Clay County Schools & Education
Clay County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,296
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#15
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Clay County
Measured School Summary
Clay County performs at an average level with a school score of 57/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.0%.
Funding Context
At $7,296 per pupil, Clay County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 42% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% higher 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
4 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
57/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #15 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
92.0%
4.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,296
$327 above the state average
School coverage
4
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Clay County has 4 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.
Small-system county
Clay County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#15
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 17 points above 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 Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,314 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Clay County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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, North Carolina
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.
Centralized Schools for a Small Community
Clay County operates a compact educational system consisting of 4 total schools that serve 1,314 students. The infrastructure is streamlined into two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
Clay County Schools District
Clay County Schools is the single district serving the entire enrollment of 1,314 students. There are no charter schools in the county, allowing the community to focus entirely on its successful local public district.
A Purely Rural School Experience
All schools in the county are located in rural locales, creating a consistent and scenic educational environment. Hayesville High is the largest school with 393 students, while Hayesville Elementary is the smallest with 270 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
4
in Clay County
Reported Enrollment
1,314
4 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Clay County
Clay County Schools
4 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 4 of 4 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayesville High | Record | Clay County Schools | Hayesville, 28904Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 393 |
| Hayesville Primary School | Record | Clay County Schools | Hayesville, 28904Rural: Remote | PK–2 | Primary | 377 |
| Hayesville Middle | Record | Clay County Schools | Hayesville, 28904Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 274 |
| Hayesville Elementary | Record | Clay County Schools | Hayesville, 28904Rural: Remote | 3–5 | Primary | 270 |
Hayesville Primary School
Clay County Schools
Hayesville, 28904 / Rural: Remote
Hayesville Elementary
Clay County Schools
Hayesville, 28904 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,296
State avg $6,969
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 North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?
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, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Clay County, North Carolina?
Clay County operates a compact educational system consisting of 4 total schools that serve 1,314 students. The infrastructure is streamlined into two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
What are the major school districts in Clay County, North Carolina?
Clay County Schools is the single district serving the entire enrollment of 1,314 students. There are no charter schools in the county, allowing the community to focus entirely on its successful local public district.
What is the school experience like in Clay County?
All schools in the county are located in rural locales, creating a consistent and scenic educational environment. Hayesville High is the largest school with 393 students, while Hayesville Elementary is the smallest with 270 students.
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.