James E. Shepard Middle, 2401 Dakota St.: grades 6 to 8, 414 students in 2024-25 and a C (60) state grade.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Sources: the school’s website, Durham Public Schools’ Growing Together school site, 2026-27 zone and region map, calendars and bell schedule, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s 2025-26 assessment data and report card data and the federal NCES school directory.
James E. Shepard Middle is a Durham Public Schools middle school for grades 6 to 8 at 2401 Dakota St. It is the zoned middle school for its own attendance area in the district’s Southeast region. It also has an International Baccalaureate program, and the district lists it as the International Baccalaureate choice for families in every region, according to the district’s 2026-27 zone and region map.
Who to call
- Front office: 919-560-3938, 2401 Dakota St.
- School website: www.dpsnc.net/o/shepard
- Enrolling a new student: DPS Office of Student Assignment, 919-560-2059; enrollment page
- Which school is my address zoned for? the district’s school locator or the city-county Durham Public School Locator
- Buses: DPS Transportation; district main line 919-560-2000
| Address | 2401 Dakota St., Durham, NC 27707 |
| Phone | 919-560-3938 |
| Grades | 6 to 8 |
| Run by | Durham Public Schools |
| DPS region | Southeast |
| Program | International Baccalaureate |
| Calendar | Traditional |
| State school code | 320338 |
Principal
Principal Raymond Robinson III, according to the school’s website.
Enrollment and teachers
- State count: an average daily membership of 414 students in the 2024-25 school year, up from 389 in 2023-24, according to the state’s report card data.
- Federal count: 400 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 32 full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 12 students per teacher.
State report card
North Carolina gives every public school an A to F School Performance Grade, based 80% on achievement on state tests and other measures and 20% on academic growth, according to the state’s 2025-26 annual testing report.
| School year | Grade (score) | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | C (60) | Exceeded |
| 2023-24 | C (56) | Exceeded |
The 2024-25 grade is the latest in the state’s downloadable report card data.
From the state’s 2025-26 school assessment data:
- At grade level or above, all state tests: 52% (state: 59.2%)
- College and career ready (Level 4 and above): 27.6% (state: 37.5%)
- Reading, grades 3 to 8, at grade level: 45.7% (state: 55.7%)
- Math, grades 3 to 8, at grade level: 52.3% (state: 59.6%)
- Growth: exceeded expected growth
The full report card, with attendance, teacher and course data, is on the state’s NC School Report Cards site.
Attendance zone and feeder schools
Every Durham Public Schools address is assigned a base elementary, middle and high school, and the zones do not follow the city limits. Check an address in the district’s school locator or the city-county Durham Public School Locator; the zones themselves are on the district’s 2026-27 map service.
James E. Shepard Middle feeds Hillside High, according to the district’s Growing Together page for the school. The elementary schools that list James E. Shepard Middle as their middle school are Burton Elementary, Fayetteville Street Elementary and R.N. Harris Elementary.
Families outside the zone can apply for the school’s choice program through the district’s magnet lottery. For 2026-27 the window ran Jan. 5 to 5 p.m. Jan. 30; the lottery page explains the process, and the district’s school choices page lists the programs.
We found no approved rezoning for this school: the district’s 2027-28 zone map, last updated in September, matches the 2026-27 zones.
DPS holds its Showcase of Schools, with every school represented, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Northern High School, 4622 N. Roxboro Road, according to the district.
Calendar and bell times
James E. Shepard Middle follows the district’s traditional calendar. Coming dates from the 2026-27 district calendars:
- Monday, Nov. 2, and Tuesday, Nov. 3: teacher workdays, no school for students
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day holiday
- Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving break
- Dec. 21 to Jan. 1: winter break
- Monday, Jan. 18, and Tuesday, Jan. 19: MLK Day holiday, then a teacher workday
- March 22-26: spring break
- Wednesday, June 9: last day of school, an early release day
Bell times: 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., according to the district’s bell schedule.
More
- The school’s own website
- The district’s Growing Together page for James E. Shepard Middle
- Every public school in Durham, with zones and report cards
- Our Durham schools guide for district calendars, enrollment and the school board
Frequently asked questions
What grades does James E. Shepard Middle serve?
James E. Shepard Middle serves grades 6 to 8, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
What is James E. Shepard Middle’s school grade?
James E. Shepard Middle earned a C, with a score of 60, in North Carolina’s 2024-25 School Performance Grades. In 2025-26, 52% of its state tests were at grade level or above.
Which high school does James E. Shepard Middle feed into?
James E. Shepard Middle feeds Hillside High, according to the district’s Growing Together school site.
How do I know if my address is zoned for James E. Shepard Middle?
Enter the address in the district’s school locator on its Growing Together site, or call the DPS Office of Student Assignment at 919-560-2059.
What time does James E. Shepard Middle start?
The school day runs 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., according to the district’s bell schedule.
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