W.G. Pearson Elementary, 3501 Fayetteville St.: pre-K to grade 5, 278 students in 2024-25 and a D (53) 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.

W.G. Pearson Elementary is a Durham Public Schools elementary school for pre-K to grade 5 at 3501 Fayetteville St. It is a year-round elementary school with no neighborhood attendance zone; the district lists it as a year-round choice for families in every region.

Who to call
Address 3501 Fayetteville St., Durham, NC 27707
Phone 919-560-3988
Grades Pre-K to 5
Run by Durham Public Schools
Calendar Year-round
State school code 320388

Enrollment and teachers

  • State count: an average daily membership of 278 students in the 2024-25 school year, down from 325 in 2023-24, according to the state’s report card data.
  • Federal count: 348 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 31 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 D (53) Met
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: 49.8% (state: 59.2%)
  • College and career ready (Level 4 and above): 23.2% (state: 37.5%)
  • Reading, grades 3 to 8, at grade level: 50.9% (state: 55.7%)
  • Math, grades 3 to 8, at grade level: 50% (state: 59.6%)
  • Growth: met 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

W.G. Pearson Elementary 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

W.G. Pearson Elementary 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: 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., according to the district’s bell schedule.

More

Frequently asked questions

What grades does W.G. Pearson Elementary serve?

W.G. Pearson Elementary serves pre-K to grade 5, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

What is W.G. Pearson Elementary’s school grade?

W.G. Pearson Elementary earned a D, with a score of 53, in North Carolina’s 2024-25 School Performance Grades. In 2025-26, 49.8% of its state tests were at grade level or above.

How do students get into W.G. Pearson Elementary?

W.G. Pearson Elementary has no neighborhood attendance zone. Students apply through Durham Public Schools; the district’s lottery page explains the process.

What time does W.G. Pearson Elementary start?

The school day runs 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., according to the district’s bell schedule.