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 15 public middle schools serving 9,457 students in Johnston County School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Johnston County School District have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 55% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
48 Schools
872 Schools
# Students
37,062 Students
496,921 Students
# Teachers
2,131 Teachers
31,042 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%
43%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
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 Middle Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
The Innovation Academy At South Campus
(Math: 67% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
521 Martin Luther King Dr
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Gr: 6-8 | 263 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #22.
Cleveland Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2323 Cornwallis Road
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 553-7500
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 553-7500
Gr: 6-8 | 936 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #33.
Archer Lodge Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
762 Wendell Rd
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 553-0714
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 553-0714
Gr: 6-8 | 1,204 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #44.
Riverwood Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
204 Athletic Club Blvd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-2769
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-2769
Gr: 6-8 | 902 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #55.
Meadow School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
7507 Nc Hwy 50 S
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4226
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4226
Gr: PK-8 | 646 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #66.
Swift Creek Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
325 Norris Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 262-0750
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 262-0750
Gr: 6-8 | 691 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #77.
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: #88.
Mcgee's Crossroads Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
13353 Nc Highway 210
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-6003
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-6003
Gr: 6-8 | 757 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #99.
North Johnston Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
435 Oil Company Road
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 284-3374
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 284-3374
Gr: 6-8 | 598 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1010.
Clayton Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
490 Guy Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-5811
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-5811
Gr: 6-8 | 609 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1111.
Four Oaks Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1475 Boyette Road
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-4022
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-4022
Gr: 6-8 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1212.
Benson Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1600 N Wall Street
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-3889
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-3889
Gr: 6-8 | 377 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1313.
Smithfield Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1455 Buffalo Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-4696
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-4696
Gr: 6-8 | 573 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #1414.
Selma Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1533 Hwy 301 N
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 965-2555
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 965-2555
Gr: 6-8 | 339 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #1515.
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%
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