Total enrollment
2,928
-357 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
Clay County
Kentucky · Public K-12
In Clay County, Kentucky, the public-school system rolls up to 11 schools and roughly 2,928 K-12 students, with county median household income around $40,900. By level, that breaks down as 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Clay County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
-1 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
96%
was 97%
% Hispanic
1%
was 1%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
11
2 districts
Enrollment
2,928
NCES CCD
Median income
$40,900
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
75.8%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
7
1,700 students
Middle
1
387 students
High
2
762 students
Combined / other
1
79 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Clay County Public Schools
2,928 students · 2 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+
15.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
26.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
9.3%
civilian labor
Median age
40
20.6% under 18
Test scores in Clay County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Burning Springs Elementary· 85.0%
- Manchester Elementary School· 78.0%
- Hacker Elementary School· 67.3%
- Goose Rock Elementary· 66.0%
- Oneida Elementary School· 64.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Big Creek Elementary· 50.7%
- Clay County Middle School· 55.5%
- Clay County High School· 56.0%
- Paces Creek Elementary· 57.5%
- Oneida Elementary School· 64.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County High School | Manchester | High | 09-12 | 762 | · |
| Manchester Elementary School | Manchester | Elementary | PK-06 | 409 | · |
| Clay County Middle School | Manchester | Middle | 07-08 | 387 | · |
| Burning Springs Elementary | Manchester | Elementary | PK-06 | 297 | · |
| Paces Creek Elementary | Manchester | Elementary | KG-06 | 273 | · |
| Hacker Elementary School | Manchester | Elementary | PK-06 | 244 | · |
| Goose Rock Elementary | Manchester | Elementary | PK-06 | 231 | · |
| Big Creek Elementary | Oneida | Elementary | PK-06 | 136 | · |
| Oneida Elementary School | Oneida | Elementary | PK-06 | 110 | · |
| Horse Creek Learning Center | Manchester | Combined | 03-12 | 79 | · |
| Clay County Area Technology Center | Manchester | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Clay County
About Clay County
In Kentucky, Clay County is a compact county of about 19,921 residents. 11 public schools across the county hosts about 2,928 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $40,900, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 27%. That income level is 28% below the Kentucky median.
On the school-mix side, Clay County consists of 7 elementary schools (1,700 students), 1 middle school (387), 2 high schools (762), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Clay County is Clay County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 2,928 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,928 students, shrank 11% from the 3,285 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 11 to 10 across the same 7-year window.
On allk12, the community for Clay County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. 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