For the 2025 school year, there are 19 public preschools serving 12,099 students in Johnston County, NC.
The top ranked public preschools in Johnston County, NC are Cleveland Elementary School, Riverwood Elementary School and River Dell Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Johnston County, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 58% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Johnston County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Johnston County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Cleveland Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
10225 Cleveland Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-2700
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-2700
Grades: PK-5
| 816 students
Rank: #22.
Riverwood Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
108 Athletic Club Blvd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-6300
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 359-6300
Grades: PK-5
| 739 students
Rank: #33.
River Dell Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
12100 Buffalo Road
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-1977
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-1977
Grades: PK-5
| 942 students
Rank: #44.
Powhatan Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3145 Vinson Rd
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-3259
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 553-3259
Grades: PK-5
| 614 students
Rank: #55.
Pine Level Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
304 West Blanche Street, Po Bo
Pine Level, NC 27568
(919) 965-3323
Pine Level, NC 27568
(919) 965-3323
Grades: PK-5
| 337 students
Rank: #66.
Thanksgiving Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1161 Lynch Rd
Selma, NC 27576
(984) 400-7300
Selma, NC 27576
(984) 400-7300
Grades: PK-5
| 813 students
Rank: #77.
Meadow School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
7507 Nc Hwy 50 S
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4226
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4226
Grades: PK-8
| 661 students
Rank: #88.
Princeton Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
650 Holt's Pond Rd
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-0755
Princeton, NC 27569
(919) 936-0755
Grades: PK-5
| 787 students
Rank: #99.
Glendale-kenly Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2001 Bay Valley Rd
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2821
Kenly, NC 27542
(919) 284-2821
Grades: PK-5
| 436 students
Rank: #1010.
Micro Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
301 E Main St
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 588-4300
Micro, NC 27555
(919) 588-4300
Grades: PK-5
| 418 students
Rank: #1111.
Benson Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2040 Hwy 50 N
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4233
Benson, NC 27504
(919) 894-4233
Grades: PK-4
| 603 students
Rank: #1212.
East Clayton Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2075 Nc Highway 42 East
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 550-5311
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 550-5311
Grades: PK-5
| 513 students
Rank: #1313.
Four Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
180 Hatcher St
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-2165
Four Oaks, NC 27524
(919) 963-2165
Grades: PK-5
| 1,046 students
Rank: #1414.
Wilson's Mills Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4654 Wilson's Mills Rd
Wilsons Mills, NC 27593
(919) 934-2978
Wilsons Mills, NC 27593
(919) 934-2978
Grades: PK-5
| 540 students
Rank: #1515.
West Clayton Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1012 S Lombard St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-7113
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-7113
Grades: PK-5
| 718 students
Rank: #1616.
Cooper Academy
(Math: 49% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
849 North Mial St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-0256
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-0256
Grades: PK-5
| 441 students
Rank: #1717.
Selma Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
311 W Richardson St
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 965-3361
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 965-3361
Grades: PK-5
| 766 students
Rank: #1818.
South Smithfield Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
201 W Sanders St
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-8979
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-8979
Grades: PK-5
| 463 students
Rank: #1919.
West Smithfield Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2665 Galilee Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 989-6418
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 989-6418
Grades: PK-5
| 446 students
Johnston County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
245 College Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2303
Grades: 12
| 50 students
South Campus Community High School (Closed 2018)
Alternative School
521 Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Grades: 9-12
| 21 students
South Campus Community Middle School (Closed 2018)
Alternative School
425 S Collier Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6481
Grades: 6-8
| 12 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Johnston County, NC?
The top ranked public preschools in Johnston County, NC include Cleveland Elementary School, Riverwood Elementary School and River Dell Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Johnston County?
19 public preschools are located in Johnston County.
What is the racial composition of students in Johnston County?
Johnston County public preschools minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Johnston County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Johnston County include: Thanksgiving Elementary School vs. River Dell Elementary School, Riverwood Elementary School vs. River Dell Elementary School, West Clayton Elementary School vs. Cleveland Elementary School
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