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Average

#309 of 404 private schools in NC

Southside Christian School

School

1696 AMELIA CHURCH RD, Clayton, NC 27520

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 13 schools in Clayton. Learn more

Enrollment

368

Student-Teacher

12.3:1

Score

5.4

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#190 of 238

Academic performance

7.7 / 10

Very strong

About Southside Christian School

Southside Christian School serves 368 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Clayton, North Carolina. With 30 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a favorable 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio, allowing for more individualized attention in the classroom. The school has earned a MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10, though it ranks #304 out of 404 schools statewide, placing it in the 25th percentile among North Carolina schools.

This suggests the school is focusing on student development with room for academic growth compared to other institutions across the state. Southside Christian School is situated in the 27520 ZIP code area, where families enjoy a median household income of $82,694 and median home values of $245,300. The community of 46,059 residents has a 6.8% poverty rate and 27% of adults hold bachelor's degrees or higher, reflecting a stable middle-class neighborhood environment.

The school's location in a rural area near Clayton provides students with a quieter, more intimate educational setting while still maintaining access to the amenities and opportunities of nearby town life. This combination offers families both the benefits of small-town community feel and proximity to larger educational and cultural resources.

What Parents Should Know

As a private school, Southside Christian School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Located in a rural area, Southside Christian School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$6,726
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$9,755
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.45x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
77%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$6.9M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 368 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Southside Christian School compares to 13 public schools serving similar grades in Clayton, NC

Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
This School
vs
16.3:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
368
This School
vs
890
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
5.4
This School
vs
7.2
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 88% vs 0%
Black 6% vs 0%
Hispanic 3.5% vs 0%
Asian 0.8% vs 0%
Southside Christian School Clayton Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Southside Christian School (this school) 5.4
Clayton Middle 7.5
West Clayton Elementary 8.5
Johnston Charter Academy 6.3
Clayton High 5.2
Cooper Academy 8.8
Swift Creek Middle 7.0
Cleveland Elementary 8.1
East Clayton Elementary 7.2
Riverwood Middle 5.9
Riverwood Elementary 8.6
Cleveland High 4.2
Powhatan Elementary 8.6
River Dell Elementary 8.1

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in NC.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
C+ 4.4 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 12.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 5.6 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,206
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B- 4.6 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 19%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 368
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in NC

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 88.0%
Black 6.0%
Hispanic 3.5%
Native American 1.6%
Asian 0.8%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1696 AMELIA CHURCH RD, Clayton, NC 27520

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Southside Christian School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Cooper Academy (rated 8.8/10, 2.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Bryan Road Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 5.6 miles away, in nearby Garner), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Riverwood Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 5.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Clayton, see our Clayton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Clayton Middle Clayton 0.8 mi 7.5
Johnston Charter Academy Clayton 1.6 mi 6.3
West Clayton Elementary Clayton 1.5 mi 8.5
KIDS R KIDS Clayton 1.8 mi
Clayton High Clayton 1.9 mi 5.2
ACADEMY OF HOPE Clayton 3.1 mi
Cooper Academy Clayton 2.8 mi 8.8
Swift Creek Middle Clayton 4.5 mi 7.0
Polenta Elementary Garner 4.9 mi 8.4
Cleveland Elementary Clayton 4.8 mi 8.1
West View Elementary Garner 4.8 mi 8.2
Cleveland Middle Garner 5.2 mi 6.6
Cleveland High Clayton 5.8 mi 4.2
South Garner High Garner 4.9 mi 5.7
Riverwood Middle Clayton 5.6 mi 5.9
Riverwood Elementary Clayton 5.7 mi 8.6
East Clayton Elementary Clayton 5.3 mi 7.2
Bryan Road Elementary Garner 5.6 mi 8.8
Powhatan Elementary Clayton 5.9 mi 8.6
SURE PROMISE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Raleigh 7.0 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27520 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$84,545

Median Home Value

$282,200

Median Rent

$1,430/mo

Population

48,662

College Educated

29%

Homeownership

76.3%

Avg Commute

31 min

Poverty Rate

6.8%

Median Age

37.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding Southside Christian School has a median household income of $84,545. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $282,200, with a median rent of $1,430/month. The local poverty rate of 6.8% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Highlands School Highlands, NC 5.4
FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Goldsboro, NC 5.5
SCOTLAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Laurinburg, NC 5.5
TRIAD BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Kernersville, NC 5.5
NEW LIFE ACADEMY Elizabeth City, NC 5.6
WILSON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Wilson, NC 5.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Southside Christian School

What grades does Southside Christian School serve?

Southside Christian School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Southside Christian School?

Southside Christian School has an enrollment of approximately 368 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Southside Christian School?

The student-teacher ratio at Southside Christian School is 12.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Southside Christian School rank in NC?

Southside Christian School is ranked #309 out of 404 private schools in NC.

What is Southside Christian School's MySchoolScout rating?

Southside Christian School has a composite rating of 5.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Southside Christian School a private school?

Yes, Southside Christian School is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Southside Christian School a religious school?

Southside Christian School has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
Elevated (1,451/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Clayton). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
368
Gender Split
53% M / 47% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
6.7 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
JOHNSTON
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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