Clay County Schools

154 Yellow Jacket Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904
(District boundaries shown in map)
8/
10
Top 30%

Top Rankings

Clay County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2026 school year, there is 1 public preschool serving 387 students in Clay County Schools.
Public Preschools in Clay County Schools have a diversity score of 0.28, which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 0.72.
Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
4 Schools
994 Schools
# Students
1,301 Students
464,055 Students
# Teachers
91 Teachers
33,275 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Clay County Schools, which is ranked within the top 30% 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 87% has increased from 85-89% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#97 out of 325 school districts
(Top 30%)
(21-22)
60%
51%
55%
50%
68%
63%
(21-22)
75-79%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.26
0.72
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
9%
23%
% Black
1%
25%
% White
85%
41%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,883 is higher than the state median of $11,191. The school district revenue/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,477 is higher than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$17 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$16 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,883
$11,191
Spending / Student
$12,477
$11,616

Best Clay County Schools Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
698 Anderson St
Hayesville, NC 28904
(828) 389-3763
Gr: PK-2 | 387 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 15%

Recent Articles

Helping Children Overcome First-Week School Anxiety
Helping Children Overcome First-Week School Anxiety
Learn practical strategies to help children overcome first-week school anxiety, with expert-backed tips for parents and educators.
Public School Immunization Requirements 2026–2027
Public School Immunization Requirements 2026–2027
Learn public school immunization and health requirements for 2026–2027, including vaccines, exemptions, and state policy updates.
Public Schools in a Minute: 2026 Snapshot Guide
Public Schools in a Minute: 2026 Snapshot Guide
A clear 2026 snapshot of public schools in the U.S., including enrollment, funding, trends, and what families should know.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 1,301 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 15%
  • : 75-79% (Top 20% in NC)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 60% (Top 30%)
  • : 55% (Top 50%)
  • : 68% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Quick Links