The School for Creative Studies, 5001 Red Mill Road: grades 6 to 12, 333 students in 2024-25 and a C (61) state grade.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Sources: 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.
The School for Creative Studies is a Durham Public Schools middle and high school for grades 6 to 12 at 5001 Red Mill Road. It is a year-round magnet school for grades 6 to 12 with no neighborhood attendance zone; the district lists it as the year-round middle school choice for its Central, East and North regions. The campus has a Durham mailing address but sits just outside the city limits, in unincorporated Durham County, on the city’s limits map.
Who to call
- Front office: 919-560-3535, 5001 Red Mill Road
- 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 | 5001 Red Mill Road, Durham, NC 27704 |
| Phone | 919-560-3535 |
| Grades | 6 to 12 |
| Run by | Durham Public Schools |
| Calendar | Year-round |
| State school code | 320314 |
Enrollment and teachers
- State count: an average daily membership of 333 students in the 2024-25 school year, down from 418 in 2023-24, according to the state’s report card data.
- Federal count: 438 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 39 full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 11 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 (61) | Exceeded |
| 2023-24 | C (59) | Met |
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: 59.7% (state: 59.2%)
- College and career ready (Level 4 and above): 35% (state: 37.5%)
- ACT composite of 17 or higher, 11th graders: 50% (state: 54.5%)
- Four-year graduation rate: above 95% (state: 89%); the state does not publish exact rates above 95%
- Growth: exceeded expected growth
The full report card, with attendance, teacher and course data, is on the state’s NC School Report Cards site.
How admission works
The School for Creative Studies has no neighborhood attendance zone. Students apply through the district’s magnet and school-choice lottery. For 2026-27 the window ran Jan. 5 to 5 p.m. Jan. 30; the lottery page explains eligibility and the steps, and the school choices page lists every program.
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
The School for Creative Studies follows the district’s year-round calendar. Coming dates from the 2026-27 district calendars:
- Tuesday, Nov. 3: teacher workday, no school for students
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day holiday
- Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving break
- Dec. 21 to Jan. 8: winter break, including an intersession Jan. 4-7 and a teacher workday Jan. 8
- Monday, Jan. 18: MLK Day holiday
- 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.
Sports and activities
The School for Creative Studies is not listed in the NCHSAA’s approved 2025-29 realignment. High school sports in Durham are covered in our Friday night football guide and on our scoreboard.
More
- The district’s Growing Together page for The School for Creative Studies
- 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 The School for Creative Studies serve?
The School for Creative Studies serves grades 6 to 12, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
What is The School for Creative Studies’s school grade?
The School for Creative Studies earned a C, with a score of 61, in North Carolina’s 2024-25 School Performance Grades. In 2025-26, 59.7% of its state tests were at grade level or above.
How do students get into The School for Creative Studies?
The School for Creative Studies has no neighborhood attendance zone. Students apply through Durham Public Schools; the district’s lottery page explains the process.
What time does The School for Creative Studies 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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