Total enrollment
2,130
-231 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
Clay County
Illinois · Public K-12
Clay County's school count of 8 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 2,130 students inside Illinois, around 16% of the county population. By level, that breaks down as 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Clay County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
93%
was 95%
% Hispanic
4%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
8
3 districts
Enrollment
2,130
NCES CCD
Median income
$60,417
Below Illinois avg
Free/reduced lunch
51.3%
Above Illinois avg
Elementary
3
1,176 students
Middle
2
355 students
High
3
599 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Flora CUSD 35
1,320 students · 3 districts in Clay County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Clay County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
13.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.8%
civilian labor
Median age
40
23.8% under 18
Test scores in Clay County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Illinois state average: 51.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Floyd Henson Jr High Sch· 79.0%
- Flora Elementary School· 63.5%
- North Clay Elem/Jr High Sch· 42.5%
- Clay City Elem School· 35.7%
- Clay City Jr High School· 32.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flora Elementary School | Flora | Elementary | PK-05 | 672 | · |
| North Clay Elem/Jr High Sch | Louisville | Elementary | PK-08 | 379 | · |
| Flora High School | Flora | High | 09-12 | 353 | · |
| Floyd Henson Jr High Sch | Flora | Middle | 06-08 | 295 | · |
| North Clay Community High School | Louisville | High | 09-12 | 178 | · |
| Clay City Elem School | Clay City | Elementary | PK-05 | 125 | · |
| Clay City High School | Clay City | High | 09-12 | 68 | · |
| Clay City Jr High School | Clay City | Middle | 06-08 | 60 | · |
Cities in Clay County
About Clay County
Across the small Illinois county of Clay County of about 13,052 residents, the public-school footprint covers 8 schools and about 2,130 students.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $60,417 a year, roughly 13% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 11%. That income level is 14% lower than the Illinois median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Clay County is built around 3 elementary schools (1,176 students), 2 middle schools (355), and 3 high schools (599).
Flora CUSD 35 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,320 students across Clay County.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,130 students, contracted 10% from the 2,361 reported in SY 2017-18.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Clay County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Clay County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data