For the 2024-25 school year, there are 42 public schools serving 30,407 students in Johnston County, NC (there are 6 private schools, serving 804 private students). 97% of all K-12 students in Johnston County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Johnston County, NC are Johnston Co Early College Academy, Johnston County Schools Career Technical and Johnston Charter Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Johnston County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 53% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Johnston County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 55% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Johnston County (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Johnston Co Early College Academy
Magnet School
(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
Grades: 9-13
| 247 students
Rank: #22.
Johnston County Schools Career Technical
Vocational School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
Grades: 9-13
| 153 students
Rank: #33.
Johnston Charter Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
40 Scholar Drive
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 879-8190
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 879-8190
Grades: K-8
| 679 students
Rank: #44.
The Innovation Academy At South Campus
Magnet School
(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
Grades: 6-8
| 232 students
Rank: #55.
Cleveland Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 822 students
Rank: #66.
Cleveland High School
Magnet 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
Grades: 9-12
| 1,879 students
Rank: #77.
Riverwood Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 810 students
Rank: #88.
River Dell Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 922 students
Rank: #99.
Powhatan Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 616 students
Rank: #1010.
Pine Level Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 362 students
Rank: #1111.
Riverwood Middle School
Magnet 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
Grades: 6-8
| 948 students
Rank: #1212.
Thanksgiving Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 769 students
Rank: #1313.
Neuse Charter School
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
909 M. Durwood Stephenson Park
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 626-2300
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 626-2300
Grades: K-12
| 904 students
Rank: #1414.
West Johnston High School
Magnet 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
Grades: 9-12
| 1,469 students
Rank: #1515.
Meadow School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-8
| 609 students
Rank: #1616.
Swift Creek Middle School
Magnet 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
Grades: 6-8
| 750 students
Rank: #1717.
Princeton High School
Magnet 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
Grades: 6-12
| 1,024 students
Rank: #1818.
Princeton Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 713 students
Rank: #1919.
Glendale-kenly Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 472 students
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Micro Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 407 students
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
North Johnston High School
Magnet 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
Grades: 9-12
| 787 students
Rank: #2222.
Smithfield-selma High School
Magnet 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
Grades: 9-12
| 1,503 students
Rank: #2323.
Benson Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-4
| 608 students
Rank: #2424.
East Clayton Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 515 students
Rank: #2525.
Four Oaks Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 1,041 students
Rank: #2626.
Mcgee's Crossroads Middle School
Magnet 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
Grades: 6-8
| 749 students
Rank: #2727.
Clayton High School
Magnet 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
Grades: 9-12
| 2,024 students
Rank: #2828.
Wilson's Mills Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 503 students
Rank: #2929.
North Johnston Middle School
Magnet 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
Grades: 6-8
| 600 students
Rank: #3030.
West Clayton Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 761 students
Rank: #3131.
Cooper Academy
Magnet School
(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
Grades: PK-5
| 444 students
Rank: #3232.
Clayton Middle School
Magnet 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
Grades: 6-8
| 573 students
Rank: #3333.
Four Oaks Middle School
Magnet 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
Grades: 6-8
| 468 students
Rank: #3434.
Selma Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 754 students
Rank: #3535.
Jcps Virtual Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1455 Buffalo Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 285-3700
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 285-3700
Grades: K-12
| 660 students
Show 7 more public schools in Johnston County, NC (out of 42 total schools)
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Johnston County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
245 College Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Grades: 12
| 50 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 21 students
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
Grades: 6-8
| 12 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Johnston County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Johnston County, NC include Johnston Co Early College Academy, Johnston County Schools Career Technical and Johnston Charter Academy.
How many public schools are located in Johnston County?
42 public schools are located in Johnston County.
What percentage of students in Johnston County go to public school?
97% of all K-12 students in Johnston County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Johnston County?
Johnston County public schools minority enrollment is 55% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Johnston County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Johnston County include: Thanksgiving Elementary School vs. River Dell Elementary School, West Johnston High School vs. Cleveland High School, Selma Middle School vs. Smithfield Middle School
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