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Riverwood Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

111^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 93% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Riverwood Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Clayton, NC, serving 728 students within Johnston County Public Schools, and it has become one of the state’s standout performers. For the 2025–2026 school year, Riverwood ranks 111th out of 1,492 elementary schools in North Carolina — placing it in the 93rd percentile with a 5-star rating. That marks a steady climb from a rank of 259 just seven years ago, and the school now sits well above both its district and state averages in every subject and grade level. What makes this especially impressive is the student population: nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch (99.59% under the Community Eligibility Provision), yet achievement remains exceptional across the board.

Academically, Riverwood posts proficiency rates that often exceed state averages by 20 points or more. For example, 5th-grade math proficiency is 87.5% (vs. 62.9% statewide), and 5th-grade science hits an extraordinary 90.6%. Comparing nearby schools, Riverwood is the top-ranked elementary within a roughly 7-mile radius — ahead of Powhatan Elementary (ranked #226) and River Dell Elementary (#324), with dramatically higher scores than West Clayton Elementary or Knightdale Elementary. Riverwood also achieves this with lower per-student spending ($8,213 in 2018–19) than most comparable schools, suggesting smart resource use rather than extra funding. Chronic absenteeism is another plus: only 10.5% of students are chronically absent, less than half the district’s 21.8% and state’s 24.2%.

Beyond overall success, Riverwood shows remarkable results for historically underserved groups. Its low-income students rank in the 95th percentile statewide, African American students rank in the 95th percentile, and Hispanic students rank in the 96th percentile — proof that this is a school where background doesn’t dictate outcomes. Special education students also perform well (80th percentile). There are a couple of areas worth watching: multi-racial students dropped to the 62nd percentile, and gifted students rank at the 68th percentile, which is solid but below the school’s typical standard. Still, Riverwood’s combination of top-tier academics, near-universal poverty, and strong attendance makes it a rare example of equity and excellence in North Carolina education.

728

Students ?

16.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

97.1%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 2.9% (any vaccine)

108 Athletic Club Blvd
Clayton, NC 27527-5759

(919) 359-6300

District: Johnston County Public Schools

Students who attend Riverwood Elementary usually attend:

High:

Corinth Holders High

Racial breakdown:

White:

50.1%

Hispanic:

23.4%

African American:

16.8%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Riverwood Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 83rd percentile in 2016 → 93rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (81% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of North Carolina elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school81%

District avg64%

North Carolina avg61%

111^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 7%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From top 17% (2016) to top 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

98^th of 246Johnston County Public Schools among North Carolina 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	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	90.1	111 of 1492	92.6%	★★★★★
2025	88.0	139 of 1490	90.7%	★★★★★
2024	87.0	150 of 1505	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	83.8	187 of 1502	87.5%	★★★★☆
2022	80.8	235 of 1514	84.5%	★★★★☆
2021	79.4	251 of 1489	83.1%	★★★★☆
2019	77.9	259 of 1473	82.4%	★★★★☆
2018	74.4	319 of 1434	77.8%	★★★★☆
2017	83.7	170 of 1429	88.1%	★★★★☆
2016	79.4	239 of 1425	83.2%	★★★★☆
2015	77.0	292 of 1440	79.7%	★★★★☆
2014	84.6	174 of 1390	87.5%	★★★★☆
2013	77.7	255 of 1403	81.8%	★★★★☆
2012	88.1	65 of 1388	95.3%	★★★★★
2011	89.5	40 of 1381	97.1%	★★★★★
2010	83.5	140 of 1363	89.7%	★★★★☆
2009	86.7	95 of 1354	93.0%	★★★★★
2008	86.6	103 of 1324	92.2%	★★★★★
2007	85.7	87 of 1293	93.3%	★★★★★
2006	87.1	79 of 1276	93.8%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	90.7	43 of 903	95.2%	★★★★★
2025	85.1	71 of 918	92.3%	★★★★★
2024	86.0	63 of 924	93.2%	★★★★★
2023	80.3	111 of 933	88.1%	★★★★☆
2022	76.6	126 of 927	86.4%	★★★★☆
2021	64.5	198 of 896	77.9%	★★★★☆
2019	79.4	108 of 949	88.6%	★★★★☆
2018	68.2	222 of 927	76.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	63.7	137 of 634	78.4%	★★★★☆
2021	60.2	171 of 646	73.5%	★★★★☆
2019	69.8	154 of 878	82.5%	★★★★☆
2018	52.9	347 of 897	61.3%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	46.1	229 of 485	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.0	81 of 421	80.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	88.2	124 of 1447	91.4%	★★★★★
2025	86.9	132 of 1451	90.9%	★★★★★
2024	87.2	124 of 1455	91.5%	★★★★★
2023	83.7	169 of 1459	88.4%	★★★★☆
2022	73.1	329 of 1458	77.4%	★★★★☆
2021	79.3	235 of 1440	83.7%	★★★★☆
2019	78.0	241 of 1424	83.1%	★★★★☆
2018	73.7	334 of 1405	76.2%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.7	239 of 743	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.8	220 of 710	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.6	121 of 669	81.9%	★★★★☆
2023	70.4	9 of 582	98.5%	★★★★★
2022	62.1	211 of 500	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.4	248 of 494	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.2	527 of 612	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	91.8	38 of 981	96.1%	★★★★★
2025	79.0	113 of 961	88.2%	★★★★☆
2024	74.2	172 of 951	81.9%	★★★★☆
2023	77.3	129 of 915	85.9%	★★★★☆
2022	56.3	321 of 893	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.2	214 of 843	74.6%	★★★★☆
2019	63.9	259 of 865	70.1%	★★★★☆
2018	43.6	495 of 851	41.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	87.8	77 of 1434	94.6%	★★★★★
2025	84.5	98 of 1437	93.2%	★★★★★
2024	65.6	389 of 1450	73.2%	★★★★☆
2023	81.5	142 of 1437	90.1%	★★★★★
2022	78.3	163 of 1366	88.1%	★★★★☆
2021	72.7	223 of 1329	83.2%	★★★★☆
2019	61.6	457 of 1361	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.3	780 of 1332	41.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	89.0	102 of 1451	93.0%	★★★★★
2025	86.3	148 of 1450	89.8%	★★★★☆
2024	83.7	180 of 1464	87.7%	★★★★☆
2023	80.3	222 of 1461	84.8%	★★★★☆
2022	85.1	167 of 1464	88.6%	★★★★☆
2021	76.3	297 of 1444	79.4%	★★★★☆
2019	75.0	287 of 1430	79.9%	★★★★☆
2018	73.3	334 of 1413	76.4%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	63.6	68 of 181	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	82.9	22 of 175	87.4%	★★★★☆
2019	35.4	77 of 103	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.4	162 of 815	80.1%	★★★★☆
2025	79.1	77 of 821	90.6%	★★★★★
2024	77.2	84 of 801	89.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	84.0	126 of 1146	89.0%	★★★★☆
2025	83.8	144 of 1172	87.7%	★★★★☆
2024	83.6	142 of 1166	87.8%	★★★★☆
2023	80.2	179 of 1183	84.9%	★★★★☆
2022	80.2	186 of 1194	84.4%	★★★★☆
2021	70.7	302 of 1172	74.2%	★★★★☆
2019	63.4	421 of 1183	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.6	397 of 1178	66.3%	★★★☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)96th percentile+4 vs school

African American (2026)95th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)95th percentile~ school

Male (2026)93rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)91st percentile~ school

White (2026)89th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2026)80th percentile-12 vs school

Disabled (2022)78th percentile-6 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)68th percentile-25 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)62nd percentile-30 vs school

English Language Learner (2022)53rd percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science91%+23 vs state

Mathematics83%+20 vs state

Reading77%+20 vs state

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Schools Near Riverwood Elementary

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Riverwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	108 Athletic Club Blvd	Clayton	27527	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 359-6300	728	45	16.2	—	365 (50.1%)	122 (16.8%)	170 (23.4%)	5 (0.7%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (8.5%)	90.1	111^th of 1492 public elementary schools	92.6%		88	139^th of 1490 public elementary schools	90.7%	28	82.5	79.5	87.5				80.8	70.9	78.1				90.6		97.1%	2.9%	$8,213	$432	$7,780
Cooper Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	849 North Mial St	Clayton	27520	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 553-0256	447	31	14.5	—	111 (24.8%)	161 (36.0%)	132 (29.5%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (8.7%)	38.8	922^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	38.2%		43.4	861^st of 1490 public elementary schools	42.2%	61	58.7	50.6	52.7				54.3	65.4	45.5				55.5		93.1%	1%	$10,146	$817	$9,330
East Clayton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2075 NC Highway 42 East	Clayton	27527	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 550-5311	524	32	16.2	—	143 (27.3%)	204 (38.9%)	117 (22.3%)	8 (1.5%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (9.4%)	50.3	723^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	51.5%		43.9	851^st of 1490 public elementary schools	42.9%	128	61.3	64.0	60.0				62.0	52.0	51.3				65.0		96.6%	2.3%	$9,338	$524	$8,814
River Dell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12100 Buffalo Road	Clayton	27527	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 553-1977	981	56	17.5	—	478 (48.7%)	220 (22.4%)	192 (19.6%)	20 (2.0%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (6.9%)	74.9	324^th of 1492 public elementary schools	78.3%		75.8	307^th of 1490 public elementary schools	79.4%	17	70.1	65.9	78.5				67.3	64.2	64.0				86.0		93.5%	1.4%	$8,530	$614	$7,917
West Clayton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1012 S Lombard St	Clayton	27520	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 553-7113	742	50	14.8	—	245 (33.0%)	158 (21.3%)	266 (35.8%)	20 (2.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (7.0%)	44	844^th of 1492 public elementary schools	43.4%		49.1	759^th of 1490 public elementary schools	49.1%	85	62.3	59.8	58.2				50.9	61.6	46.8				58.9		96.3%	0.9%	$9,685	$477	$9,208
Johnston Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	40 Scholar Drive	Clayton	27520	Johnston County	Johnston Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 879-8190	677	35	19.4	50.5%	269 (39.7%)	206 (30.4%)	116 (17.1%)	17 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (10.2%)	75.9	304^th of 1492 public elementary schools	79.6%		66.2	463^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	68.9%	159	80.2	75.6	65.4	61.1	50.0	59.4	67.9	69.5	61.5	65.3	67.9	69.6	87.2	88.2	100%	0%
Lake Myra Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1300 Elk Falls Rd	Wendell	27591	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(919) 365-8990	722	54	13.3	55.4%	242 (33.5%)	216 (29.9%)	207 (28.7%)	12 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (6.1%)	31.5	1067^th of 1492 public elementary schools	28.5%		42.3	875^th of 1490 public elementary schools	41.3%	192	57.6	51.2	47.8				45.5	52.0	46.0				56.1				$10,121	$996	$9,125
Powhatan Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3145 Vinson Rd	Clayton	27527	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 553-3259	656	38	17.4	—	345 (52.6%)	132 (20.1%)	118 (18.0%)	8 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (7.9%)	81.2	226^th of 1492 public elementary schools	84.9%		81.9	218^th of 1490 public elementary schools	85.4%	8	77.9	74.6	75.2				64.0	69.3	73.3				84.2		91%	4.5%	$9,061	$544	$8,517
Cardinal Charter Academy at Wendell Falls	Public, Charter	K-8	6041 Taylor Rd.	Wendell	27591	Wake County	Cardinal Charter Academy at Wendell Falls	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 752-8870	567	10	54.5	57.3%	146 (25.7%)	185 (32.6%)	171 (30.2%)	13 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (9.2%)	52.7	684^th of 1492 public elementary schools	54.2%		31.7	1064^th of 1490 public elementary schools	28.6%	380	82.9	47.6	59.1	46.8	43.5	45.3	74.3	49.2	54.5	63.8	50.0	64.2	57.6	66.0	92.9%	2.9%
Thanksgiving Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1161 Lynch Rd	Selma	27576	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(984) 400-7300	870	50	17.4	—	460 (52.9%)	151 (17.4%)	193 (22.2%)	14 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (6.0%)	72.7	366^th of 1492 public elementary schools	75.5%		74.8	317^th of 1490 public elementary schools	78.7%	49	73.4	61.4	74.5				66.4	66.7	61.4				82.4		96%	3.3%

Frequently Asked Questions about Riverwood Elementary

What district is Riverwood Elementary in?

Johnston County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Riverwood Elementary attend?

Students who attend Riverwood Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Corinth Holders High

How many students attend Riverwood Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 728 students attended Riverwood Elementary.

Is Riverwood Elementary a good school?

Yes. Riverwood Elementary ranks in the top 7.4% of North Carolina elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Riverwood Elementary?

Students at Riverwood Elementary are 50% White, 23% Hispanic, 17% African American, 9% Two or more races.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 attendance dataSep 2, 2026

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.