Central Park School For Children

www.cpscnc.org

Charter School 585 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

The Central Park School for Children (CPSC) is a progressive, tuition-free public charter school located in downtown Durham, North Carolina. Serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade, the school is deeply rooted in a community-centered philosophy that prioritizes social-emotional learning alongside rigorous academics. Its curriculum is project-based and experiential, designed to foster critical thinking, curiosity, and a strong sense of civic responsibility, often utilizing the surrounding urban environment as an extension of the classroom.

The school is well-regarded for its emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to reflect the socio-economic and cultural makeup of Durham. By integrating "Habits of Scholarship"—such as persistence, collaboration, and craftsmanship—into daily lessons, CPSC encourages students to take ownership of their education. With its commitment to restorative practices and a democratic school culture, Central Park School for Children seeks to develop not just high-achieving students, but empathetic, engaged citizens who are prepared to contribute meaningfully to their local and global communities.

585

Total Students

47.1

Full-Time Teachers

12.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

35.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Central Park School For Children
Demographic	Student Count
White	284
Hispanic	108
Black	133
Asian	13
Two or More	46
American Indian	1

White
284 (48.5%)
Black
133 (22.7%)
Hispanic
108 (18.5%)
Two or More
46 (7.9%)
Asian
13 (2.2%)
American Indian
1 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Central Park School For Children
Phone:	(919)682-1200
Website:	http://www.cpscnc.org
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	585
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	47.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	202
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	6

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 61

Grade 1 67

Grade 2 66

Grade 3 68

Grade 4 62

Grade 5 73

Grade 6 71

Grade 7 62

Grade 8 55

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for Central Park School For Children
Grade	Student Count
Kindergarten	61
Grade 1	67
Grade 2	66
Grade 3	68
Grade 4	62
Grade 5	73
Grade 6	71
Grade 7	62
Grade 8	55

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for Central Park School For Children
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	310	53%
Male	275	47%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)

Global Scholars Academy

Charter School 201 Students

311 Dowd St
Durham, NC 27701 (0.5 miles away)

Elementary School K - 8th