Top Rankings
Johnston County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 11 public high schools serving 12,781 students in Johnston County School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Johnston County School District have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Johnston County School District have a Graduation Rate of 92%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Cleveland High School, with 95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 55% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
48 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
37,062 Students
568,636 Students
# Teachers
2,131 Teachers
31,535 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Johnston County School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 314 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 91% has decreased from 92% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#130 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)54%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
63%
Graduation Rate
91%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)24.6%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.68
0.71
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
Showing 2010–2023. Full 17-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
31%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
18%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
44%
44%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,084 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,362 is less than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$448 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$458 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$12,084
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$12,362
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Johnston County School District Public High Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Johnston Co Early College Academy
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
245 College Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2314
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2314
Gr: 9-13 | 223 students Student-teacher ratio: 32:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #22.
Johnston County Schools Career Technical
Vocational School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
245 College Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Gr: 9-13 | 214 students Student-teacher ratio: 36:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #33.
Cleveland High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1892 Polenta Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 934-2455
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 934-2455
Gr: 9-12 | 1,889 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #44.
Corinth Holders High School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6875 Applewhite Rd
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 365-4306
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 365-4306
Gr: 9-12 | 2,187 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #55.
West Johnston High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5935 Raleigh Road
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 934-7333
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 934-7333
Gr: 9-12 | 1,563 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #66.
Princeton High School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
101 Dr Donnie H Jones Jr Blvd
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-5011
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-5011
Gr: 6-12 | 988 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #77.
North Johnston High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5915 Us Hwy 301 N
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2031
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2031
Gr: 9-12 | 788 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #88.
Smithfield-selma High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
700 M. Durwood Stephenson Park
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-5191
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-5191
Gr: 9-12 | 1,548 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #99.
Clayton High School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
600 S Fayetteville St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-4064
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-4064
Gr: 9-12 | 1,929 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #1010.
South Johnston High School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 42%)
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
Gr: 9-12 | 1,355 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1111.
Choice Plus Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
211 East Rose Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 230-0500
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 230-0500
Gr: K-12 | 97 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Recent Articles
Can Your Child Get Into School Clubs and Activities?
Discover whether your child can access advertised school clubs and activities, including enrollment limits, tryouts, fees, transportation, scheduling conflicts, and essential questions parents should ask before choosing schools today.
Who Supervises Students When Their Teacher Is Out?
Discover who supervises students when regular teachers are absent, how schools arrange classroom coverage, what qualifications substitutes need, and which questions parents should ask about safety and learning continuity.
When the School Nurse Isn't There: Parent Guide
Learn what happens when school nurses are absent, how public schools handle medications and emergencies, and which essential questions parents should ask to protect their children's health and safety daily.
