Clay County Schools & Education
Clay County, Kentucky
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
35/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
89.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
89.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,451
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,894
School Score
35/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 57/100
State Score Position
#114
of 120 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Clay County
Measured School Summary
Clay County faces educational challenges with a school score of 35/100 and a graduation rate of 89.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,451 per pupil, Clay County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 39% below the Kentucky average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Clay County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
11 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
35/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #114 of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data.
Completion
89.0%
4.8 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,451
$443 below the state average
School coverage
11
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Clay County has 11 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Clay County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Clay County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 10 of 11 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#114
of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data. The county score is 22 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Clay County
Elementary to high school visible
2,903 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Clay County is the largest listed district slice, with 10 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Clay County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Clay County, Kentucky
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Broad Rural Reach Across Clay County
Clay County supports 2,903 students through a network of 11 public schools, including seven elementary and two high schools. The single school district provides coverage for a wide geographic area with one middle school and one specialized center. This infrastructure focuses heavily on primary education to build a strong foundation for local youth.
Unified District Leadership in Manchester
The Clay County school district manages 10 of the county's schools, centralizing all administrative and academic resources. Charter schools have zero presence in this region, representing 0.0% of the educational landscape. This traditional public model ensures that the single district remains the cornerstone of the community.
Small Rural Schools with Hub Activity
With eight schools in rural locales and three in town settings, the county averages a modest 290 students per school. Clay County High School is the largest institution with 717 students, while Paces Creek Elementary provides a smaller environment with 283 students. This mix offers families a choice between town-centered learning and quiet rural campuses.
School Overview
Total Schools
11
in Clay County
Reported Enrollment
2,903
11 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Clay County
Clay County
11 Public Schools in Clay County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 11 of 11 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County High School | Record | Clay County | Manchester, 40962Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 717 |
| Clay County Middle School | Record | Clay County | Manchester, 40962Town: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 407 |
| Manchester Elementary School | Record | Clay County | Manchester, 40962Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 388 |
| Burning Springs Elementary | Record | Clay County | Manchester, 40962Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 303 |
| Paces Creek Elementary | Record | Clay County | Manchester, 40962Town: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 283 |
| Hacker Elementary School | Record | Clay County | Manchester, 40962Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 265 |
| Goose Rock Elementary | Record | Clay County | Manchester, 40962Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 211 |
| Big Creek Elementary | Record | Clay County | Oneida, 40972Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 140 |
| Oneida Elementary School | Record | Clay County | Oneida, 40972Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 116 |
| Horse Creek Learning Center | Record | Clay County | Manchester, 40962Town: Remote | 3–12 | Alternative | 73 |
| Clay County Area Technology Center | Record | Kentucky Tech System | Manchester, 40962Rural: Distant | 8–12 | Vocational | 0 |
Manchester Elementary School
Clay County
Manchester, 40962 / Rural: Fringe
Burning Springs Elementary
Clay County
Manchester, 40962 / Rural: Distant
Horse Creek Learning Center
Clay County
Manchester, 40962 / Town: Remote
Clay County Area Technology Center
Kentucky Tech System
Manchester, 40962 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,451
State avg $6,894
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Clay County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Kentucky counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Kentucky?
How should I read the school score in Clay County?
What is the graduation rate in Clay County?
How much does Clay County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Clay County, Kentucky — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Clay County, Kentucky?
Clay County supports 2,903 students through a network of 11 public schools, including seven elementary and two high schools. The single school district provides coverage for a wide geographic area with one middle school and one specialized center. This infrastructure focuses heavily on primary education to build a strong foundation for local youth.
What are the major school districts in Clay County, Kentucky?
The Clay County school district manages 10 of the county's schools, centralizing all administrative and academic resources. Charter schools have zero presence in this region, representing 0.0% of the educational landscape. This traditional public model ensures that the single district remains the cornerstone of the community.
What is the school experience like in Clay County?
With eight schools in rural locales and three in town settings, the county averages a modest 290 students per school. Clay County High School is the largest institution with 717 students, while Paces Creek Elementary provides a smaller environment with 283 students. This mix offers families a choice between town-centered learning and quiet rural campuses.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.