Clayton Public School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Clayton, New Jersey - 3 schools

An equity score of 51/100 ranks Clayton Public School District #295 of 587 districts in New Jersey (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $21,790 per pupil, Clayton Public School District ranks #487 of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending (New Jersey districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,489
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$21,790
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Clayton Public School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,489 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New Jersey. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle 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 Gloucester County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $21,790 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending. See how New Jersey compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 29.9% local, 57.7% state, and 12.4% 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 51/100, ranked #295 of 587 in New Jersey against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (6 AP courses district-wide), a 116.8:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 4.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 42.8% White, 27.5% African American, 18.5% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Clayton Middle School, with a diversity index of 71.8/100.

Its largest campus is Herma S. Simmons Elementary School, enrolling 715 students (49% of the district's total enrollment).

Herma S. Simmons Elementary School accounts for 48.0% of all Clayton Public School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Clayton Public School District a distant remainder — means Clayton Public School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Clayton Public School District school enrollment varies 2.4× across entities

Clayton Public School District school enrollment ranges from 299 students (lowest) to 715 students (highest), a spread of 416 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Clayton Public School District student-counselor ratio is 117:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Clayton Public School District chronic absenteeism rate is 4.7% — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

12.4%
Federal
57.7%
State
29.9%
Local

Funding Equity

51
Equity Score
295 / 587
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Clayton Public School District.

White 42.8%
Hispanic or Latino 18.5%
African American 27.5%
Asian 1.4%
Multiracial 9.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 69.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Clayton Public School District's schools, above the New Jersey average of 51.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Clayton Middle School 71.8
  2. 2 Herma S. Simmons Elementary School 68.9
  3. 3 Clayton High School 67.7

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
6 AP courses total
116.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
4.7%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Clayton Public School District

School Enrollment
Herma S. Simmons Elementary School
715
Clayton High School
431
Clayton Middle School
299

How Clayton Public School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The New Jersey districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Haddon Heights School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Kenilworth School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Manasquan School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Lower Township Elementary School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Clayton Public School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in New Jersey

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Newark Public School District
41,672 students · 63 schools · $25,301/pupil
Compare vs Clayton Public School District →
Elizabeth Public Schools
28,266 students · 37 schools · $24,380/pupil
Compare vs Clayton Public School District →
Jersey City Public Schools
26,647 students · 39 schools · $26,862/pupil
Compare vs Clayton Public School District →

Compare Clayton Public School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Newark Public School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Clayton Public School District?

Clayton Public School District has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,489 students.

How much does Clayton Public School District spend per student?

Clayton Public School District spends $21,790 per student. The district has an equity score of 51/100, ranking #295 in New Jersey.

What is the demographic composition of Clayton Public School District?

Clayton Public School District students are 42.8% White, 27.5% African American, 18.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Clayton Public School District?

Clayton Public School District has an equity score of 51/100, ranking #295 out of 587 districts in New Jersey.