Top Rankings
Clay County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 956 students in Clay County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Clay County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
4 Schools
2,151 Schools
# Students
1,322 Students
1,095,784 Students
# Teachers
92 Teachers
71,767 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Clay County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 85-89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#97 out of 325 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)60%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
68%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)75-79%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.28
0.72
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
n/a
5%
% Hispanic
11%
22%
% Black
n/a
24%
% White
84%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,679 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,278 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$17 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$16 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,679
$11,168
Spending / Student
$12,278
$11,592
Best Clay County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hayesville Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
72 Elementary School Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904
(828) 389-8586
Hayesville, NC 28904
(828) 389-8586
Gr: 3-5 | 280 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #22.
Hayesville Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
135 School Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904
(828) 389-9924
Hayesville, NC 28904
(828) 389-9924
Gr: 6-8 | 301 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: n/an/a
698 Anderson St
Hayesville, NC 28904
(828) 389-3763
Hayesville, NC 28904
(828) 389-3763
Gr: PK-2 | 375 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
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