Academy head John Windows and his team were rated as “Outstanding” and achieved a phenomenal 100% for their quality of coaching and learning.
Statistics also show academy graduates accounted for no fewer than 75% of the First XI squads across the 2016 season, higher than any other county.
A total of 16 Academy graduates made a combined 149 appearances in this season’s Specsavers County Championship, with 12 making 66 Royal London One-Day Cup appearances and 13 players contributing a total of 138 NatWest T20 Blast games.
It comes after another season of success on the field after Durham finished fourth in the Championship, reached the NatWest T20 Blast final while the Second XI demonstrated some of the talent coming through by winning the Championship title.
In addition, the Academy squad won the North East Premier League T20 competition and finished fifth in the Premier Division.
Keaton Jennings became the latest Durham man to play for England, making a century debut in India last month, while Josh Coughlin followed fellow Academy men Jack Burnham and Adam Hickey in playing for England’s Under-19 side.
Academy Manager, John Windows, said: “We are delighted to have been recognised in these latest results, which confirms the great work we believe we’re doing with young cricketers.
“The county has a rich history of promoting youth talent and our aim is to provide Jon Lewis with players who are ready to contribute to the First XI, so we are particularly proud that around three-quarters of our current playing squad have come through the ranks here.
“2016 saw a number of young players continue to move through the ranks and we had a number of first-class debutants as well, and we are already looking forward to the next generation of talent making their mark on the national and international stage.”