Enrollment
742
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Clayton, NC
West Clayton Elementary
Federal NCES profile for West Clayton Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370237001013
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 1
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Clayton Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #7 of 7
- schools in Clayton · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 57.6%
- free-lunch eligible
West Clayton Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Clayton Elementary ranks #7 of 7 schools in Clayton, NC.
School address
District: Johnston County Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370237001013 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
49.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
57.6%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-13% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Clayton Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Clayton Elementary
West Clayton Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Clayton, North Carolina, enrolling 742 students.
At 15.1:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 57.6% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 742 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 440 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #338, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (36%) and White (33%) (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 495 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Clayton's public schools, it stands alongside American Leadership Academy - Johnston (2,082 students): West Clayton Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Johnston County Public Schools also operates Corinth Holders High (2,187 students) and Clayton High (1,929 students) alongside West Clayton Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How West Clayton Elementary compares
West Clayton Elementary on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▼ 4% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.6% | ▼ 13% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 742 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
742
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
57.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 50% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$10,788
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,017
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 495 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
71
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 35.8%
White 33.0%
African American 21.3%
Two or More 7.0%
Asian 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 35.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.2, West Clayton Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Johnston County Public Schools, which includes West Clayton Elementary.
$10,788
Per student
-10%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-35%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 20.7%
State 62.2%
Federal 17.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How West Clayton Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corinth Holders High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clayton High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cleveland High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Johnston High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Smithfield-Selma High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Clayton Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,187
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,929
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,889
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,563
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,548
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Clayton
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
American Leadership Academy - Johnston
Standard public school
2,082 students
River Dell Elementary
Standard public school
981 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Cleveland Elementary
Standard public school
851 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Riverwood Elementary
Standard public school
728 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Powhatan Elementary
Standard public school
656 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
East Clayton Elementary
Standard public school
524 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~742 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Clayton Elementary's federal record.
- Compare West Clayton Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Johnston County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about West Clayton Elementary
How many students attend West Clayton Elementary?
West Clayton Elementary has 742 students enrolled. It is a public school in Clayton, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Clayton Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at West Clayton Elementary is 15.1:1, which is 4% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Clayton Elementary?
57.6% of students at West Clayton Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Clayton Elementary?
The largest demographic group at West Clayton Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 35.8% of enrollment, in Clayton, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Clayton Elementary?
West Clayton Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does West Clayton Elementary rank among schools in Clayton?
By Resource Investment Index, West Clayton Elementary ranks #7 of 7 schools in Clayton, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Clayton on the city page.
Is West Clayton Elementary a good school?
West Clayton Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Johnston County Public Schools?
Besides West Clayton Elementary, Johnston County Public Schools also operates Corinth Holders High (2,187 students), Clayton High (1,929 students), and Cleveland High (1,889 students). See the Johnston County Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.