Summary:
Zip code 27520 covers the Clayton, North Carolina area and contains 9 schools serving roughly 8,000 students: four elementary schools, three middle/high school configurations, one K–8 charter academy, and one virtual alternative academy. All but Johnston Charter Academy belong to Johnston County Public Schools, a district ranking 98th of 246 in North Carolina, while Johnston Charter Academy operates independently and ranks much higher at 29th of 246.
The standout school is Cleveland Elementary, ranked 216th of 1,492 elementary schools (86th percentile) despite nearly 99% of students qualifying for free/reduced-price lunch; it outperforms the state in every subject and posts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the zip code at 8.9%. Johnston Charter Academy is the strongest option school, ranking 304th (80th percentile) with rapid improvement over two years, but it serves a notably different demographic, with only 50.5% free/reduced-price lunch eligibility versus roughly 96–99% at traditional public schools. Among traditional secondary schools, Cleveland High (ranked 283rd of 662) clearly outperforms Clayton High (345th), particularly in math proficiency, while Swift Creek Middle (297th of 778) outranks Clayton Middle (405th), driven largely by stronger middle-school math scores.
Chronic absenteeism is a serious challenge at the secondary level, with Clayton High, Swift Creek Middle, and Clayton Middle all exceeding 30%, compared to just 8.9% at Cleveland Elementary. JCPS Virtual Academy is a clear outlier with low proficiency across nearly all subjects and should not be compared directly to brick-and-mortar schools. Importantly, higher per-pupil spending does not translate to higher performance, as Cooper Academy spends the most per student ($10,146) yet ranks among the lowest in the area. Overall, families will find exceptional elementary performance at Cleveland Elementary, solid options at Johnston Charter Academy and Cleveland High, and meaningful math challenges at Clayton High and Clayton Middle.
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