Top 10 Best Johnston County Public Elementary Schools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 34 public elementary schools serving 22,183 students in Johnston County, NC.
The top ranked public elementary schools in Johnston County, NC are Johnston Charter Academy, Riverwood Elementary School and Neuse Charter School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Johnston County, NC public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 46% statewide average). Elementary schools in Johnston County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 56% (majority Black).

Best Public Elementary Schools in Johnston County (2024)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Johnston Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
40 Scholar Drive
Clayton, NC 27520
(866) 642-3676
Grades: K-8
| 733 students
Rank: #22.
Riverwood Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
108 Athletic Club Blvd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-6300
Grades: PK-5
| 786 students
Rank: #33.
Neuse Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
909 Booker Dairy Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 626-2300
Grades: K-12
| 887 students
Rank: #44.
Cleveland Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
10225 Cleveland Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-2700
Grades: PK-5
| 857 students
Rank: #55.
The Innovation At South Campus
(Math: 47% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
521 Martin Luther King Dr
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Grades: 6-8
| 272 students
Rank: #66.
Pine Level Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
304 West Blanche Street, Po Bo
Pine Level, NC 27568
(919) 965-3323
Grades: PK-5
| 343 students
Rank: #77.
Choice Plus Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
211 East Rose Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 230-0500
Grades: 6-12
| 11 students
Rank: #88.
River Dell Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
12100 Buffalo Road
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-1977
Grades: PK-5
| 935 students
Rank: #99.
Riverwood Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
204 Athletic Club Blvd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-2769
Grades: 6-8
| 1,056 students
Rank: #1010.
Powhatan Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3145 Vinson Rd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-3259
Grades: PK-5
| 655 students
Rank: #1111.
East Clayton Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2075 Nc Highway 42 East
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 550-5311
Grades: PK-5
| 584 students
Rank: #1212.
Meadow School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
7507 Nc Hwy 50 S
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4226
Grades: PK-8
| 549 students
Rank: #1313.
Glendale-kenly Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2001 Bay Valley Rd
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2821
Grades: PK-5
| 474 students
Rank: #1414.
Micro Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
301 E Main St
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 588-4300
Grades: PK-5
| 377 students
Rank: #1515.
Princeton Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
650 Holt's Pond Rd
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-0755
Grades: PK-5
| 717 students
Rank: #1616.
Swift Creek Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
325 Norris Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 262-0750
Grades: 6-8
| 745 students
Rank: #1717.
Princeton High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
101 Dr Donnie H Jones Jr Blvd
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-5011
Grades: 6-12
| 1,019 students
Rank: #1818.
Four Oaks Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1475 Boyette Road
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-4022
Grades: 6-8
| 506 students
Rank: #1919.
Clayton Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
490 Guy Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-5811
Grades: 6-8
| 646 students
Rank: #2020.
Four Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
180 Hatcher St
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-2165
Grades: PK-5
| 982 students
Rank: #2121.
Mcgee's Crossroads Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
13353 Nc Highway 210
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-6003
Grades: 6-8
| 689 students
Rank: #2222.
West Clayton Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1012 S Lombard St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-7113
Grades: PK-5
| 813 students
Rank: #2323.
North Johnston Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
435 Oil Company Road
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 284-3374
Grades: 6-8
| 626 students
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Benson Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2040 Hwy 50 N
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4233
Grades: PK-4
| 592 students
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Benson Middle School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1600 N Wall Street
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-3889
Grades: 5-8
| 483 students
Rank: #2626.
South Smithfield Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
201 W Sanders St
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-8979
Grades: PK-5
| 484 students
Rank: #2727.
Smithfield Middle School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1455 Buffalo Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-4696
Grades: 6-8
| 556 students
Rank: #2828.
Cooper Academy
(Math: 22% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
849 North Mial St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-0256
Grades: PK-5
| 463 students
Rank: #2929.
Wilson's Mills Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4654 Wilson's Mills Rd
Wilsons Mills, NC 27593
(919) 934-2978
Grades: PK-5
| 558 students
Rank: #3030.
Selma Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
311 W Richardson St
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 965-3361
Grades: PK-5
| 762 students
Rank: #3131.
Selma Middle School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1533 Hwy 301 N
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 965-2555
Grades: 6-8
| 383 students
Rank: #3232.
West Smithfield Elementary School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2665 Galilee Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 989-6418
Grades: PK-5
| 453 students
Rank: n/an/a
Jcps Virtual Academy
501 S 2nd St
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 285-3700
Grades: K-12
| 1,460 students
Rank: n/an/a
1161 Lynch Rd
Selma, NC 27576
(984) 400-7300
Grades: PK-5
| 727 students
[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Johnston County, NC

Johnston County Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
245 College Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Grades: 12
| 50 students
521 Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Grades: 9-12
| 21 students
425 S Collier Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Grades: 6-8
| 12 students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public elementary schools in Johnston County, NC?
The top ranked public elementary schools in Johnston County, NC include Johnston Charter Academy, Riverwood Elementary School and Neuse Charter School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Johnston County, NC?
34 public elementary schools are located in Johnston County, NC.
What is the racial composition of students in Johnston County, NC?
Johnston County, NC public elementary schools minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary schools average of 56% (majority Black).

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