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Average

#86 of 219 schools in DE

Top 39% in state

Clayton (john M.) Elementary School

Elementary School · Indian River School District

252 Clayton Ave, Frankford, DE 19945

Enrollment

482

Student-Teacher

12.7:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Delaware schools

#86 of 219

In district

#4 of 15

Indian River School District

School environment

8.5 / 10

Excellent

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Clayton (john M.) Elementary School

6.8/10

Elementary School in Frankford · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Indian River High School

6.1/10

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

Lighthouse Christian School

7.2/10

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

About Clayton (john M.) Elementary School

Clayton (john M.) Elementary School is a public elementary school in Frankford, DE, part of Indian River School District. Clayton (john M.) Elementary School serves approximately 482 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Clayton (john M.) Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #86 of 219 schools in DE.

Structured state assessment records for Clayton (john M.) Elementary School show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.3 pts above district
  • This school 6.8 · Average
  • District avg 6.5
  • DE avg 6.7

What Parents Should Know

Clayton (john M.) Elementary School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.3Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data17
Annual Change-2.39 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.0Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency44.4% (2025 DESSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency39% (2025 DESSA)
Math vs. State Avg-10 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-16.1 pts
Overall Proficiency42% (2025 DESSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2025 DESSA)
vs. Expected+8.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile70th
Resources & Environment8.5Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,367
Chronic Absenteeism17%

Clayton (john M.) Elementary School — Students at Clayton (john M.) Elementary School score 42% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores DE DESSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 52.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
43.0% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)
ELA Proficiency 52.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
48.4% (multi-year state average, 2015-2025)

Based on 90 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
90%
ELA
81%
2010
Math
78%
ELA
60%
2011
Math
97%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
98%
ELA
88%
2013
Math
91%
ELA
81%
2014
Math
51%
ELA
60%
2015
Math
53.9%
ELA
60.5%
2016
Math
61.2%
ELA
60.5%
2017
Math
58.7%
ELA
56%
2018
Math
55.5%
ELA
55%
2019
Math
56.5%
ELA
56%
2020*
Math
29%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
29.3%
ELA
37.3%
2022
Math
35.9%
ELA
39%
2023
Math
42.8%
ELA
42.4%
2024
Math
41.4%
ELA
34.5%
2025
Math
44.8%
ELA
38.8%

* 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: 5.3/10.

How Clayton (john M.) Elementary School Compares

See how Clayton (john M.) Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.8/10
61th percentile in DE
Academic
8.0/10
Excellent
Growth
5.3/10
Average
Environment
8.5/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.0%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

252 Clayton Ave, Frankford, DE 19945

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Clayton (john M.) Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Showell Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 10.3 miles away, in nearby Berlin), which scores notably higher. Another option is Willards Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 11.8 miles away, in nearby Willards), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Love Creek Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 13.3 miles away, in nearby Lewes), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Frankford, see our Frankford schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 14.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Indian River High School Dagsboro 0.6 mi 6.1
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Dagsboro 1.4 mi 7.2
East Millsboro Elementary School Millsboro 4.1 mi 4.3
Millsboro Middle School Millsboro 4.6 mi 5.5
Southern Delaware School of the Arts Selbyville 5.2 mi 6.4
Indian River Intensive Learning Center Selbyville 5.2 mi 5.8
Showell (Phillip C.) Elementary School Selbyville 5.3 mi 8.0
Selbyville Middle School Selbyville 5.3 mi 7.7
Long Neck Elementary School Millsboro 7.1 mi 4.9
Ennis (Howard T.) School Georgetown 8.1 mi 4.0
Sussex Central High School Georgetown 8.1 mi 4.8
Lord Baltimore Elementary School Ocean View 7.4 mi 8.3
Showell Elementary Berlin 10.3 mi 9.1
MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC SCHOOL Berlin 10.4 mi 4.1
Willards Elementary Willards 11.8 mi 8.6
DELMARVA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Georgetown 11.8 mi 6.3
Beacon Middle School Lewes 13.2 mi 8.4
Love Creek Elementary School Lewes 13.3 mi 8.4
Stephen Decatur High Berlin 13.7 mi 7.2
Stephen Decatur Middle Berlin 14.0 mi 9.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19945 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$86,021

Median Home Value

$410,000

Median Rent

$1,229/mo

Population

8,917

College Educated

31.7%

Homeownership

87.5%

Avg Commute

32.4 min

Poverty Rate

9.2%

Median Age

58.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Harlan (David W. ) Elementary School Wilmington, DE 6.7
Silver Lake Elementary School Middletown, DE 6.7
THE INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL Newark, DE 6.7
Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center Greenwood, DE 6.7
Lancashire Elementary School Wilmington, DE 6.9
Downes (John R.) Elementary School Newark, DE 6.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Clayton (john M.) Elementary School

What grades does Clayton (john M.) Elementary School serve?

Clayton (john M.) Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Clayton (john M.) Elementary School?

Clayton (john M.) Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 482 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Clayton (john M.) Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Clayton (john M.) Elementary School is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Clayton (john M.) Elementary School rank in DE?

Clayton (john M.) Elementary School ranks #86 of 219 schools in DE.

What is Clayton (john M.) Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Clayton (john M.) Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 (john M.) Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Clayton (john M.) Elementary School has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Clayton (john M.) Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Clayton (john M.) Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Clayton (john M.) Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
482
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Sussex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.0%

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