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Best Public Schools in Clayton, NC


At a glance
15
Schools
13,911
Students
3
Districts
2
5-star schools
Top rankedCleveland Elementary124th of 1,490 North Carolina elementary schools
Biggest riser
East Clayton Elementary up 232 spots statewide this year
Smallest classes
JCPS Virtual Academy 12.9 students per teacher
SchoolDigger ratings
5★
4★
3★
2★
2 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)
Summary:

The city of Clayton, North Carolina is home to 14 schools, including 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 1 alternative school. These schools serve students across a range of grade levels and provide a diverse educational landscape for the local community.

Among the standout schools in Clayton are Cleveland Elementary, which ranks in the top 10% of North Carolina elementary schools with a 5-star rating and consistently high test scores, and Riverwood Elementary, another top-performing 5-star school with exceptional math and reading proficiency. The public charter school, American Leadership Academy - Johnston, also stands out as a high-performing alternative to the traditional public schools in the area.

The data reveals stark disparities in academic performance between the highest-performing and lowest-performing schools in Clayton. While some schools, like West Clayton Elementary, struggle with proficiency rates below 50%, others, such as Powhatan Elementary, boast proficiency rates over 80%. The schools with the highest percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch tend to be the lower-performing ones, suggesting a complex relationship between socioeconomic status and academic achievement. However, the data also shows that higher per-student spending does not necessarily translate to better outcomes, as some of the highest-spending schools are among the lowest-performing in the district.

Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private




Cities Near Clayton

See the top NC North Carolina cities
SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

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.

Diagnostics