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Johnston County Public Schools Schools
Johnston County Public Schools is a public school district in North Carolina, based in Johnston County (Smithfield). SchoolGrade grades 48 of its schools on actual versus projected test scores; every school below has its own page.
Johnston County Public Schools on the map
District boundary from the NCES EDGE composite school district file. Each marker is a graded school; click it for its grade and scores.
SchoolGrade summary for Johnston County Public Schools
46 of 48 schools in Johnston County Public Schools carry a SchoolGrade (2 have too little test data to grade). Grade distribution:
A: 12B: 20C: 10D: 4
Best schools in Johnston County Public Schools
Statewide rankings: all 584 high schools in North Carolina · all 450 middle schools in North Carolina · all 1396 elementary schools in North Carolina
The ten highest SchoolGrades in the district. Grades reward actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact.
- A+ Johnston County Schools Career Technical (High school, greatly exceeds expectations)
- A+ Johnston Co Early College Academy (High school, greatly exceeds expectations)
- A Cleveland Middle (Middle school, greatly exceeds expectations)
- A The Innovation Academy At South Campus (Middle school, exceeds expectations)
- A Riverwood Middle (Middle school, exceeds expectations)
- A- Riverwood Elementary (Elementary school, greatly exceeds expectations)
- A- Cleveland High (High school, exceeds expectations)
- A- Corinth Holders High (High school, exceeds expectations)
- A- River Dell Elementary (Elementary school, meets expectations)
- A- Archer Lodge Middle (Middle school, greatly exceeds expectations)
Every school in Johnston County Public Schools
High schools (8)
- B- Clayton High, Clayton
- A- Cleveland High, Clayton
- A- Corinth Holders High, Wendell
- C- North Johnston High, Kenly
- B- Princeton High, Princeton
- C- Smithfield Selma High, Smithfield
- D+ South Johnston High, Four Oaks
- B- West Johnston High, Benson
Middle and junior high schools (11)
- A- Archer Lodge Middle, Wendell
- C+ Benson Middle, Benson
- B Clayton Middle, Clayton
- A Cleveland Middle, Garner
- B+ Four Oaks Middle, Four Oaks
- B Mcgees Crossroads Middle, Benson
- B North Johnston Middle, Micro
- A Riverwood Middle, Clayton
- D+ Selma Middle School, Selma
- C Smithfield Middle, Smithfield
- B+ Swift Creek Middle, Clayton
Elementary and primary schools (23)
- C- Benson Elementary, Benson
- A- Cleveland Elementary, Clayton
- C+ Corinth Holders Elementary, Zebulon
- B+ Dixon Road Elementary, Willow Spring
- B+ East Clayton Elementary, Clayton
- B- Four Oaks Elementary, Four Oaks
- B Glendale Kenly Elementary, Kenly
- A+ Johnston Co Early College Academy, Smithfield
- B- Mcgees Crossroads Elem, Angier
- B Micro Elementary, Micro
- A- Pine Level Elementary, Pine Level
- B+ Polenta Elementary, Garner
- B Powhatan Elementary, Clayton
- B Princeton Elementary, Princeton
- A- River Dell Elementary, Clayton
- A- Riverwood Elementary, Clayton
- C- Selma Elementary, Selma
- C- South Smithfield Elementary, Smithfield
- Thanksgiving Elementary, Selma
- B- West Clayton Elementary, Clayton
- D+ West Smithfield Elementary, Smithfield
- B- West View Elementary, Garner
- C Wilsons Mills Elementary, Wilsons Mills
Other schools and academies (6)
- D+ Choice Plus Academy, Smithfield
- C- Cooper Academy, Clayton
- Jcps Virtual Academy, Smithfield
- A+ Johnston County Schools Career Technical, Smithfield
- B+ Meadow School, Benson
- A The Innovation Academy At South Campus, Smithfield
Where Johnston County Public Schools schools are
Cities and towns served (15)
- Clayton (12)
- Smithfield (9)
- Benson (5)
- Four Oaks (3)
- Garner (3)
- Selma (3)
- Kenly (2)
- Micro (2)
- Princeton (2)
- Wendell (2)
- Angier (1)
- Pine Level (1)
- Willow Spring (1)
- Wilsons Mills (1)
- Zebulon (1)
About this district
- State: Best schools in North Carolina
- County: Johnston County
- Type: regular local school district
- Setting: fringe rural (NCES locale of the district office)
- Enrollment: 37,289 students with 2,457 full-time-equivalent teachers and 4,349 total staff FTE (NCES CCD, 2023-24)
- NCES district ID: 3702370
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model: each school's actual proficiency against the level projected for its student context. How SchoolGrade works
Nearby school districts
- Wayne County Public Schools (32 schools, 23 mi)
- Wake County Schools (193 schools, 25 mi)
- Wilson County Schools (25 schools, 28 mi)
- Harnett County Schools (28 schools, 30 mi)
- Clinton City Schools (5 schools, 35 mi)
- Nash County Public Schools (29 schools, 38 mi)
- Greene County Schools (6 schools, 39 mi)
- Sampson County Schools (18 schools, 40 mi)
Questions about Johnston County Public Schools
How many schools are in Johnston County Public Schools?
SchoolGrade grades 48 public schools in Johnston County Public Schools, across 15 cities and towns. Every one of them is listed on this page with a link to its own report.
Which cities does Johnston County Public Schools serve?
The largest by graded schools: Clayton, Smithfield, Benson, Four Oaks, Garner and 10 more.
How good are the schools in Johnston County Public Schools?
Across the 46 graded schools, the average SchoolGrade is B-, with 45.9% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 43.3%. 85% of schools meet or exceed the expectation for their student context.
How many students attend Johnston County Public Schools?
37,289 students were enrolled in Johnston County Public Schools in the 2023-24 school year, about 15.2 students per full-time teacher (NCES Common Core of Data).
Where is Johnston County Public Schools?
Johnston County Public Schools is in North Carolina, based in Johnston County, with its district office in Smithfield. Its boundary covers about 792 sq mi.