Clay County Schools & Education
Clay County, Tennessee
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
97.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
97.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,156
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,215
School Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 47/100
State Score Position
#19
of 95 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 97.0%.
Funding Context
At $6,156 per pupil, Clay County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 21% above the Tennessee average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% 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
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 #19 of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data.
Completion
97.0%
3.7 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,156
$59 below 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
#19
of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data. The county score is 10 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
Elementary and high visible
1,097 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Clay County 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?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
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, Tennessee
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.
Small and Focused School Infrastructure
Clay County maintains a small, focused education system with only four public schools serving 1,097 students. The infrastructure is managed by a single district and consists of two elementary and two high schools.
A State Leader in Graduation Rates
Education is a clear priority, reflected in a stellar 97.0% graduation rate that outclasses state and national trends. Despite a modest per-pupil spend of $6,156, the county achieves one of the higher school scores in the region at 55.4.
Uniform District Serving Clay County
Clay County Schools manages the entire local system, which does not include any charter options. Celina K-8 is the largest school by far, housing 551 students, which is half of the county’s total enrollment.
Entirely Rural and Close-Knit
Every school in the county is classified as rural, offering a tight-knit educational experience in the Tennessee countryside. With an average size of 366 students, the schools foster a highly personal and community-oriented atmosphere.
School Overview
Total Schools
4
in Clay County
Reported Enrollment
1,097
4 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Clay County
Clay County
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celina K-8 | Record | Clay County | Celina, 38551Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 551 |
| Clay County High School | Record | Clay County | Celina, 38551Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 329 |
| Hermitage Springs Elementary School | Record | Clay County | Red Boiling Springs, 37150Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 217 |
| Clay Co Adult High School | Record | Clay County | Celina, 38551Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 0 |
Hermitage Springs Elementary School
Clay County
Red Boiling Springs, 37150 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,156
State avg $6,215
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 Tennessee counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Tennessee?
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, Tennessee — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Clay County, Tennessee?
Clay County maintains a small, focused education system with only four public schools serving 1,097 students. The infrastructure is managed by a single district and consists of two elementary and two high schools.
How do schools in Clay County perform academically?
Education is a clear priority, reflected in a stellar 97.0% graduation rate that outclasses state and national trends. Despite a modest per-pupil spend of $6,156, the county achieves one of the higher school scores in the region at 55.4.
What are the major school districts in Clay County, Tennessee?
Clay County Schools manages the entire local system, which does not include any charter options. Celina K-8 is the largest school by far, housing 551 students, which is half of the county’s total enrollment.
What is the school experience like in Clay County?
Every school in the county is classified as rural, offering a tight-knit educational experience in the Tennessee countryside. With an average size of 366 students, the schools foster a highly personal and community-oriented atmosphere.
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.