Best Schools in Clay County, MO
Clay County, MO has 96 public schools (16 high, 16 middle, 52 elementary) serving 49,645 students. On average they score 48% on state proficiency tests against a projected 41%, so schools in Clay County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Clay County, MO
The top high schools in Clay County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Kearney High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kearney R-i • Public • Grades 10 - 12 • 824 Students
2. Platte County High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Platte Co. R-iii • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1330 Students
3. Smithville High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Smithville R-ii • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 906 Students
4. Staley High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1897 Students
5. Liberty High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Liberty 53 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1997 Students
6. Lawson High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lawson R-xiv • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 338 Students
7. Plattsburg High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Clinton Co. R-iii • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 174 Students
8. Oak Park High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1756 Students
9. Liberty North High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Liberty 53 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2326 Students
10. North Kansas City High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1640 Students
Best Middle Schools in Clay County, MO
The top middle schools in Clay County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Smithville Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Smithville R-ii • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 406 Students
2. Kearney Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kearney R-i • Public • Grades 6 - 7 • 499 Students
3. Gateway 6th Grade Center
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades 6 • 923 Students
4. Discovery Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Liberty 53 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 653 Students
5. New Mark Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1005 Students
6. Platte City Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Platte Co. R-iii • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 686 Students
7. Heritage Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Liberty 53 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 777 Students
8. South Valley Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Liberty 53 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 791 Students
9. Lawson Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lawson R-xiv • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 337 Students
10. Antioch Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 865 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Clay County, MO
The top elementary schools in Clay County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Horizon Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Smithville R-ii • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 446 Students
2. Southview Elem.
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kearney R-i • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 477 Students
3. Rising Hill Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 380 Students
4. Chapel Hill Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 599 Students
5. Shoal Creek Elem.
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Liberty 53 • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 883 Students
6. Northview Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 654 Students
7. Bell Prairie Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 712 Students
8. Lewis And Clark Elem.
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Liberty 53 • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 558 Students
9. Nashua Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 328 Students
10. Fox Hill Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Kansas City 74 • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 587 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Clay County, MO
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Clay County, MO has a total population of 253,335 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 94%, and 37% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Clay County, MO
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Clay County, MO.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
23.46 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.40 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
20.06 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Clay County, MO.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Clay County, MO.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Clay County, MO Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Clay County, MO
How many schools are in Clay County, MO?
Clay County, MO has 96 public schools: 16 high schools, 16 middle schools and 52 elementary schools, serving 49,645 students in total.
How do schools in Clay County perform on state tests?
On average, 96 schools in Clay County score 48% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 41%, so on average schools in Clay County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Clay County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Clay County, MO
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 53%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 23%
- Projected: 21%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 36%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 40%
- Projected: 36%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 43%
- Projected: 36%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 41%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 46%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 41%
- Projected: 40%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 34%
- Projected: 36%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Clay County
6 places in Clay County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (6)
- Liberty (14)
- Kearney (8)
- Gladstone (6)
- Excelsior Springs (5)
- Smithville (5)
- Missouri City (1)
School districts (5)
- North Kansas City 74 (33 schools)
- Liberty 53 (18 schools)
- Kearney R-I (8 schools)
- Excelsior Springs 40 (6 schools)
- Smithville R-Ii (5 schools)