Getting Educated

A primitive schoolhouse was established 10 years before the town was incorporated. In 1785 the plantation was divided into two school districts, and in 1790 the Town voted to have six school districts, each with its own one-room school. The townspeople preferred schools to which children could walk, maintained by people working off taxes, and could be served by one poorly-paid teacher. In 1890 there were 13 school districts. Attempts to establish larger, two-room schools were repeatedly voted down as too expensive at town meetings.

In 1960, a four-room consolidated school was established—the core of what was formerly Durham Elementary and Middle School. Several additions were added to accommodate the more than 430 students.

The current Durham Community School opened in 2010, replacing the old Durham Elementary School and encompassing grades Pre K-8. The school is a state-of-the-art facility with an emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability. Heating and cooling is provided by a geo-thermal system, domestic hot water is supplemented by solar panels and natural light harvesting is predominant throughout the building using light shelves and a variety of sensor technologies.