Top Rankings
Johnston County Public Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 11 public high schools serving 12,889 students in Johnston County Public Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Johnston County Public Schools have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Johnston County Public School have a Graduation Rate of 92%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Cleveland High School, with 95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
47 Schools
759 Schools
# Students
36,894 Students
565,383 Students
# Teachers
2,404 Teachers
33,426 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Johnston County Public Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 91% has decreased from 92% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#130 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)54%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)92%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.68
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
30%
20%
% Black
18%
24%
% White
45%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,222 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,191. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,681 is less than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$377 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$394 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,222
$11,191
Spending / Student
$10,681
$11,616
Best Johnston County Public Schools Public High Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Johnston Co Early College Academy
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
245 College Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2314
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2314
Gr: 9-13 | 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #22.
Johnston County Schools Career Technical
Vocational School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
245 College Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Gr: 9-13 | 172 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #33.
Cleveland High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1892 Polenta Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 934-2455
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 934-2455
Gr: 9-12 | 1,896 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #44.
Corinth Holders High School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6875 Applewhite Rd
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 365-4306
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 365-4306
Gr: 9-12 | 2,270 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #55.
West Johnston High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5935 Raleigh Road
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 934-7333
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 934-7333
Gr: 9-12 | 1,593 student Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #66.
Princeton High School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
101 Dr Donnie H Jones Jr Blvd
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-5011
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-5011
Gr: 6-12 | 1,021 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #77.
North Johnston High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5915 Us Hwy 301 N
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2031
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2031
Gr: 9-12 | 798 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #88.
Smithfield-selma High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
700 M. Durwood Stephenson Park
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-5191
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-5191
Gr: 9-12 | 1,551 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #99.
Clayton High School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
600 S Fayetteville St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-4064
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-4064
Gr: 9-12 | 1,942 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1010.
South Johnston High School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
10381 Us Hwy 301 S
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 894-3146
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 894-3146
Gr: 9-12 | 1,332 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1111.
Choice Plus Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
211 East Rose Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 230-0500
Smithfield, NC 27577
(984) 230-0500
Gr: K-12 | 70 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
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