Compare Schools USA logo CompareSchoolsUSA

Best public schools in Clayton, NC

14 public schools in Clayton: 7 elementary · 3 middle · 2 high · 1 K-8 · 1 combined. Ranked by our score, based on 2025-26 state test results.

Rankings renumber to share equal ranks and fill gaps when schools are hidden. Scores compare each school with schools of the same type across North Carolina.

Elementary schools

7 schools in Clayton, best first
1
Riverwood Elementary 93.8
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades PK-5 · 739 students
ELA 76%Math 83%Science 91%
#78 of 1,256 in North Carolina
2
Cleveland Elementary 85.9
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades PK-5 · 816 students
ELA 70%Math 76%Science 82%
#177 of 1,256 in North Carolina
3
Powhatan Elementary 85.8
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades PK-5 · 614 students
ELA 69%Math 76%Science 84%
#179 of 1,256 in North Carolina
4
River Dell Elementary 79.9
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades PK-5 · 942 students
ELA 65%Math 71%Science 86%
#253 of 1,256 in North Carolina
5
East Clayton Elementary 52.3
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades PK-5 · 513 students
ELA 54%Math 62%Science 65%
#599 of 1,256 in North Carolina
6
West Clayton Elementary 44.9
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades PK-5 · 718 students
ELA 52%Math 60%Science 59%
#692 of 1,256 in North Carolina
7
Cooper Academy 38.8
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades PK-5 · 441 students
ELA 54%Math 54%Science 55%
#769 of 1,256 in North Carolina

Middle schools

3 schools in Clayton, best first
1
Swift Creek Middle 63.5
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades 6-8 · 698 students
ELA 56%Math 64%Science 66%
#168 of 460 in North Carolina
2
Riverwood Middle 59.9
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades 6-8 · 914 students
ELA 57%Math 54%Science 71%
#185 of 460 in North Carolina
3
Clayton Middle 51.2
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades 6-8 · 582 students
ELA 55%Math 50%Science 70%
#225 of 460 in North Carolina

High schools

2 schools in Clayton, best first
1
Cleveland High 57.1
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades 9-12 · 1,896 students
ELA 66%Math 73%Science 51%
#220 of 512 in North Carolina
2
Clayton High 47.0
Johnston County Public Schools · Grades 9-12 · 1,942 students
ELA 65%Math 56%Science 59%
#272 of 512 in North Carolina

K-8 schools

1 school in Clayton
1
Johnston Charter Academy 77.3
Johnston Charter Academy · Grades K-8 · Charter · 751 students
ELA 67%Math 65%Science 88%
#40 of 174 in North Carolina

Combined schools

1 school in Clayton
1
American Leadership Academy - Johnston 70.4
American Leadership Academy - Johnston · Grades K-12 · Charter · 1,865 students
ELA 64%Math 66%Science 67%
#58 of 194 in North Carolina

School districts serving Clayton

Nearby cities and towns