The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in English language arts. The lowest is 70% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Rogers-herr Middle
Rogers-Herr Middle serves grades six through eight in Durham, a growing city anchored by Duke University and Duke Health. The school sits in the southeastern part of the city on Cornwallis Road and draws students from a mix of established neighborhoods and newer residential development. Enrollment is stable at around mid-range for a middle school serving its grade band, with a student population that is racially and ethnically mixed, with substantial shares of Black, Hispanic, and white students and smaller Asian and multiracial populations. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic diversity of the attendance zone.
On state assessments administered in 2024-25, Rogers-Herr students showed proficiency rates in the low-to-mid range across tested subjects. In English language arts, about seven in ten students scored at proficient or above. Math proficiency was slightly lower, with about seven in ten students meeting the standard. Science proficiency, administered to a smaller tested cohort, was the highest of the three, also around seven in ten students. The school's results sit within the normal range for a school serving a diverse student body with mixed economic backgrounds. State testing data carries important caveats: a single year's snapshot does not capture growth trajectories, and the school's comparative position among Durham County districts cannot be determined from the data available, as only this school's results were included in the comparison set provided.
Durham Public Schools, the district that operates Rogers-Herr, has undergone significant changes in recent years. The district adopted a Science of Reading approach to K-5 literacy instruction, emphasizing structured phonics and systematic explicit instruction. A 2022 bond measure, approved by voters, funded school renovations and construction of new facilities. The district also faced budget and labor challenges in 2024 around classified staff compensation, ultimately leading to new salary schedules and ongoing structured conversations with the education association. These are the operational and policy contexts shaping the school's environment.
Enrollment data suggests special populations data was not available; parents may want to ask the school directly about the share of students receiving special education services and English language learner support, as these populations often require specific program information when evaluating fit. No attendance, discipline, or staffing detail was available from the data provided.
Durham itself is a mixed-use city with downtown walkability around Duke, historic in-town neighborhoods, and suburban family communities. Housing values in the school's zip code are moderate for the region, and the area is experiencing growth tied to new residential construction and downtown development projects. The economic context includes strong major employers (Duke, biotech companies, the startup ecosystem), and the area is attracting educated workers. Commuting, schools, and housing costs are relevant considerations for families weighing a move into the district; the 2022 bond carries a lasting property tax effect.
Rogers-Herr represents a typical middle school pathway in an urban-suburban district serving students across the economic and demographic spectrum. The academic results are solidly in the proficient range without exceptional strength, suggesting it matches the profile of a neighborhood school serving a broad population rather than a school with standout academic distinction. For families choosing among Durham middle schools, the relevant questions are whether the attendance zone matches desired neighborhood, what specific programs or teaching approaches matter to a family's child, and whether the school's peer composition and support structures align with a student's needs.
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