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Boyette Slave HouseBoyette Slave House · Photo: DanTD · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in Kenly · Johnston County Schools

Kenly’s public schools outscore 65% of North Carolina districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Kenly, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
52%
▲ 2 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
54%
▲ 3 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 6 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.4K
▼ 5% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.3
NC 16.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
36,779 students on the public path
In brief

Kenly’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 326 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Kenly’s, its schools beat 80%, higher than their 65% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 52% and math 54% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,420 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

24 elementary schools, then 14 middle and nine high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Kenly’s grade

B Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 65% of North Carolina school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 65%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (326)Better than 80%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 19,454 test results and a graduating class of 3,131 could put Kenly anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Kenly’s students in the tested grades sat them (18,655 in math, 20,253 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Kenly, with each school’s own grade.

24 schools teach K in Kenly’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from D− to A−, so check the specific school.
Four Oaks Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Four Oaks
C+
1,051 students16:1Rate it →
Polenta Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Garner
B
1,010 students16:1Rate it →
River Dell Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
B
981 students18:1Rate it →
West View Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Garner
C+
969 students16:1Rate it →
McGee's Crossroads Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Angier
C+
950 students18:1Rate it →
Thanksgiving Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Selma
870 students17:1Rate it →
Cleveland Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
B+
851 students19:1Rate it →
Selma Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Selma
D
794 students13:1Rate it →
Princeton Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Princeton
B−
770 students15:1Rate it →
West Clayton Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
C
742 students15:1Rate it →
Riverwood Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
A−
728 students16:1Rate it →
Benson Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Benson
C−
719 students16:1Rate it →
Powhatan Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
B
656 students17:1Rate it →
Meadow School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Benson
B−
646 students15:1Rate it →
Dixon Road Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Willow Spring
B−
644 students17:1Rate it →
Corinth-Holders Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Zebulon
C
585 students16:1Rate it →
East Clayton Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
B
524 students16:1Rate it →
Wilson's Mills Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Wilson's Mills
D
496 students14:1Rate it →
West Smithfield Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Smithfield
D−
494 students13:1Rate it →
South Smithfield Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Smithfield
C−
450 students12:1Rate it →
Cooper Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
C−
447 students15:1Rate it →
Glendale-Kenly Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
433 students14:1Rate it →
Micro Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Micro
B−
404 students14:1Rate it →
Pine Level Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Pine Level
B+
341 students13:1Rate it →
The path, start to finish
PK–524 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD− to A−
6–814 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD to B+
9–129 high schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A+

Kenly’s public schools are run by Johnston County Schools, which also serves Archer Lodge, Benson, Clayton and Four Oaks and others. Parts of Kenly (4% of its land) are served by Wilson County Schools instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Johnston County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 48 schools · 37,320 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 17.3 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$12,420NC $13,045 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading52%
State average 49.9% · 20253 students tested
Math54%
State average 50.8% · 18655 students tested

Kenly vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Kenly’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
KenlyB+Johnston County Schools

Every school in Kenly

45 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Kenlyin other towns
Four Oaks Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Four Oaks
C+
1,051 students16:1Rate it →
Polenta Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Garner
B
1,010 students16:1Rate it →
River Dell Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
B
981 students18:1Rate it →
West View Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Garner
C+
969 students16:1Rate it →
McGee's Crossroads Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Angier
C+
950 students18:1Rate it →
Thanksgiving Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Selma
870 students17:1Rate it →
Cleveland Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
B+
851 students19:1Rate it →
Selma Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Selma
D
794 students13:1Rate it →
Princeton Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Princeton
B−
770 students15:1Rate it →
West Clayton Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
C
742 students15:1Rate it →
Riverwood Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
A−
728 students16:1Rate it →
Benson Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Benson
C−
719 students16:1Rate it →
Powhatan Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
B
656 students17:1Rate it →
Meadow School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Benson
B−
646 students15:1Rate it →
Dixon Road Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Willow Spring
B−
644 students17:1Rate it →
Corinth-Holders Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Zebulon
C
585 students16:1Rate it →
East Clayton Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
B
524 students16:1Rate it →
Wilson's Mills Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Wilson's Mills
D
496 students14:1Rate it →
West Smithfield Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Smithfield
D−
494 students13:1Rate it →
South Smithfield Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Smithfield
C−
450 students12:1Rate it →
Cooper Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Clayton
C−
447 students15:1Rate it →
Glendale-Kenly Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
433 students14:1Rate it →
Micro Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Micro
B−
404 students14:1Rate it →
Pine Level Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Pine Level
B+
341 students13:1Rate it →
Archer Lodge Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Wendell
B−
1,204 students19:1Rate it →
Princeton High
High · Grades 6–12 · Princeton
C+
988 students19:1Rate it →
Cleveland Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Garner
B+
936 students18:1Rate it →
Riverwood Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Clayton
B
902 students17:1Rate it →
McGee's Crossroads Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Benson
C
757 students18:1Rate it →
Swift Creek Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Clayton
B−
691 students16:1Rate it →
Clayton Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Clayton
C+
609 students16:1Rate it →
North Johnston Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Micro
C
598 students15:1Rate it →
Smithfield Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Smithfield
C−
573 students13:1Rate it →
Four Oaks Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Four Oaks
C+
477 students15:1Rate it →
Benson Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Benson
C−
377 students15:1Rate it →
Selma Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Selma
D
339 students10:1Rate it →
The Innovation Academy at South Campus
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Smithfield
B+
263 students14:1Rate it →
Corinth Holders High
High · Grades 9–12 · Wendell
B+
2,187 students23:1Rate it →
Clayton High
High · Grades 9–12 · Clayton
B
1,929 students23:1Rate it →
Cleveland High
High · Grades 9–12 · Clayton
A−
1,889 students23:1Rate it →
West Johnston High
High · Grades 9–12 · Benson
B−
1,563 students24:1Rate it →
Smithfield-Selma High
High · Grades 9–12 · Smithfield
C
1,548 students18:1Rate it →
South Johnston High
High · Grades 9–12 · Four Oaks
C−
1,355 students23:1Rate it →
North Johnston High
High · Grades 9–12
C
788 students20:1Rate it →
Johnston Co Early College Academy
High · Grades 9–12 · Smithfield
A+
251 students35:1Rate it →

Questions about Kenly’s schools

Are Kenly’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Kenly children attend outscore 65% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 80%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Kenly in?

Johnston County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 37,320 students in 48 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Kenly are served by Wilson County Schools.

Where do Kenly kids go to high school?

One of 9 high schools, depending on your address: Corinth Holders High, Clayton High, Cleveland High, West Johnston High, Smithfield-Selma High, South Johnston High, Princeton High, North Johnston High and Johnston Co Early College Academy.

What is Kenly’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Johnston County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Kenly spend per student?

$12,420 in Johnston County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Kenly families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Kenly → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.