durham | Independent | Durham | 5-8 | ✓ Listed | 44 |
| Empowered Minds Academy 311 Oakwood Ave, Durham 27701 | Independent | Durham | PK-4 | ✓ Listed | 14 |
| Gift of Knowledge Academy 2722 E Main St, Durham 27703 | Independent | Durham | K-1 | ✓ Listed | 5 |
| Hill Learning Center 3200 Pickett Rd, Durham 27705 | Independent | Durham | 2-12 | ✓ Listed | 176 |
| Hope Creek Academy 4723 Erwin Rd, Durham 27705 | Independent | Durham | K-12 | ✓ Listed | 69 |
| Insight CoLearning Center 2020 Chapel Hill Road, Ste 33, Durham 27707 | Independent | Durham | 9-12 | ✓ Listed | 24 |
| International Montessori School 3001 Academy Rd Ste 300, Durham 27707 | Independent | Durham | PK-6 | ✓ Listed | 97 |
| Montessori Community School 4512 Pope Rd, Durham 27707 | Independent | Durham | PK-8 | Not listed | 157 |
| Montessori Farm School 2400 Broad St Ste 2, Durham 27704 | Independent | Durham | PK-K | ✓ Listed | 7 |
| Montessori School of Durham 2800 Pickett Rd, Durham 27705 | Independent | Durham | PK-6 | Not listed | 83 |
| My Dynamic Academy 6409 Fayetteville Rd, Durham 27713 | Independent | Durham | PK-10 | Not listed | 42 |
| The Studio School of Durham 1201 W Woodcroft Pkwy, Durham 27713 | Independent | Durham | K-4 | Not listed | 15 |
| Triangle Day School 4911 Neal Rd, Durham 27705 | Independent | Durham | K-8 | ✓ Listed | 321 |
| Veritas Collaborative School 4024 Stirrup Creek Dr, Durham 27703 | Independent | Durham | 4-12 | Not listed | 28 |
| A ✓ on the Direct Payment column tells you | It does not tell you |
|---|---|
| NCSEAA can send Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+ money to this school for 2026-27 | That a seat is open or that your child will be admitted |
| The award goes to required tuition and fees, up to your tier amount | That the award will cover the full bill |
| The school accepted NCSEAA's testing and audit rules for scholarship students | Whether the school is accredited, which the state table does not show |
Every school in Durham All independent & non-religious schools
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