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GreatSchools Rating

Bethesda Elementary School

Public | K-5 | 717 students

Last modified
Community Rating

3 stars


Teacher quality

Principal leadership

Parent involvement

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5 reviews of this school


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Posted September 27, 2007

As a parent of two gifted children, I must say that I am quite pleased with the level of differentiated AIG services that my fourth grader and fifth grader are receiving. My children are assigned work that is both challenging and engaging. My children are thrilled by rewards like 'caught being good' ice cream parties and a trip to a Durham Bulls baseball game last year! My only concerns are a lack of parental support and a lack of opportunities for a band/orchestra. (Apparently, this is a DPS thing...) However, I find the teachers both knowledgable and compassionate. I am happy to have my children in such a wonderful school!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted October 4, 2005

I cannot say that I am disappointed the school, but I am disappointed with my child's teacher. My son is in the first grade, and I feel that the homework that he gets is busy work. He came from another elementary school where he attended kindergarten, and the work was much more challenging than it is now. Also, his teacher is out a lot. I am a former school teacher, and compared to other 1st graders at other schools, I feel that his teacher is not following the curriculum. The only feedback I get about my son's classwork is from him. I am very disappointed with this 1st grade teacher.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted July 5, 2005

We are the parents of a special needs child, and we could not be more pleased with a school and it's staff than we are with Bethesda Elementary School. Every step of the way the staff and Ms. Walker, the Principal, have helped us to nurture a child who loves school and learning. He is entering Second Grade and is very excited. The teachers and other staff have been more than willing to help when needed and even gone above and beyond their jobs at times. The staff and teachers at Bethesda are doing a great job not just teaching our son, but making school a place he is excited about. The Teaching Assistant in his class won 'Teaching Assistant of the Year by the Arc of Durham'. That's just how good the staff and leadership is. We would recommend Bethesda to any parent, especially a special needs kid.
—Submitted by William and Cathy Wickward, a parent


Posted June 24, 2005

We are very please with Bethesda. Our grandson will be going into 1st grade and is reading well above grade level as well as writing paragraphs with 4-6 sentence. He is a very fast paced child and requires a certain type of teacher to keep him focused,which he had at Bethesda last year. The principle and staff worked closely with me, keeping me informed of his progress. We are very pleased with Bethesda and look forward to the next 5 years.
—Submitted by Betty Seymore, a parent


Posted April 15, 2005

This school needs a lot of work. Specifically the need for quality teachers. My child has been there since kindergarten, (is now in the 4th grade)and with the exception of that year I have been extremely disappointed. I continue to try and work with them, but continue to be disappointed and wish I had moved my child!
—Submitted by a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 83% in 2012.

130 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
73%

2011

 
 
65%

2010

 
 
65%

2009

 
 
65%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 69% in 2012.

130 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
50%

2011

 
 
46%

2010

 
 
41%

2009

 
 
35%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2011-2012 North Carolina used End-of-Grade (EOG) tests to assess students in grades 3 through 8 and 10 in reading and math, and grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The EOG is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of North Carolina. Students must pass the grade 8 EOG test in order to graduate from high school. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level on the tests.

See North Carolina's state standards

Source: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Math

The state average for Math was 85% in 2012.

110 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
86%

2011

 
 
83%

2010

 
 
77%

2009

 
 
66%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 72% in 2012.

110 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
57%

2011

 
 
55%

2010

 
 
42%

2009

 
 
47%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2011-2012 North Carolina used End-of-Grade (EOG) tests to assess students in grades 3 through 8 and 10 in reading and math, and grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The EOG is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of North Carolina. Students must pass the grade 8 EOG test in order to graduate from high school. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level on the tests.

See North Carolina's state standards

Source: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Math

The state average for Math was 82% in 2012.

119 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
77%

2011

 
 
67%

2010

 
 
62%

2009

 
 
73%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 72% in 2012.

119 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
55%

2011

 
 
53%

2010

 
 
45%

2009

 
 
46%
Science

The state average for Science was 76% in 2012.

119 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
70%

2011

 
 
56%

2010

 
 
45%

2009

 
 
47%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2011-2012 North Carolina used End-of-Grade (EOG) tests to assess students in grades 3 through 8 and 10 in reading and math, and grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The EOG is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of North Carolina. Students must pass the grade 8 EOG test in order to graduate from high school. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level on the tests.

See North Carolina's state standards

Source: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Math

All Students73%
Female71%
Male76%
Black67%
Asian80%
Hispanic83%
Multiracial80%
American Indiann/a
White70%
Economically disadvantaged73%
Not economically disadvantaged72%
Students with disabilities40%
Non-disabled students77%
Limited English proficiency77%
Proficient in English72%
Academically gifted>95%

Reading

All Students50%
Female51%
Male48%
Black47%
Asian60%
Hispanic50%
Multiracial60%
American Indiann/a
White60%
Economically disadvantaged47%
Not economically disadvantaged67%
Students with disabilities27%
Non-disabled students53%
Limited English proficiency36%
Proficient in English55%
Academically gifted>95%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2011-2012 North Carolina used End-of-Grade (EOG) tests to assess students in grades 3 through 8 and 10 in reading and math, and grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The EOG is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of North Carolina. Students must pass the grade 8 EOG test in order to graduate from high school. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level on the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, data for that group is not reported.

See North Carolina's state standards

Source: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Math

All Students86%
Female87%
Male86%
Black84%
Asiann/a
Hispanic88%
Multiracialn/a
American Indiann/a
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islandern/a
White>95%
Economically disadvantaged85%
Not economically disadvantaged93%
Students with disabilities59%
Non-disabled students91%
Limited English proficiency85%
Proficient in English87%
Academically gifted>95%

Reading

All Students57%
Female64%
Male52%
Black52%
Asiann/a
Hispanic56%
Multiracialn/a
American Indiann/a
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islandern/a
White89%
Economically disadvantaged52%
Not economically disadvantaged93%
Students with disabilities24%
Non-disabled students63%
Limited English proficiency58%
Proficient in English57%
Academically gifted>95%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2011-2012 North Carolina used End-of-Grade (EOG) tests to assess students in grades 3 through 8 and 10 in reading and math, and grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The EOG is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of North Carolina. Students must pass the grade 8 EOG test in order to graduate from high school. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level on the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, data for that group is not reported.

See North Carolina's state standards

Source: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Math

All Students77%
Female73%
Male79%
Black72%
Asiann/a
Hispanic89%
Multiracialn/a
American Indiann/a
White67%
Economically disadvantaged77%
Not economically disadvantaged75%
Students with disabilities37%
Non-disabled students84%
Limited English proficiency73%
Proficient in English77%
Academically gifted>95%

Reading

All Students55%
Female54%
Male55%
Black52%
Asiann/a
Hispanic64%
Multiracialn/a
American Indiann/a
White42%
Economically disadvantaged52%
Not economically disadvantaged70%
Students with disabilities21%
Non-disabled students61%
Limited English proficiency40%
Proficient in English57%
Academically gifted>95%

Science

All Students70%
Female65%
Male73%
Black63%
Asiann/a
Hispanic78%
Multiracialn/a
American Indiann/a
White67%
Economically disadvantaged68%
Not economically disadvantaged80%
Students with disabilities32%
Non-disabled students77%
Limited English proficiency53%
Proficient in English72%
Academically gifted>95%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2011-2012 North Carolina used End-of-Grade (EOG) tests to assess students in grades 3 through 8 and 10 in reading and math, and grades 5, 8, and 10 in science. The EOG is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of North Carolina. Students must pass the grade 8 EOG test in order to graduate from high school. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level on the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, data for that group is not reported.

See North Carolina's state standards

Source: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Black 59% 31%
Hispanic 30% 11%
White 9% 54%
Asian/Pacific Islander 2% 2%
American Indian/Alaska Native N/A 1%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 72%N/A34%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 14N/A15
Source: NCES, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

2009 S Miami Boulevard
Durham, NC 27703
Website: Click here
Phone: (919) 560-3904

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