5302 Middleton Rd
Durham, NC 27713

This is horrible school. The staff don't care about the children and the principal is horrible. All the kids do here is fight. They don't have services for special needs children and will discriminate against you.

James E. Shepard Middle School in Durham, NC deserves one star at most. I attended this school starting in 6th grade and left halfway through 7th grade because of constant bullying that the administration completely ignored. Instead of protecting students, the school allows a toxic environment that creates and enables bullies. When I tried to speak up, nothing was done, and it only made things worse. On top of that, many of the teachers were openly disrespectful toward me, which made learning feel impossible and unsafe. No student should feel unheard, targeted, or dismissed the way I was. I am now a sophomore, and looking back, leaving this school was one of the best decisions for my mental health.

We are very thankful for the wonderful teachers, the great leadership of Pearsontown Elementary! Pearsontown provides an exceptional learning environment with dedicated teachers who genuinely care about student success. The curriculum is robust and the staff demonstrates a commitment to individual student growth! Our boys love spending their time in this school, learning and enjoying every moment of their educational journey.