For the 2024 school year, there are 43 public schools serving 31,185 students in Johnston County, NC (there are 6 private schools, serving 765 private students). 98% of all K-12 students in Johnston County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Johnston County, NC are Johnston Co Early College Academy, Johnston County Schools Career Technical and Johnston Charter Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Johnston County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Johnston County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 55% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Johnston County (2024)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Johnston Co Early College Academy
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
245 College Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2314
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2314
Grades: 9-13
| 245 students
Rank: #22.
Johnston County Schools Career Technical
Vocational School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
245 College Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Grades: 9-13
| 159 students
Rank: #33.
Johnston Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
40 Scholar Drive
Clayton, NC 27520
(866) 642-3676
Clayton, NC 27520
(866) 642-3676
Grades: K-8
| 733 students
Rank: #44.
Cleveland High School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1892 Polenta Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 934-2455
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 934-2455
Grades: 9-12
| 1,785 students
Rank: #55.
Riverwood Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
108 Athletic Club Blvd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-6300
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-6300
Grades: PK-5
| 786 students
Rank: #66.
Neuse Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
909 Booker Dairy Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 626-2300
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 626-2300
Grades: K-12
| 887 students
Rank: #77.
Cleveland Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
10225 Cleveland Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-2700
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-2700
Grades: PK-5
| 857 students
Rank: #88.
The Innovation At South Campus
(Math: 47% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
521 Martin Luther King Dr
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Grades: 6-8
| 272 students
Rank: #99.
Pine Level Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
304 West Blanche Street, Po Bo
Pine Level, NC 27568
(919) 965-3323
Pine Level, NC 27568
(919) 965-3323
Grades: PK-5
| 343 students
Rank: #1010.
Choice Plus Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
211 East Rose Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 230-0500
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 230-0500
Grades: 6-12
| 11 students
Rank: #1111.
Clayton High School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
600 S Fayetteville St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-4064
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-4064
Grades: 9-12
| 1,977 students
Rank: #1212.
River Dell Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
12100 Buffalo Road
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-1977
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-1977
Grades: PK-5
| 935 students
Rank: #1313.
Riverwood Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
204 Athletic Club Blvd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-2769
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-2769
Grades: 6-8
| 1,056 students
Rank: #1414.
Powhatan Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3145 Vinson Rd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-3259
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-3259
Grades: PK-5
| 655 students
Rank: #1515.
East Clayton Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2075 Nc Highway 42 East
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 550-5311
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 550-5311
Grades: PK-5
| 584 students
Rank: #1616.
West Johnston High School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5935 Raleigh Road
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 934-7333
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 934-7333
Grades: 9-12
| 1,338 students
Rank: #1717.
Meadow School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7507 Nc Hwy 50 S
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4226
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4226
Grades: PK-8
| 549 students
Rank: #1818.
Glendale-kenly Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2001 Bay Valley Rd
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2821
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2821
Grades: PK-5
| 474 students
Rank: #1919.
Micro Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
301 E Main St
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 588-4300
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 588-4300
Grades: PK-5
| 377 students
Rank: #2020.
Princeton Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
650 Holt's Pond Rd
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-0755
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-0755
Grades: PK-5
| 717 students
Rank: #2121.
Swift Creek Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
325 Norris Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 262-0750
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 262-0750
Grades: 6-8
| 745 students
Rank: #2222.
Princeton High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
101 Dr Donnie H Jones Jr Blvd
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-5011
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-5011
Grades: 6-12
| 1,019 students
Rank: #2323.
Four Oaks Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1475 Boyette Road
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-4022
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-4022
Grades: 6-8
| 506 students
Rank: #2424.
Clayton Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
490 Guy Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-5811
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-5811
Grades: 6-8
| 646 students
Rank: #2525.
Four Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
180 Hatcher St
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-2165
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-2165
Grades: PK-5
| 982 students
Rank: #2626.
North Johnston High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5915 Us Hwy 301 N
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2031
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2031
Grades: 9-12
| 761 students
Rank: #2727.
Mcgee's Crossroads Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
13353 Nc Highway 210
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-6003
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-6003
Grades: 6-8
| 689 students
Rank: #2828.
Smithfield-selma High School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
700 M. Durwood Stephenson Park
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-5191
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-5191
Grades: 9-12
| 1,413 students
Rank: #2929.
West Clayton Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1012 S Lombard St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-7113
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-7113
Grades: PK-5
| 813 students
Rank: #3030.
North Johnston Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
435 Oil Company Road
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 284-3374
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 284-3374
Grades: 6-8
| 626 students
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
Benson Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2040 Hwy 50 N
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4233
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4233
Grades: PK-4
| 592 students
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
Benson Middle School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1600 N Wall Street
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-3889
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-3889
Grades: 5-8
| 483 students
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
South Johnston High School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
10381 Us Hwy 301 S
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 894-3146
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 894-3146
Grades: 9-12
| 1,324 students
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
South Smithfield Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
201 W Sanders St
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-8979
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-8979
Grades: PK-5
| 484 students
Rank: #3535.
Smithfield Middle School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1455 Buffalo Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-4696
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-4696
Grades: 6-8
| 556 students
Show 8 more public schools in Johnston County, NC (out of 43 total schools)
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Johnston County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
245 College Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Grades: 12
| 50 students
South Campus Community High School (Closed 2018)
Alternative School
521 Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Grades: 9-12
| 21 students
South Campus Community Middle School (Closed 2018)
Alternative School
425 S Collier Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Grades: 6-8
| 12 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Johnston County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Johnston County, NC include Johnston Co Early College Academy, Johnston County Schools Career Technical and Johnston Charter Academy.
How many public schools are located in Johnston County, NC?
43 public schools are located in Johnston County, NC.
What percentage of students in Johnston County, NC go to public school?
98% of all K-12 students in Johnston County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Johnston County, NC?
Johnston County, NC public schools minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 55% (majority Black).
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