An equity score of 74/100 ranks Clay County Schools #39 of 297 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $14,228 per pupil, Clay County Schools ranks #64 of 328 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
1,314
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$14,228
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
Clay County Schools operates 4 public schools serving 1,314 students, placing it among the smallest districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Clay County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,228 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 328 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending. See how North Carolina compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 12.5% local, 65.8% state, and 21.7% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 74/100, ranked #39 of 297 in North Carolina against a state average of 45, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 330.5:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 25.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 84.2% White, 10.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Hayesville Middle, with a diversity index of 32.5/100.
Its largest campus is Hayesville Primary School, enrolling 375 students (28% of the district's total enrollment).
Hayesville Primary School accounts for 28.4% of all Clay County Schools student enrollment
That dominant concentration means Clay County Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.
Clay County Schools reports 55.2% free-lunch eligibility
The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.
Clay County Schools student-counselor ratio is 331:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Clay County Schools is typically wider than the Clay County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.
Clay County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 25.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism
chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Clay County Schools is typically wider than the Clay County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.
Clay County Schools has 4 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,314 students.
How much does Clay County Schools spend per student?
Clay County Schools spends $14,228 per student. The district has an equity score of 74/100, ranking #39 in North Carolina.
What is the demographic composition of Clay County Schools?
Clay County Schools students are 84.2% White, 10.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Clay County Schools?
Clay County Schools has an equity score of 74/100, ranking #39 out of 297 districts in North Carolina.