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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 49 th of 109 Delaware elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

49^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 109 Delaware Elementary Schools

Better than 55% of Delaware elementary schools

Summary

Clayton (John M.) Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Frankford, Delaware, serving 482 students in grades K-5. It is part of the Indian River School District, which is ranked 10 out of 32 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The school's performance on academic assessments is generally in the middle range compared to other Delaware elementary schools, typically ranking in the 40s-50s out of around 100 schools. While the school's performance on Smarter Balanced Assessments and DeSSA tests is below the state and district averages in English Language Arts and Science, it performs better in Mathematics, with 3rd and 4th-grade students scoring above the state and district averages in recent years. The school's performance on Social Studies assessments is a bright spot, with 5th-grade students scoring significantly higher than the state and district averages.

When compared to other elementary schools in the Indian River School District, Clayton (John M.) Elementary School generally performs in the middle of the pack, with some schools, such as Lord Baltimore Elementary and Southern Delaware School of the Arts, significantly outperforming it on academic measures. However, the school does outperform some of its district peers, such as North Georgetown Elementary and Georgetown Elementary, on certain metrics. Interestingly, the nearby schools in the Cape Henlopen School District, such as Lewes Elementary, Rehoboth Elementary, and Love Creek Elementary, consistently outperform Clayton (John M.) Elementary School and the Indian River School District as a whole on academic assessments.

446

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,910

Per pupil spending ?

56.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

252 Clayton Ave
Frankford, DE 19939

(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: Rebounding — 46th percentile in 2024 → 55th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 55th (2025) from a 46th-percentile low (2024)

✓Above the Delaware median (55th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

!Science scores 12 pts below the Delaware average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg37%

Delaware avg40%

49^th of 109

Delaware public elementary schools ?

Top 45%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From top 39% (2015) to top 45% (2025)

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 32Indian 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 (2025)84th percentile+29 vs school

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

Hispanic (2025)53rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)52nd percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)46th percentile-9 vs school

White (2025)39th percentile-16 vs school

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

By subject vs Delaware (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies45%~ state avg

Mathematics44%+6 vs state

English Language Arts39%~ state avg

Science17%-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

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				DeSSA Science (2025)		DeSSA Social Studies (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2025)						Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)						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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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	19939	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 732-3808	446	37	12.0		235 (52.7%)	55 (12.3%)	142 (31.8%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)	49.1	49^th of 109 public elementary schools	55.0%		42.6	57^th of 106 public elementary schools	46.2%	8	17.1		26.3	62.8				31.5	42.7	41.9				48.0	53.7	33.0				$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		426 (52.0%)	133 (16.2%)	185 (22.6%)	19 (2.3%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	53 (6.5%)	39.1	62^nd of 109 public elementary schools	43.1%		45.1	52^nd of 106 public elementary schools	50.9%	10	25.5		19.5	56.8				24.6	28.5	44.3				27.7	46.0	39.7				$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		305 (75.5%)	9 (2.2%)	57 (14.1%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.7%)	79.9	23^rd of 109 public elementary schools	78.9%		81.5	16^th of 106 public elementary schools	84.9%	7	29.6	26.5	52.3	65.9	61.7	87.5	54.6	57.1	54.6	63.6	55.3	70.8	54.3	73.5	59.1	40.9	44.7	54.2	44.1	$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		153 (51.5%)	40 (13.5%)	87 (29.3%)	7 (2.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.0%)	51.4	47^th of 109 public elementary schools	56.9%		61.1	35^th of 106 public elementary schools	67.0%	12	25.0		34.6	60.0				16.3	45.3	44.4				28.0	58.5	55.6				$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		343 (48.2%)	91 (12.8%)	200 (28.1%)	4 (0.6%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (9.6%)	35.7	66^th of 109 public elementary schools	39.4%		39.3	60^th of 106 public elementary schools	43.4%	6	18.2		24.6	38.0				36.6	28.9	33.6				43.1	39.8	33.6				$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		432 (77.6%)	27 (4.8%)	58 (10.4%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (5.9%)	84.9	13^th of 109 public elementary schools	88.1%		89.5	9^th of 106 public elementary schools	91.5%	4	40.2		42.6	84.8				67.0	49.0	66.3				77.7	53.9	66.3				$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		211 (25.6%)	117 (14.2%)	468 (56.7%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (2.8%)	31.6	71^st of 109 public elementary schools	34.9%		37.6	63^rd of 106 public elementary schools	40.6%	8	14.1		14.8	35.5				35.0	24.7	41.0				44.3	32.9	34.5				$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%)	84.6	15^th of 109 public elementary schools	86.2%		87.7	11^th of 106 public elementary schools	89.6%	4	47.7		42.2	65.7				56.2	66.0	71.0				55.7	59.2	62.0				$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		368 (66.1%)	47 (8.4%)	97 (17.4%)	14 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.6%)	83.8	19^th of 109 public elementary schools	82.6%		89.8	8^th of 106 public elementary schools	92.5%	11	43.0		40.7	68.0				59.6	67.4	61.0				59.6	62.1	55.0				$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		133 (17.6%)	53 (7.0%)	548 (72.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.4%)	24.4	81^st of 109 public elementary schools	25.7%		30.1	75^th of 106 public elementary schools	29.2%	6	18.8		15.4	51.2				12.2	21.4	34.4				21.0	33.1	30.5				$18,525

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

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

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

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

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

Indian River School District

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.

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

Clayton (John M.) Elementary School ranks 49^th of 109 Delaware elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Clayton (John M.) Elementary School!

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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.