Summary:
In zip code 27520, there are two public high schools — Clayton High and Cleveland High — both serving grades 9–12 in Clayton, North Carolina, within Johnston County Public Schools. These schools enroll nearly identical student populations: about 1,900 students each, with free/reduced lunch eligibility rates above 98% and similar per-student spending around $7,500.
When comparing the two, Cleveland High stands out as the stronger overall academic performer, especially in mathematics. In the most recent school year, Cleveland High posted a 65.7% proficiency rate in Math I and 78.0% in Math III, significantly above the state averages of 42.1% and 68.9%, and far ahead of Clayton High (45.2% and 64.3%). Cleveland High also has a solid 94% graduation rate and a chronic absenteeism rate of 24.6%, about average for North Carolina. Clayton High, on the other hand, excels in graduation rate at 95% — higher than both the district and state — and shows real strengths in English II (65.2%) and an impressive 59.8% Biology proficiency, which jumped dramatically from 34.3% the previous year. However, Clayton High has a concerning chronic absenteeism rate of 31.7%, nearly 10 points above its district average.
Both schools perform well in English II, exceeding state averages of 64.6% in the latest year. Cleveland High currently ranks in the 57th percentile statewide with a 3-star rating, while Clayton High sits at the 48th percentile with 2 stars. Cleveland High has consistently ranked above Clayton High over the past three years, and its average EOC proficiency (65.4%) surpasses state (58.5%) and district (58.3%) averages. Clayton High’s average is essentially at the state average (58.6%). Given the very high poverty context at both schools, these results are especially notable. For parents, Cleveland High is the stronger overall choice, particularly in math, while Clayton High pairs a high graduation rate with big recent gains in science.
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