Below Average
#2232 of 2,648 schools in NC
Clayton Middle
Middle School · Johnston County Public Schools · Clayton, NC
A Johnston County Public Schools middle school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
490 Guy Rd, Clayton, NC 27520
- Math 48% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 53% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Clayton Middle score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 15 points since 2020, reaching 50% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Clayton Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Raleigh map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 21Car-Dependent
- Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,451/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Clayton), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$84,545
Median home value
$282,200
Median rent
$1,430/mo
College educated
29%
Homeownership
76.3%
Poverty rate
6.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27520; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southside Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.4private | PK–12 | 0.8 mi | 368 | Compare → |
| Riverwood MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | 6–8 | 4.8 mi | 914 | Compare → |
| Swift Creek MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | 6–8 | 4.8 mi | 698 | Compare → |
| Archer Lodge MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | 6–8 | Not available | 1,223 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Johnston County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 48
- Rank in district
- #44 of 48
- District spending per student
- $11,352NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Clayton Middle is listed in Johnston County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Clayton Middle
Clayton Middle is a public middle school in Clayton, NC, part of Johnston County Public Schools, serving approximately 582 students in grades 6th-8th with a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 and ranks #2,232 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Clayton Middle
What grades does Clayton Middle serve?
Clayton Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Clayton Middle?
Clayton Middle has an enrollment of approximately 582 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Clayton Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Clayton Middle is 14.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Clayton Middle rank in NC?
Clayton Middle ranks #2,232 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Clayton Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Clayton Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 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 Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Clayton Middle has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Clayton Middle a charter school?
No, Clayton Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Clayton Middle a Title I school?
No, Clayton Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Clayton Middle?
99.5% of students at Clayton Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 582
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 39
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Johnston County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 34.2%
- Phone
- (919) 553-5811
- Area population (ZIP 27520)
- 48,662
- Area average commute
- 31 min
- Area median age
- 37.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27520; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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