Total enrollment
2,130
-57 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in Clay County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Clay County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Illinois | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 42.3% | #34 of 88 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,130 | #73 of 89 | #2,167 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 8 | #71 of 89 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.8:1 | #14 of 89 | #477 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 51.3% | #43 of 89 | #1,553 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 13.9% | #68 of 89 | #2,387 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Clay County school rankings
Residents
13,052
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
8
3 districts
Enrollment
2,130
students · 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 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,130 students, contracted 3% from the 2,187 reported in SY 2020-21.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data