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Clayton (John M.) Elementary School

Q: Is Clayton (John M.) Elementary School a good school?

Clayton (John M.) Elementary School ranks 52 nd of 107 Delaware elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

52^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 107 Delaware Elementary Schools

Better than 51% of Delaware elementary schools

Summary

Clayton (John M.) Elementary School in Frankford, DE, is a mid-sized K-5 school within the Indian River School District, serving 446 students in a rural, close-knit community. The school holds a steady 3-star rating and ranks in the middle of the pack statewide, but its real story is in how well it supports students who often face extra challenges.

What truly sets Clayton apart is its success with students from low-income families and English Language Learners. The school ranks in the 84th percentile for low-income students and the 77th percentile for ELL students—numbers that put it in the top quarter of all elementary schools in Delaware. That's a remarkable achievement, especially when you compare it to nearby schools like North Georgetown Elementary or East Millsboro Elementary, which serve similar populations but don't show the same level of growth. Clayton also shines in early literacy: 3rd-grade reading proficiency hit 47.62% in the latest school year, well above both the district (33.63%) and state (40.05%) averages. Add to that a very low chronic absenteeism rate of just 10.5%—about half the district rate—and a favorable 12:1 student-teacher ratio, and you get a school where kids show up, feel known, and get personalized attention.

The main area for growth is math in the upper grades. While 3rd-grade math proficiency is strong at 53.97%, it drops to 29.17% by 5th grade—a steeper decline than district or state trends. On the flip side, 5th-grade social studies is a clear strength at 62.86%. While Lord Baltimore Elementary posts higher raw test scores, Clayton's value lies in its demonstrated ability to close achievement gaps and lift up its most vulnerable learners. For parents looking for a dependable, community-focused school that genuinely supports every child, Clayton is a strong, steady choice.

446

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,910

Per pupil spending ?

56.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

252 Clayton Ave
Frankford, DE 19945

(302) 732-3808

District: Indian River School District

Students who attend Clayton (John M.) Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Selbyville Middle School
High:	Indian River High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.7%

Hispanic:

31.8%

African American:

12.3%

See top rated Delaware elementary schools

Compare Clayton (John M.) Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 67th percentile in 2016 → 51st in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Delaware median (51st percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Science scores 12 pts below the Delaware average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg38%

Delaware avg42%

52^nd of 107

Delaware public elementary schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 33% (2016) to top 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Delaware Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 8Elementary Schools in the Indian River School District

10^th of 34Indian River School District among Delaware districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	50.6	52 of 107	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.1	49 of 109	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.6	57 of 106	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.9	46 of 103	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.9	54 of 104	48.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.4	49 of 95	48.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.2	48 of 105	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.0	35 of 85	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	62.7	32 of 86	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	69.8	28 of 86	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	61.3	42 of 108	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	77.9	11 of 36	69.4%	★★★★☆
2013	89.2	3 of 91	96.7%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2019	34.3	47 of 72	34.7%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2025	67.9	5 of 22	77.3%	★★★★☆
2019	77.2	5 of 29	82.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	49.0	47 of 98	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	43.8	47 of 97	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.7	50 of 97	48.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.3	36 of 89	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.2	50 of 90	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.5	42 of 67	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.2	46 of 99	53.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	64.5	17 of 45	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.1	20 of 43	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	31.9	31 of 37	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	52.0	21 of 42	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	37.7	24 of 36	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.5	4 of 15	73.3%	★★★★☆
2019	84.6	3 of 37	91.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	73.7	12 of 75	84.0%	★★★★☆
2025	71.3	11 of 70	84.3%	★★★★☆
2024	46.5	31 of 66	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.2	18 of 66	72.7%	★★★★☆
2022	65.8	17 of 62	72.6%	★★★★☆
2021	49.0	6 of 18	66.7%	★★★★☆
2019	54.9	41 of 92	55.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	41.7	53 of 98	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.9	52 of 97	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.4	56 of 97	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.4	44 of 89	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.9	49 of 90	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.7	48 of 67	28.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.9	35 of 99	64.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Delaware percentile	Rating
2026	34.5	52 of 78	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.4	47 of 77	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.5	38 of 73	47.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.0	31 of 70	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.9	41 of 75	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.6	40 of 65	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.1	46 of 82	43.9%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)84th percentile+33 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)77th percentile+22 vs school

Hispanic (2026)62nd percentile+11 vs school

Female (2026)52nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)46th percentile-5 vs school

African American (2019)35th percentile-20 vs school

White (2026)33rd percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Delaware (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies48%~ state avg

English Language Arts46%+4 vs state

Mathematics41%~ state avg

Science18%-12 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, August 2, 2016

This school is amazing. The staff works with parents and I love the Immersion programs. The school is starting a STEM program and we are truly lucky to have our students attend such a wonderful school. Close Quote

Schools Near Clayton (John M.) Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				DeSSA Science (2026)		DeSSA Social Studies (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2026)						Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)						Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2016)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	DeSSA Science 5th Grade	DeSSA Science 8th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 4th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 5th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 6th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 7th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
Clayton (John M.) Elementary School	Public	K-5	252 Clayton Ave	Frankford	19945	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 732-3808	446	37	12.0	56.6%	235 (52.7%)	55 (12.3%)	142 (31.8%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)	50.6	52^nd of 107 public elementary schools	51.4%		49.1	49^th of 109 public elementary schools	55.0%	3	18.1		34.7	62.9				47.6	40.8	51.4				54.0	42.1	29.2				$24,910
East Millsboro Elementary School	Public	K-5	29346 Iron Branch Road	Millsboro	19966	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 934-3222	820	51	16.0	42.3%	426 (52.0%)	133 (16.2%)	185 (22.6%)	19 (2.3%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	53 (6.5%)	30.7	73^rd of 107 public elementary schools	31.8%		39.1	62^nd of 109 public elementary schools	43.1%	11	24.2		20.4	64.2				27.8	26.4	39.5				30.4	30.1	34.7				$17,572
Southern Delaware School of the Arts	Public, Magnet	K-8	27 Hosier Street	Selbyville	19975	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	Yes	No	No	(302) 436-1066	404	32	12.6	17.7%	305 (75.5%)	9 (2.2%)	57 (14.1%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.7%)	79.3	24^th of 107 public elementary schools	77.6%		79.9	23^rd of 109 public elementary schools	78.9%	1	31.8	12.8	56.8	75.0	57.5	71.7	61.7	51.2	54.6	61.4	56.1	57.5	48.9	62.8	72.7	47.7	46.3	46.7	46.8	$20,970
Showell (Phillip C.) Elementary School	Public	K-5	41 Bethany Road	Selbyville	19975	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 436-1040	297	25	11.8	44.9%	153 (51.5%)	40 (13.5%)	87 (29.3%)	7 (2.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.0%)	57.1	41^st of 107 public elementary schools	61.7%		51.4	47^th of 109 public elementary schools	56.9%	6	35.2		34.9	67.9				51.6	20.5	38.9				54.8	34.1	57.4				$25,163
Long Neck Elementary School	Public	K-5	26064 School Lane	Millsboro	19966	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 945-6200	712	46	15.4	55.0%	343 (48.2%)	91 (12.8%)	200 (28.1%)	4 (0.6%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (9.6%)	33.7	69^th of 107 public elementary schools	35.5%		35.7	66^th of 109 public elementary schools	39.4%	3	19.5		26.3	53.4				27.7	35.0	33.1				41.6	46.2	26.3				$17,842
Lord Baltimore Elementary School	Public	K-5	120 Atlantic Avenue	Ocean View	19970	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 537-2700	557	42	13.2	32.5%	432 (77.6%)	27 (4.8%)	58 (10.4%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (5.9%)	82.9	17^th of 107 public elementary schools	84.1%		84.9	13^th of 109 public elementary schools	88.1%	4	38.5		50.9	80.2				65.1	54.6	54.4				80.2	70.4	49.5				$20,679
Georgetown Elementary School	Public	K-5	301-A West Market Street	Georgetown	19947	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 856-1940	825	60	13.7	53.7%	211 (25.6%)	117 (14.2%)	468 (56.7%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (2.8%)	33.5	70^th of 107 public elementary schools	34.6%		31.6	71^st of 109 public elementary schools	34.9%	1	20.0		30.2	46.3				22.7	38.3	39.4				35.7	46.4	29.0				$20,642
Love Creek Elementary School	Public	K-5	19488 John J. Williams Hwy	Lewes	19958	Sussex County	Cape Henlopen School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 703-3456	631	42	15.0		443 (70.2%)	24 (3.8%)	84 (13.3%)	14 (2.2%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	60 (9.5%)	80.2	21^st of 107 public elementary schools	80.4%		84.6	15^th of 109 public elementary schools	86.2%	6	43.6		38.7	69.1				56.4	62.0	67.3				60.7	56.6	60.2				$19,701
Rehoboth Elementary School	Public	K-5	500 Stockley Street	Rehoboth Beach	19971	Sussex County	Cape Henlopen School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 227-2571	557	41	13.5	34.7%	368 (66.1%)	47 (8.4%)	97 (17.4%)	14 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.6%)	89.1	10^th of 107 public elementary schools	90.7%		83.8	19^th of 109 public elementary schools	82.6%	9	40.9		65.0	71.0				68.0	69.3	65.6				62.9	71.3	63.4				$21,021
North Georgetown Elementary School	Public	K-5	664 North Bedford Street	Georgetown	19947	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 855-2430	754	49	15.5	55.2%	133 (17.6%)	53 (7.0%)	548 (72.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.4%)	20.8	83^rd of 107 public elementary schools	22.4%		24.4	81^st of 109 public elementary schools	25.7%	2	11.8		17.1	46.4				16.5	21.4	38.9				21.1	28.8	36.2				$18,525

Frequently Asked Questions about Clayton (John M.) Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Clayton (John M.) Elementary School?

Students at Clayton (John M.) Elementary School are 53% White, 32% Hispanic, 12% African American, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Clayton (John M.) Elementary School in?

Indian River School District

How many students attend Clayton (John M.) Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 446 students attended Clayton (John M.) Elementary School.

Is Clayton (John M.) Elementary School a good school?

Clayton (John M.) Elementary School ranks 52^nd of 107 Delaware elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Clayton (John M.) Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Clayton (John M.) Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Selbyville Middle School
High : Indian River High School

Rate Clayton (John M.) Elementary School!

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Latest Delaware data All new data »

2023–24 through 2024–25 graduation ratesNewSep 29, 2026

2025–26 DeSSA, SAT & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresAug 18, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 23, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 20, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Delaware Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.