Admission & Financial Aid

For 2023–2024, we have 1,247 students enrolled in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12.

• Pre-K and Kindergarten: 108
• Lower School: 290
• Middle School: 390
• Upper School: 459

• Preschool & Lower School: 18 students with a teacher and 1 to 2 teaching assistants
• Middle School: 17 students
• Upper School: 16 students

Durham Academy's "entry points," which offer students the best chance for admission, are planned openings for new students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and grades 5, 6 and 9. However, due to families moving, Durham Academy will likely have openings at every grade level for the 2025–2026 school year.

Children who are entering pre-kindergarten should be 4 years old by Sept. 1, and children entering kindergarten should be 5 by Sept. 1. Students must be fully potty trained.

Durham Academy is able to accept applications from international students when the following conditions are met:

1. The student must live with an immediate family member (mother or father) in the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill, North Carolina). We do not set up or provide housing for international students since we are not a boarding school.

2. Because we do not offer ESL (English as a Second Language) courses at our school, students must have fluent English skills, both written and spoken. We ask that international students take either the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) or the SSAT (Secondary Schools Admissions Test), as well as the TOEFL. 

3. We require a virtual interview, at a minimum, and strongly prefer that a student visit campus with his or her family so we can meet both the student and family members.

Visiting is truly the best way to see Durham Academy in action and to assess whether or not it seems like a good match for your family; learn about our On-Campus Information sessions at da.org/tours. Our Enrollment Management team is eager to talk with your family as you explore our community.