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Average

#105 of 219 schools in DE

Top 48% in state

Clayton Elementary School

Elementary School · Smyrna School District

510 West Main Street, Clayton, DE 19938

Enrollment

488

Student-Teacher

17.4:1

Score

6.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 4th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Delaware schools

#105 of 219

In Clayton

#2 of 4

public schools

In district

#3 of 8

Smyrna School District

Equity

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Clayton Elementary School

6.5/10

Elementary School in Clayton · grades Kindergarten – 4th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

First State Military Academy

6.0/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Providence Creek Academy Charter School

6.6/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Clayton Elementary School

Clayton Elementary School is a public elementary school in Clayton, DE, part of Smyrna School District. Clayton Elementary School serves approximately 488 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-4th, and has a 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Clayton Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #105 of 219 schools in DE.

Structured state assessment records for Clayton Elementary School show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.5 pts below district
  • This school 6.5 · Average
  • District avg 7.0
  • DE avg 6.7

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.2Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-2.15 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.8Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency56.5% (2025 DESSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency49.5% (2025 DESSA)
Math vs. State Avg+2.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-5.6 pts
Overall Proficiency53% (2025 DESSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)41% (model expectation from 2025 DESSA)
vs. Expected+11.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile81th
Resources & Environment3.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,084
Chronic Absenteeism16%

Clayton Elementary School — Students at Clayton Elementary School score 53% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores DE DESSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 56.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.5% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)
ELA Proficiency 56.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.8% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)

Based on 70 test records from DE state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
92%
ELA
81%
2010
Math
74%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
91%
ELA
90%
2012
Math
89%
ELA
86%
2013
Math
91%
ELA
85%
2014
Math
62%
ELA
69%
2015
Math
60.3%
ELA
68.1%
2016
Math
55.8%
ELA
66.5%
2017
Math
58.8%
ELA
61.9%
2018
Math
58.8%
ELA
61.1%
2019
Math
57.3%
ELA
56%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
27.5%
ELA
35.3%
2022
Math
42.7%
ELA
38.8%
2023
Math
54.3%
ELA
42.8%
2024
Math
45.3%
ELA
36.4%
2025
Math
56.2%
ELA
49.3%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.2/10.

How Clayton Elementary School Compares

See how Clayton Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.5/10
53th percentile in DE
Academic
8.8/10
Excellent
Growth
6.2/10
Average
Environment
3.8/10
Needs Improvement

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
28 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
16.0%

Location

510 West Main Street, Clayton, DE 19938

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Clayton Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Townsend Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 8.0 miles away, in nearby Townsend), which scores notably higher. Another option is North Smyrna Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Smyrna), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Smyrna Elementary School (rated 7.0/10, 1.6 miles away, in nearby Smyrna), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Clayton, see our Clayton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.7 mi
School Distance Rating
First State Military Academy Clayton 0.4 mi 6.0
Providence Creek Academy Charter School Clayton 0.7 mi 6.6
Smyrna High School Smyrna 0.9 mi 5.9
Clayton Intermediate School Clayton 1.2 mi 5.1
Smyrna Middle School Smyrna 1.2 mi 5.0
North Smyrna Elementary School Smyrna 1.7 mi 8.2
Smyrna Elementary School Smyrna 1.6 mi 7.0
Sunnyside Elementary School Smyrna 1.7 mi 6.3
Moore (John Bassett) School Smyrna 1.8 mi 6.0
KENTON MENNONITE SCHOOL Clayton 4.5 mi 4.7
GREEN HILL Dover 5.4 mi 2.6
HONEYSUCKLE KNOLL SCHOOL Dover 7.4 mi 2.7
WILEYS SCHOOL Dover 7.8 mi 4.3
Townsend Early Childhood Center Townsend 7.9 mi 5.1
Townsend Elementary School Townsend 8.0 mi 8.4
Early College School at Del State Dover 7.9 mi 5.1
CEDAR GROVE AMISH SCHOOL Dover 8.9 mi 2.9
North Dover Elementary School Dover 8.7 mi 4.6
WEST CENTER SCHOOL Hartly 9.7 mi 2.8
Dover High School Dover 9.7 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19938 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$96,338

Median Home Value

$335,800

Median Rent

$1,624/mo

Population

9,867

College Educated

23.4%

Homeownership

88.5%

Avg Commute

31.5 min

Poverty Rate

5.5%

Median Age

37.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
CHRIST THE TEACHER CATHOLIC SCHOOL Newark, DE 6.5
East Side Charter School Wilmington, DE 6.5
Downes (John R.) Elementary School Newark, DE 6.6
Gallaher (Robert S.) Elementary School Newark, DE 6.4
Mote (Anna P.) Elementary School Wilmington, DE 6.4
Southern Delaware School of the Arts Selbyville, DE 6.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Clayton Elementary School

What grades does Clayton Elementary School serve?

Clayton Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 4th.

How many students attend Clayton Elementary School?

Clayton Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 488 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Clayton Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Clayton Elementary School is 17.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Clayton Elementary School rank in DE?

Clayton Elementary School ranks #105 of 219 schools in DE.

What is Clayton Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Clayton Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Clayton Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Clayton Elementary School has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Clayton Elementary School a charter school?

No, Clayton Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Clayton Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Clayton Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
36 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
37 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 4th
Enrollment
488
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Kent County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.0%

District

Smyrna School District
District Enrollment
6,010
Schools in District
8
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,084
District Rank
#3 of 8

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