Hillside Middle vs Clayton Middle
Clayton Middle has a higher overall rating of 9.1/10 compared to 8.0/10. In math proficiency, Clayton Middle leads at 58.0%.
Attendance data is under correction. A public school's existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating shown here may still reflect an unverified attendance input.
Hillside Middle
Salt Lake City, UT
516 students
Clayton Middle
Salt Lake City, UT
555 students
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| Metric | Hillside Middle | Clayton Middle |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.0 / 10 | 9.1 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.3 | 9.6 |
| Growth Score | 6.6 | 8.5 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 28.5% | 27.6% |
| Environment Score | 8.6 | 9.4 |
| State Rank | #158 of 1,017 | #25 of 1,017 |
| State Percentile | 85th | 98th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Hillside Middle | Clayton Middle |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 50.0% | 58.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 52.0% | 65.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Hillside Middle | Clayton Middle |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Middle School | Middle School |
| Grades | 7th – 8th | 7th – 8th |
| Enrollment | 516 | 555 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 20.6:1 | 17.9:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 28.5% | 27.6% |
| District | Salt Lake District | Salt Lake District |
| City | Salt Lake City | Salt Lake City |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Salt Lake City (84108) | Salt Lake City (84108) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $120,469 | $120,469 |
| Median Home Value | $759,800 | $759,800 |
| Median Rent | $1,562 | $1,562 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 77.6% | 77.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| Avg Commute | 18 min | 18 min |
The data story: Hillside Middle vs Clayton Middle
Clayton Middle and Hillside Middle sit 0.9 miles apart in Salt Lake City, but their state rankings tell a meaningful story: Clayton Middle sits at #50 of 1014 Utah schools while Hillside Middle ranks #29 of 1014 — a 21-spot gap that gives Hillside a clear edge in the overall standings despite both schools earning strong overall ratings. Hillside's composite score of 9.0/10 edges Clayton's 8.8/10, a difference that looks small on paper but reflects a real divergence in one key dimension.
That divergence shows up sharply in the growth scores. Hillside Middle posts a 9.5/10 growth score against Clayton Middle's 8.1/10 — a 1.4-point gap indicating that Hillside is moving students forward at a meaningfully faster pace relative to their starting points. Clayton closes some of that ground on raw academic proficiency, where it edges Hillside 9.4/10 to 9.3/10, suggesting Clayton students arrive at higher baseline performance levels and maintain them. For families weighing a school that accelerates learning versus one where students already perform near the top, these two numbers pull in opposite directions.
Both schools serve grades 7–8 and carry identical free/reduced lunch rates at 28%, meaning neither school has a socioeconomic advantage or disadvantage on that measure. Where they differ is in classroom density: Clayton Middle's student-teacher ratio of 17.9:1 is notably lower than Hillside Middle's 20.6:1, giving Clayton students more access to teacher attention on average. Enrollment is comparable — 555 at Clayton versus 516 at Hillside — so the ratio gap reflects staffing rather than school size.
Both schools operate on the same grade span (7–8), so families won't find one offering an extended middle-school experience. The practical differentiator comes down to what a parent prioritizes: Clayton's lower class sizes and slight academic proficiency edge, or Hillside's superior growth trajectory and higher state rank. At schools this close geographically, those distinctions are the deciding factor.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Hillside Middle
Clayton Middle suits families whose student is already performing at or near grade level and who want smaller class sizes — a 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio versus Hillside's 20.6:1 means more direct teacher contact. It's also the better fit if academic proficiency scores (9.4/10) are the primary yardstick, since Clayton edges Hillside on that measure despite ranking lower overall.
Clayton Middle
Hillside Middle is the stronger fit for families whose student needs or would benefit from accelerated academic momentum — its 9.5/10 growth score outpaces Clayton's 8.1/10 by 1.4 points, and its #29 state rank beats Clayton's #50. Parents who weight trajectory over baseline proficiency, or who want a school punching above its enrollment size, will find Hillside the more compelling choice.