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Johnston County School District (2026) - Clayton, NC

Johnston County School District

2320 Hwy 70 E Business
Smithfield, NC 27577-1336
(District boundaries shown in map)
7/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Johnston County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 24 public preschools serving 16,555 students in Johnston County School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Johnston County School District have an average math proficiency score of 58% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 57% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
49 Schools
1,007 Schools
# Students
37,265 Students
477,947 Students
# Teachers
2,147 Teachers
32,759 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Johnston County School District, 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 91% has decreased from 92% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#130 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(21-22)
54%
51%
52%
50%
66%
63%
(21-22)
92%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.68
0.73
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
31%
24%
% Black
19%
25%
% White
43%
40%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,120 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,575 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$377 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$394 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,120
$11,168
Spending / Student
$10,575
$11,592

Best Johnston County School District Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Cleveland Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
10225 Cleveland Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-2700
Gr: PK-5 | 851 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #22.
Riverwood Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
108 Athletic Club Blvd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-6300
Gr: PK-5 | 728 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #33.
River Dell Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
12100 Buffalo Road
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-1977
Gr: PK-5 | 981 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #44.
Powhatan Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3145 Vinson Rd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-3259
Gr: PK-5 | 656 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #55.
Dixon Road Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
835 Dixon Road
Willow Spring, NC 27592
(919) 894-7771
Gr: PK-5 | 644 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #66.
Pine Level Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
304 West Blanche Street, Po Bo
Pine Level, NC 27568
(919) 965-3323
Gr: PK-5 | 341 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #77.
Thanksgiving Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1161 Lynch Rd
Selma, NC 27576
(984) 400-7300
Gr: PK-5 | 870 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #88.
West View Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
11755 Cleveland Road
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 661-6184
Gr: PK-5 | 969 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #99.
Meadow School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
7507 Nc Hwy 50 S
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4226
Gr: PK-8 | 646 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1010.
Princeton Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
650 Holt's Pond Rd
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-0755
Gr: PK-5 | 770 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1111.
Mcgee's Crossroads Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
10330 Nc Hwy 50 North
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 894-7161
Gr: PK-5 | 950 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1212.
Glendale-kenly Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2001 Bay Valley Rd
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2821
Gr: PK-5 | 433 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1313.
Polenta Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
105 Josephine Road
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 989-6039
Gr: PK-5 | 1,010 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Corinth-holders Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3976 Nc 231
Zebulon, NC 27597
(919) 365-7560
Gr: PK-5 | 585 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Micro Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
301 E Main St
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 588-4300
Gr: PK-5 | 404 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1616.
Benson Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2040 Hwy 50 N
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4233
Gr: PK-5 | 719 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1717.
East Clayton Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2075 Nc Highway 42 East
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 550-5311
Gr: PK-5 | 524 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1818.
Four Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
180 Hatcher St
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-2165
Gr: PK-5 | 1,051 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1919.
Wilson's Mills Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4654 Wilson's Mills Rd
Wilsons Mills, NC 27593
(919) 934-2978
Gr: PK-5 | 496 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #2020.
West Clayton Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1012 S Lombard St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-7113
Gr: PK-5 | 742 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #2121.
Cooper Academy
(Math: 49% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
849 North Mial St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-0256
Gr: PK-5 | 447 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #2222.
Selma Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
311 W Richardson St
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 965-3361
Gr: PK-5 | 794 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2323.
South Smithfield Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
201 W Sanders St
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-8979
Gr: PK-5 | 450 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #2424.
West Smithfield Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2665 Galilee Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 989-6418
Gr: PK-5 | 494 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 85%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 49 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 37,265 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 56%
  • : 92% (Top 20% in NC)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 54% (Top 50%)
  • : 52% (Top 50%)
  • : 66% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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