Summary:
Zip code 27520 in Clayton, NC is served by two public middle schools — Swift Creek Middle and Clayton Middle — both covering grades 6 through 8 within Johnston County Public Schools, a district rated 3 stars and ranked 60th percentile among North Carolina districts. Each school enrolls roughly 600–700 students, and both serve very high-need populations, with 96–99% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Swift Creek Middle is the stronger school overall. It earned a 2025–2026 state rank of 297 out of 778 schools (62nd percentile, 3 stars), while Clayton Middle ranks 405 out of 778 (48th percentile, 2 stars). The biggest divider is math: Swift Creek averages about 64% proficiency across grades 6–8, compared to just over 50% at Clayton — a double-digit gap in every grade, peaking at 16.5 points in 7th grade. Reading performance is far more balanced, with both schools landing near 56% proficiency, and Clayton actually leads in 8th-grade reading at 58.5% vs. 55.6%. Clayton's clearest bright spot, however, is 8th-grade science, where it posts 70.3% proficiency — above Swift Creek's 65.9% and above the state average of 68.6%.
Both schools serve high-poverty populations and face chronic absenteeism rates above 30%, well above the state rate of 24.2%. Despite these challenges, both meet or exceed state averages in several tested subjects. Swift Creek's state percentile has stayed in the 59th–66th range over the past three years, while Clayton has slipped from the 57th to the 48th percentile. The clearest opportunity for Clayton Middle is improving middle-grade math, which would likely lift its overall ranking significantly. For parents choosing between the two, Swift Creek offers stronger all-around academics, led by math, while Clayton Middle stands out in 8th-grade science and reading.
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