Total enrollment
2,928
-261 (-8%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in Clay County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
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 Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 53.4% | #8 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,928 | #63 of 110 | #1,868 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 10 | #41 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.5:1 | #6 of 110 | #1,110 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 75.8% | #8 of 110 | #574 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 7.2% | #100 of 110 | #2,578 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
19,921
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
11
2 districts
Enrollment
2,928
students · 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 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,928 students, shrank 8% from the 3,189 reported in SY 2020-21.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data