For the 2025-26 school year, there are 19 public preschools serving 12,099 students in Johnston County, NC.
The top ranked public preschools in Johnston County, NC are Cleveland Elementary School, Riverwood Elementary School and River Dell Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Johnston County, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 58% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Johnston County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Johnston County (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Cleveland Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
10225 Cleveland Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-2700
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-2700
Gr: PK-5 | 816 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #22.
Riverwood Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
108 Athletic Club Blvd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-6300
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-6300
Gr: PK-5 | 739 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #33.
River Dell Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
12100 Buffalo Road
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-1977
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-1977
Gr: PK-5 | 942 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #44.
Powhatan Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3145 Vinson Rd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-3259
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-3259
Gr: PK-5 | 614 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #55.
Pine Level Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
304 West Blanche Street, Po Bo
Pine Level, NC 27568
(919) 965-3323
Pine Level, NC 27568
(919) 965-3323
Gr: PK-5 | 337 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #66.
Thanksgiving Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1161 Lynch Rd
Selma, NC 27576
(984) 400-7300
Selma, NC 27576
(984) 400-7300
Gr: PK-5 | 813 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #77.
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 | 661 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #88.
Princeton Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
650 Holt's Pond Rd
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-0755
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-0755
Gr: PK-5 | 787 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #99.
Glendale-kenly Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2001 Bay Valley Rd
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2821
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2821
Gr: PK-5 | 436 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1010.
Micro Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
301 E Main St
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 588-4300
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 588-4300
Gr: PK-5 | 418 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #1111.
Benson Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2040 Hwy 50 N
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4233
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4233
Gr: PK-4 | 603 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1212.
East Clayton Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2075 Nc Highway 42 East
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 550-5311
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 550-5311
Gr: PK-5 | 513 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1313.
Four Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
180 Hatcher St
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-2165
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-2165
Gr: PK-5 | 1,046 student Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1414.
Wilson's Mills Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4654 Wilson's Mills Rd
Wilsons Mills, NC 27593
(919) 934-2978
Wilsons Mills, NC 27593
(919) 934-2978
Gr: PK-5 | 540 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1515.
West Clayton Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1012 S Lombard St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-7113
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-7113
Gr: PK-5 | 718 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1616.
Cooper Academy
(Math: 49% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
849 North Mial St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-0256
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-0256
Gr: PK-5 | 441 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1717.
Selma Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
311 W Richardson St
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 965-3361
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 965-3361
Gr: PK-5 | 766 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #1818.
South Smithfield Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
201 W Sanders St
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-8979
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-8979
Gr: PK-5 | 463 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1919.
West Smithfield Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2665 Galilee Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 989-6418
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 989-6418
Gr: PK-5 | 446 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Johnston County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
1455 Buffalo Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 285-3700
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 285-3700
Gr: K-12 | 333 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
245 College Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Gr: 12 | 50 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 12 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Johnston County, NC?
The top ranked public preschools in Johnston County, NC include Cleveland Elementary School, Riverwood Elementary School and River Dell Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Johnston County?
19 public preschools are located in Johnston County.
What is the racial composition of students in Johnston County?
Johnston County public preschools minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Johnston County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Johnston County include: Thanksgiving Elementary School vs. River Dell Elementary School, Riverwood Elementary School vs. River Dell Elementary School, West Clayton Elementary School vs. Cleveland Elementary School
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