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²ÝÁñÉçÇø School Review - Established 2003
Southside Christian School
Kids R Kids

Best Johnston County ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 7 private schools serving 844 students in Johnston County, NC (there are , serving 30,012 public students). 3% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the NC state average of 8%).
The average acceptance rate is 95%, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average acceptance rate of 82%.
57% of private schools in Johnston County, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Johnston County ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Schools (2026-27)

Map of Riverwood KinderCare
Riverwood KinderCare
Gr: NS-PK
Daycare / Preschool
204 Cunningham Lane
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 550-9200
View Profile
Southside Christian School Photo
Southside Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 472 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 7 | Extracurriculars: 2
Christian
120 Discipleship Drive
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 585-6742
(1)
View Profile
Map of Academy Of Hope
Academy Of Hope
Gr: 7-11 | 6 students
Avg. class size: 8 students
All-girls (Christian)
408 Covered Bridge Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-8181
View Profile
Kids R Kids Photo
Kids R Kids
Gr: PK-K | 153 students
Sports: 2 | Extracurriculars: 2
Daycare / Preschool
307 Tew Ct
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-8864
View Profile
Map of KinderCare ELC at UNC Health Johnston
KinderCare ELC at UNC Health Johnston
Gr: NS-PK
Daycare / Preschool
514 N Bright Leaf Blvd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(833) 905-3276
View Profile
Map of Lifespring Academy
Lifespring Academy
Gr: K-12 | 146 students
Christian
4967 Us 70 Bus Hwy W
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 359-9959
View Profile
Map of Star Christian Academy
Star Christian Academy
Gr: K-12 | 67 students
Christian
4423 Wilsons Mills Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(252) 395-2771
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (NC)
US
# Schools
7 Schools

Trends in Total Number of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Schools

YearJohnston County Total Schools
20256
20246
20236
20225
20215
20207
20195
20185
20174
20165
20155
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# Students
844 Students
137,049 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per ²ÝÁñÉçÇø School

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
2025169179179
2024161171172
2023153169174
2022164173185
2021160166180
2020121157171
2019121162175
2018121158172
201794175180
201673172178
201534164167
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% Average Students of Color
35%
24%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202535%24%34%
202436%23%34%
202324%23%33%
202216%21%33%
202117%21%32%
202018%20%32%
201914%20%31%
201814%19%31%
20177%21%32%
201611%21%32%
201516%21%32%
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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
76 Teachers
13,662 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
10:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202511:110:111:1
202413:110:111:1
202312:110:111:1
20228:110:111:1
20218:110:111:1
20207:110:112:1
201916:110:112:1
201816:110:112:1
201710:110:112:1
20169:110:112:1
20158:110:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
30%
48%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2016-2025)

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202530%47%55%
202430%47%54%
202330%48%54%
202230%47%54%
202130%48%54%
202030%47%54%
201930%46%53%
201830%45%53%
201730%44%53%
201630%42%52%
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Average Class Size
12 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2016-2025)

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
2025151515
2024171515
2023171515
2022171515
2021151515
2020151515
2019121515
2018121515
2017121515
2016121515
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Average Number of AP Courses
5 courses
11 courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202551113
202441012
202341011
202241011
202141011
202041011
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Average SAT score
1229
(Out of 1600)
1207

SAT Score Trends (2022-2025)

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
2025122912101233
2024133712081230
2023133712131228
2022133712131229
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Average ACT score
21
(Out of 36)
25

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$8,200
$13,292

Tuition Cost Trends (2020-2025)

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
2025$8,200$13,414$15,012
2024$7,800$11,105$13,254
2023$6,215$10,360$12,626
2022$6,215$9,667$12,187
2021$5,525$9,687$11,800
2020$5,525$9,867$11,512
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Average Summer Program Cost
$179
$743

Summer Program Cost Trends (2020-2025)

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
2025$179$737$1,152
2024$179$697$1,128
2023$179$645$1,156
2022$179$644$1,102
2021$179$617$1,125
2020$179$762$1,217
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Average % on Financial Aid
80%
31%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$663
$5,530
Average Acceptance Rate
95%
82%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.57
0.58

Diversity Score Trends

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
20250.570.580.65
20240.590.580.65
20230.580.580.65
20220.420.560.64
20210.430.550.64
20200.450.540.64
20190.430.530.63
20180.430.530.63
20170.480.510.61
20160.480.510.61
20150.350.500.61
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# American Indian Students
1 Student
641 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
8 Students
4,214 Students
% Asian Students
1%
3%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
20251%4%5%
20241%4%5%
20231%4%5%
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# Hispanic Students
17 Students
5,801 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
4%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
20252%5%9%
20242%5%9%
20232%4%9%
20221%3%8%
20211%3%9%
20201%3%9%
20151%2%8%
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# Black Students
108 Students
9,647 Students
% Black Students
13%
7%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202513%7%7%
202413%7%7%
202311%7%8%
20227%7%7%
20217%7%7%
20207%7%8%
20193%7%7%
20183%7%7%
20172%6%7%
20162%7%7%
20152%7%8%
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# White Students
207 Students
79,820 Students
% White Students
24%
59%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202524%59%52%
202426%60%52%
202328%59%52%
202219%62%54%
202119%63%54%
202021%64%54%
201926%64%56%
201826%65%56%
201735%66%58%
201636%66%58%
201579%67%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
n/a
496 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
509 Students
34,481 Students
% of Others Students
60%
26%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearJohnston County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202560%25%26%
202458%24%26%
202358%26%25%
202273%25%25%
202173%24%25%
202071%22%24%
201971%23%24%
201871%22%23%
201763%23%22%
201662%23%22%
201518%21%21%
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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
2 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
5 sports
8 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Johnston County, NC?
The top ranked private schools in Johnston County, NC include Riverwood KinderCare and Southside Christian School.
How many private schools are located in Johnston County?
7 private schools are located in Johnston County.
How diverse are private schools in Johnston County?
Johnston County private schools are approximately 35% minority students, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average of 24%.
What percentage of students in Johnston County go to private school?
3% of all K-12 students in Johnston County are educated in private schools (compared to the NC state average of 8%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Johnston County?
57% of private schools in Johnston County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian).
Which private schools in Johnston County are often viewed compared to one another?

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