Public schools in Clayton, NC
15 open public schools with an address in Clayton, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
13,911
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
2
1 virtual
An overview of Clayton public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in Clayton, NC: 8 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 13,911 students, an average of 927 per school. The largest campus is American Leadership Academy - Johnston (2,082 students), and the largest elementary school is River Dell Elementary (981).
Johnston County Public Schools operates the most schools here (13), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17:1, higher than the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 88% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Clayton
Elementary schools in Clayton
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 851 | 19:1 | |
| Cooper Academy Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 447 | 14.6:1 | |
| East Clayton Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 524 | 16.3:1 | |
| Johnston Charter Academy Johnston Charter Academy · Charter | KG–08 | 677 | 19.5:1 | |
| Powhatan Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 656 | 17.4:1 | |
| River Dell Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 981 | 17.6:1 | |
| Riverwood Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 728 | 16.3:1 | |
| West Clayton Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 742 | 14.9:1 |
Middle schools in Clayton
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton Middle Johnston County Public Schools | 06–08 | 609 | 16:1 | |
| Riverwood Middle Johnston County Public Schools | 06–08 | 902 | 17:1 | |
| Swift Creek Middle Johnston County Public Schools | 06–08 | 691 | 15.5:1 |
High schools in Clayton
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton High Johnston County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,929 | 23.4:1 | |
| Cleveland High Johnston County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,889 | 23.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Clayton
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Leadership Academy - Johnston American Leadership Academy - Johnston · Charter | KG–12 | 2,082 | 22.7:1 | |
| JCPS Virtual Academy Johnston County Public Schools · Virtual | KG–12 | 203 | 13:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White43.9%
- Hispanic24%
- Black23.1%
- Asian1.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial7.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Clayton schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (13,911 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Clayton
How many public schools are in Clayton, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in Clayton: 8 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 13,911 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Clayton?
Schools with an address in Clayton belong to 3 education agencies, led by Johnston County Public Schools (13 schools), American Leadership Academy - Johnston (1 school), Johnston Charter Academy (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Clayton?
Clayton High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Clayton, with 1,929 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Clayton?
Yes. 2 of the 15 public schools in Clayton are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including American Leadership Academy - Johnston, Johnston Charter Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Clayton schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Clayton public schools is 17:1, higher than the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Clayton guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities