Top Rankings
Clay County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there is 1 public high school serving 374 students in Clay County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High School in Clay County School have an average math proficiency score of 75% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 62% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Clay County School have a Graduation Rate of 87%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Hayesville High School, with 85-89% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
4 Schools
759 Schools
# Students
1,301 Students
565,383 Students
# Teachers
91 Teachers
33,426 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Clay County Schools, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 85-89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#97 out of 325 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)60%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
68%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)75-79%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.26
0.70
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
9%
20%
% Black
1%
24%
% White
85%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,883 is higher than the state median of $11,191. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,477 is higher than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$17 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$16 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,883
$11,191
Spending / Student
$12,477
$11,616
Best Clay County Schools Public High Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hayesville High School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
205 Yellow Jacket Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904
(828) 389-6532
Hayesville, NC 28904
(828) 389-6532
Gr: 9-12 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
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