Best traditional public schools in Johnston County Public Schools (2025)

District-run public schools. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 45 schools in Johnston County Public Schools, North Carolina. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and North Carolina.

1
58
Johnston Co Early College AcademySmithfield · Public High74.5% Math proficiency · 251 students
2
43
Riverwood ElementaryClayton · Public Elementary58% Math proficiency · 728 students
3
42
The Innovation Academy at South CampusSmithfield · Public Middle37% Math proficiency · 263 students
4
41
Cleveland ElementaryClayton · Public Elementary56% Math proficiency · 851 students
5
40
Corinth Holders HighWendell · Public High56% Math proficiency · 2,187 students
6
39
Riverwood MiddleClayton · Public Middle44% Math proficiency · 902 students
7
39
Cleveland HighClayton · Public High60% Math proficiency · 1,889 students
8
36
Cleveland MiddleGarner · Public Middle43% Math proficiency · 936 students
9
34
River Dell ElementaryClayton · Public Elementary48% Math proficiency · 981 students
10
33
Swift Creek MiddleClayton · Public Middle39% Math proficiency · 691 students
11
32
Clayton HighClayton · Public High50% Math proficiency · 1,929 students
12
31
West Johnston HighBenson · Public High48% Math proficiency · 1,563 students
13
30
West View ElementaryGarner · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 969 students
14
30
Powhatan ElementaryClayton · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 656 students
15
30
Princeton HighPrinceton · Public High42% Math proficiency · 988 students
16
29
East Clayton ElementaryClayton · Public Elementary37% Math proficiency · 524 students
17
29
McGee's Crossroads MiddleBenson · Public Middle33% Math proficiency · 757 students
18
28
Glendale-Kenly ElementaryKenly · Public Elementary40% Math proficiency · 433 students
19
27
Meadow SchoolBenson · Public Elementary34% Math proficiency · 646 students
20
26
Dixon Road ElementaryWillow Spring · Public Elementary35% Math proficiency · 644 students
21
26
Four Oaks MiddleFour Oaks · Public Middle32% Math proficiency · 477 students
22
25
Archer Lodge MiddleWendell · Public Middle29% Math proficiency · 1,204 students
23
24
Pine Level ElementaryPine Level · Public Elementary31% Math proficiency · 341 students
24
24
McGee's Crossroads ElemAngier · Public Elementary37% Math proficiency · 950 students
25
24
North Johnston HighKenly · Public High37% Math proficiency · 788 students
26
24
Princeton ElementaryPrinceton · Public Elementary35% Math proficiency · 770 students
27
24
South Johnston HighFour Oaks · Public High46% Math proficiency · 1,355 students
28
23
Smithfield-Selma HighSmithfield · Public High36% Math proficiency · 1,548 students
29
23
Polenta ElementaryGarner · Public Elementary31% Math proficiency · 1,010 students
30
23
Smithfield MiddleSmithfield · Public Middle21% Math proficiency · 573 students
31
21
Four Oaks ElementaryFour Oaks · Public Elementary32% Math proficiency · 1,051 students
32
21
West Clayton ElementaryClayton · Public Elementary26% Math proficiency · 742 students
33
20
Clayton MiddleClayton · Public Middle23% Math proficiency · 609 students
34
19
Selma ElementarySelma · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 794 students
35
17
Benson MiddleBenson · Public Middle21% Math proficiency · 377 students
36
17
Selma Middle SchoolSelma · Public Middle9% Math proficiency · 339 students
37
17
Wilson's Mills ElementaryWilson's Mills · Public Elementary20% Math proficiency · 496 students
38
17
South Smithfield ElementarySmithfield · Public Elementary17% Math proficiency · 450 students
39
17
Micro ElementaryMicro · Public Elementary17% Math proficiency · 404 students
40
17
Corinth-Holders ElementaryZebulon · Public Elementary29% Math proficiency · 585 students
41
16
North Johnston MiddleMicro · Public Middle11% Math proficiency · 598 students
42
14
West Smithfield ElementarySmithfield · Public Elementary11% Math proficiency · 494 students
43
14
Cooper AcademyClayton · Public Elementary13% Math proficiency · 447 students
44
12
Thanksgiving ElementarySelma · Public Elementary99.5% Free/reduced-price lunch · 870 students
45
12
Benson ElementaryBenson · Public Elementary19% Math proficiency · 719 students

#	School	Sector	Success Index (US)	Key result	Students
1	Johnston Co Early College Academy Smithfield · High · Grades 9–13	Public	58.3 Top 50%	74.5% Math proficiency	251
2	Riverwood Elementary Clayton · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	43.3 Lower 50%	58% Math proficiency	728
3	The Innovation Academy at South Campus Smithfield · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	41.5 Lower 50%	37% Math proficiency	263
4	Cleveland Elementary Clayton · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	41.4 Lower 50%	56% Math proficiency	851
5	Corinth Holders High Wendell · High · Grades 9–12	Public	39.6 Lower 50%	56% Math proficiency	2,187
6	Riverwood Middle Clayton · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	39.2 Lower 50%	44% Math proficiency	902
7	Cleveland High Clayton · High · Grades 9–12	Public	38.6 Lower 50%	60% Math proficiency	1,889
8	Cleveland Middle Garner · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	35.6 Lower 50%	43% Math proficiency	936
9	River Dell Elementary Clayton · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	34.2 Lower 50%	48% Math proficiency	981
10	Swift Creek Middle Clayton · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	32.9 Lower 50%	39% Math proficiency	691
11	Clayton High Clayton · High · Grades 9–12	Public	31.7 Lower 50%	50% Math proficiency	1,929
12	West Johnston High Benson · High · Grades 9–12	Public	31.3 Lower 50%	48% Math proficiency	1,563
13	West View Elementary Garner · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	30.2 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	969
14	Powhatan Elementary Clayton · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	30.1 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	656
15	Princeton High Princeton · High · Grades 6–12	Public	29.6 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	988
16	East Clayton Elementary Clayton · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	29.0 Lower 50%	37% Math proficiency	524
17	McGee's Crossroads Middle Benson · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	28.8 Lower 50%	33% Math proficiency	757
18	Glendale-Kenly Elementary Kenly · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	28.2 Lower 50%	40% Math proficiency	433
19	Meadow School Benson · Elementary · Grades PK–8	Public	26.8 Lower 50%	34% Math proficiency	646
20	Dixon Road Elementary Willow Spring · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	26.4 Lower 50%	35% Math proficiency	644
21	Four Oaks Middle Four Oaks · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	25.8 Lower 50%	32% Math proficiency	477
22	Archer Lodge Middle Wendell · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	24.8 Lower 50%	29% Math proficiency	1,204
23	Pine Level Elementary Pine Level · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	24.4 Lower 50%	31% Math proficiency	341
24	McGee's Crossroads Elem Angier · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	23.8 Lower 50%	37% Math proficiency	950
25	North Johnston High Kenly · High · Grades 9–12	Public	23.8 Lower 50%	37% Math proficiency	788
26	Princeton Elementary Princeton · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	23.6 Lower 50%	35% Math proficiency	770
27	South Johnston High Four Oaks · High · Grades 9–12	Public	23.5 Lower 50%	46% Math proficiency	1,355
28	Smithfield-Selma High Smithfield · High · Grades 9–12	Public	23.1 Lower 50%	36% Math proficiency	1,548
29	Polenta Elementary Garner · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	22.8 Lower 50%	31% Math proficiency	1,010
30	Smithfield Middle Smithfield · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	22.8 Lower 50%	21% Math proficiency	573
31	Four Oaks Elementary Four Oaks · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	21.2 Lower 50%	32% Math proficiency	1,051
32	West Clayton Elementary Clayton · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	21.1 Lower 50%	26% Math proficiency	742
33	Clayton Middle Clayton · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	20.4 Lower 50%	23% Math proficiency	609
34	Selma Elementary Selma · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	19.3 Lower 50%	27% Math proficiency	794
35	Benson Middle Benson · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	17.4 Lower 50%	21% Math proficiency	377
36	Selma Middle School Selma · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	17.4 Lower 50%	9% Math proficiency	339
37	Wilson's Mills Elementary Wilson's Mills · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	16.8 Lower 50%	20% Math proficiency	496
38	South Smithfield Elementary Smithfield · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	16.7 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	450
39	Micro Elementary Micro · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	16.6 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	404
40	Corinth-Holders Elementary Zebulon · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	16.5 Lower 50%	29% Math proficiency	585
41	North Johnston Middle Micro · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	15.6 Lower 50%	11% Math proficiency	598
42	West Smithfield Elementary Smithfield · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	13.9 Lower 50%	11% Math proficiency	494
43	Cooper Academy Clayton · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	13.6 Lower 50%	13% Math proficiency	447
44	Thanksgiving Elementary Selma · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	12.0 Lower 50%	99.5% Free/reduced-price lunch	870
45	Benson Elementary Benson · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	11.6 Lower 50%	19% Math proficiency	719

Johnston Co Early College Academy in Smithfield leads the 2025 list of traditional public schools in Johnston County Public Schools with a Success Index (US) of 58.3. Of the 45 schools shown, 45 are public.

For the full picture see the wider North Carolina traditional public schools rankings, every school on the Johnston County Public Schools page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.

Free academic assessment

Is your child on grade level in reading and math?

Success Tutoring offers personalised English and math tutoring from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Start with a free online assessment and a clear plan for the year ahead.

Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT

Frequently asked questions

What is the best public school in Johnston County Public Schools?

Johnston Co Early College Academy in Smithfield, North Carolina ranks first among traditional public schools in Johnston County Public Schools with a Success Index (US) of 58.3 out of 100 (Enrollment: 251).

How are traditional public schools in Johnston County Public Schools ranked?

Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.

Are these 2025 rankings official?

No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.