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Clay County Middle School

Q: Is Clay County Middle School a good school?

Clay County Middle School ranks 135 th of 320 Kentucky middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

135^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 320 Kentucky Middle Schools

Better than 58% of Kentucky middle schools

Summary

Clay County Middle School is a public middle school in Manchester, Kentucky, serving 396 students in grades 7-8. The school is part of the Clay County School District, which is ranked 28 out of 157 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Clay County Middle School has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, ranging from 135 out of 320 Kentucky middle schools (3-star rating) in 2024-2025 to 265 out of 335 (1-star rating) in 2018-2019. The school's performance has been relatively low compared to other middle schools, with a consistent 2-star rating. Its test scores in core subjects like Mathematics, Reading, and Science are generally below the state averages, though the school ranks higher for female and special education students. Additionally, Clay County Middle School has high chronic absenteeism rates and increasing dropout rates, which may be contributing to its academic challenges.

Interestingly, the nearby South Laurel Middle School and North Laurel Middle School, both part of the Laurel County School District, consistently outperform Clay County Middle School in terms of statewide rankings, test scores, and other key metrics. Addressing the high chronic absenteeism and dropout rates, as well as the socioeconomic challenges faced by the student population, could be key focus areas for Clay County Middle School and the district to improve overall student success.

387

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,986

Per pupil spending ?

69.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

239 Richmond Rd
Manchester, KY 40962

(606) 598-1810

District: Clay County

Students who attend Clay County Middle School usually attend:

High:

Clay County High School

Feeder schools for Clay County Middle School:

Elementary:	Big Creek Elementary
	Burning Springs Elementary
	Goose Rock Elementary
	Hacker Elementary School
	More...
	Manchester Elementary School
	Oneida Elementary School
	Paces Creek Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

97.2%

Hispanic:

1.3%

African American:

0.8%

See top rated Kentucky middle schools

Compare Clay County Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 36th percentile in 2015 → 58th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 22 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Kentucky median (58th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg42%

Kentucky avg42%

135^th of 320

Kentucky public middle schools ?

Top 42%▲ up 22 pts since 2015

From bottom 36% (2015) to top 42% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

28^th of 157Clay County among Kentucky 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	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	54.4	135 of 320	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	36.4	206 of 324	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.5	166 of 327	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.3	181 of 320	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.2	250 of 282	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.5	265 of 335	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.8	203 of 322	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	46.5	174 of 330	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	39.3	215 of 331	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	41.2	216 of 337	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	32.4	256 of 335	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	18.4	298 of 335	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	14.5	294 of 319	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	23.9	256 of 304	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	28.3	237 of 299	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	27.6	227 of 289	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	12.8	266 of 287	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	31.7	208 of 284	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	37.1	61 of 111	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.6	147 of 226	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.0	126 of 219	42.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	53.9	125 of 298	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	36.8	189 of 300	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.4	152 of 295	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.9	124 of 299	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	27.1	186 of 233	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.2	253 of 299	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.5	198 of 290	31.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	57.8	117 of 314	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.0	170 of 311	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.6	156 of 309	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.6	165 of 310	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.3	153 of 224	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	25.5	258 of 303	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	47.1	145 of 285	49.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	53.3	126 of 303	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	33.9	203 of 304	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.4	176 of 307	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.8	227 of 304	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.8	204 of 222	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	25.7	249 of 303	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.4	181 of 293	38.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	39.4	62 of 126	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.4	79 of 130	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.7	228 of 294	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	48.8	155 of 314	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	28.8	233 of 316	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.7	191 of 320	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.3	210 of 314	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	8.6	254 of 266	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)63rd percentile+5 vs school

Male (2025)58th percentile~ school

Female (2025)58th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)51st percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)51st percentile-7 vs school

Disabled (2022)45th percentile~ school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Writing56%+7 vs state

Reading56%+10 vs state

Editing and Mechanics54%+5 vs state

Mathematics42%~ state avg

Social Studies35%-4 vs state

Science25%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Clay County Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				KSA Mathematics (2025)			KSA Reading (2025)			KSA Science (2025)	KSA Writing (2025)	KSA Social Studies (2025)	KSA Editing and Mechanics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Clay County Middle School	Public	7-8	239 Richmond Rd	Manchester	40962	Clay County	Clay County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 598-1810	387	32	12.0	69.5%	376 (97.2%)	3 (0.8%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	54.4	135^th of 320 public middle schools	57.8%		36.4	206^th of 324 public middle schools	36.4%	71		42.0	41.0		61.0	50.0	25.0	56.0	35.0	54.0	$17,986	$2,559	$248	$2,808	$10,797	$2,288	$13,085
North Laurel Middle School	Public	6-8	101 Johnson Rd	London	40741	Laurel County	Laurel County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 862-4715	970	57	17.0	65.6%	925 (95.4%)	6 (0.6%)	18 (1.9%)	10 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	10 (1.0%)	82.9	31^st of 320 public middle schools	90.3%		79	47^th of 324 public middle schools	85.5%	16	57.0	63.0	53.0	67.0	71.0	48.0	46.0		53.0		$24,573	$1,461	$968	$2,429	$16,332	$3,052	$19,385
Barnabus Home Middle School	Public	6-8	4500 Highway 30 W	Annville	40402	Jackson County	Jackson County	No	No	No	No	(606) 304-2111	5	1	5.0		4 (80.0%)	1 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
South Laurel Middle School	Public	6-8	223 S Laurel Rd	London	40744	Laurel County	Laurel County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 862-4745	837	52	16.0	70.1%	768 (91.8%)	11 (1.3%)	34 (4.1%)	9 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	14 (1.7%)	79.2	40^th of 320 public middle schools	87.5%		74.6	55^th of 324 public middle schools	83.0%	15	48.0	64.0	55.0	66.0	62.0	58.0	37.0		52.0		$22,253	$1,547	$911	$2,457	$16,485	$3,206	$19,796

Frequently Asked Questions about Clay County Middle School

Is Clay County Middle School a good school?

Clay County Middle School ranks 135^th of 320 Kentucky middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Clay County Middle School in?

Clay County

How many students attend Clay County Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 387 students attended Clay County Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Clay County Middle School?

Students at Clay County Middle School are 97% White, 1% Hispanic.

What high school do graduates of Clay County Middle School attend?

Students who attend Clay County Middle School usually go on to attend Clay County High School

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Schools in Manchester, KY

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