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Clay County

Missouri · Public K-12

Clay County runs 80 public K-12 schools inside Missouri, with the county population around 258,122. The mix is 48 elementary, 13 middle, and 17 high.

4-year change in Clay County

SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
41,553
+413 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
School count
75
+1 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages

How Clay County ranks

Among counties
MeasureThis countyIn MissouriIn the US
State test proficiency
ranked highest first
47.9%#11 of 100N/A
Enrollment
ranked largest first
41,553#5 of 101#261 of 2,745
Number of schools
ranked most first
75#6 of 101N/A
Students per teacher
ranked fewest first
14.1:1#94 of 101#1,398 of 2,655
Free or reduced-price lunch share
ranked highest first
35.4%#93 of 101#2,257 of 2,526
Diversity index
ranked most diverse first
55.7%#6 of 99#805 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

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
Residents
258,122
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
80
8 districts
Enrollment
41,553
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$88,468
Above Missouri avg
Free/reduced lunch
35.4%
Below Missouri avg
Elementary
48
18,474 students
Middle
13
8,991 students
High
17
14,053 students
Combined / other
2
35 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
NORTH KANSAS CITY 74
21,252 students · 8 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
White
79%
Hispanic
8%
Black
7%
Asian
3%
Two or more
8%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
64%
Hispanic
12%
Black
11%
Asian
3%
Two or more
9%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
1%
Bachelor's+
36.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.8%
civilian labor
Median age
38
23.5% under 18

Test scores in Clay County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 64 schools ranked. Missouri state average: 44.9%.

See all 64 schools in Clay County ranked by score →

All schools (80)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
LIBERTY NORTH HIGH SCHOOLLibertyHigh09-122,262·
STALEY HIGHKansas CityHigh09-122,091·
LIBERTY HIGHLibertyHigh09-121,842·
OAK PARK HIGHKansas CityHigh09-121,755·
NORTH KANSAS CITY HIGHKansas CityHigh09-121,719·
WINNETONKA HIGHKansas CityHigh09-121,238·
NEW MARK MIDDLEKansas CityMiddle07-08965·
ANTIOCH MIDDLEGladstoneMiddle07-08886·
GATEWAY 6TH GRADE CENTERKansas CityMiddle06-06882·
Smithville HighSmithvilleHigh09-12845·
KEARNEY HIGHKearneyHigh10-12814·
SOUTH VALLEY MIDDLELibertyMiddle06-08809·
SHOAL CREEK ELEM.Kansas CityElementaryKG-05795·
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS HIGHExcelsior SpringsHigh09-12764·
HERITAGE MIDDLE SCHOOLLibertyMiddle06-08757·
NORTHGATE MIDDLEKansas CityMiddle07-08689·
GRACEMOR ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryPK-05684·
DISCOVERY MIDDLE SCHOOLLibertyMiddle06-08678·
NORTHVIEW ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryKG-05656·
CHAPEL HILL ELEMENTARYGladstoneElementaryKG-05644·
BELL PRAIRIE ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryPK-05642·
EASTGATE 6TH GRADE CENTERKansas CityMiddle06-06629·
LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOLLibertyMiddle06-08609·
FOX HILL ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryKG-05606·
WARREN HILLS ELEM.LibertyElementaryKG-05597·
KEARNEY MIDDLEKearneyMiddle06-07591·
MAPLE PARK MIDDLEKansas CityMiddle07-08585·
DAVIDSON ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryPK-05566·
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS MIDDLEExcelsior SpringsMiddle06-08540·
MEADOWBROOK ELEMENTARYGladstoneElementaryKG-05529·
KELLYBROOK ELEM SCHOOLKansas CityElementaryKG-05528·
LEWIS AND CLARK ELEM.LibertyElementaryKG-05517·
KEARNEY JR. HIGHKearneyHigh08-09510·
LINDEN WEST ELEMENTARYGladstoneElementaryPK-05501·
LIBERTY OAKS ELEM.Kansas CityElementaryKG-05496·
Eagle Heights ElementarySmithvilleElementaryKG-06492·
CRESTVIEW ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryPK-05487·
NASHUA ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryPK-05485·
CLARDY ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryKG-05477·
CORNERSTONE ELEMENTARYExcelsior SpringsElementaryPK-05466·
DOGWOOD ELEM.KearneyElementaryKG-05463·
SOUTHVIEW ELEM.KearneyElementaryKG-05455·
Horizon ElementarySmithvilleElementaryKG-06448·
LILLIAN SCHUMACHER ELEM.LibertyElementaryKG-05443·
WEST ENGLEWOOD ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryKG-05435·
RISING HILL ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryPK-05407·
Smithville MiddleSmithvilleMiddle07-08371·
Maple ElementarySmithvilleElementaryPK-06358·
LEWIS ELEMENTARYExcelsior SpringsElementaryKG-05354·
BRIARCLIFF ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryKG-05352·
CHOUTEAU ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryPK-05346·
ALEXANDER DONIPHAN ELEM.LibertyElementaryKG-05336·
RIDGEVIEW ELEM.LibertyElementaryKG-05331·
MAPLEWOOD ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryPK-05330·
RAVENWOOD ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryKG-05317·
EPIC ELEMENTARYLibertyElementaryKG-05293·
TOPPING ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryKG-05293·
OAKWOOD MANOR ELEMENTARYGladstoneElementaryPK-05277·
MANOR HILL ELEM.LibertyElementaryKG-05265·
HAWTHORNE ELEM.KearneyElementaryKG-05264·
WINNWOOD ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryPK-05264·
FRANKLIN ELEM.LibertyElementaryKG-05223·
KEARNEY ELEM.KearneyElementaryPK-05223·
GASHLAND ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryPK-01218·
LAKEWOOD ELEMENTARYKansas CityElementaryKG-05185·
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS EAR CHLD CTRExcelsior SpringsElementaryPK-PK151·
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS TECH. HIGHExcelsior SpringsHigh10-12147·
EARLY EDUCATION CENTERGladstoneElementaryPK-PK112·
LENSKearneyElementary04-0560·
WATKINS MILL PARK CAMPLawsonHigh06-1246·
EARLY CHILD. EDUCATION CTR.Kansas CityElementaryPK-PK45·
KEARNEY EARLY EDUCATION CENTERKearneyElementaryPK-PK44·
MAPLE VALLEY SCHOOLKansas CityCombinedKG-1235·
NORTHWEST REG. YOUTH CTR.Kansas CityHigh06-1220·
MISSOURI CITY ELEM.Missouri CityElementaryKG-0814·
CTR. FOR EDUC. DEVELOPMENTKansas CityCombinedKG-120·
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS CAREER CTR.Excelsior SpringsHigh11-120·
JUVENILE JUSTICE CTR.LibertyHigh06-120·
LIBERTY ACADEMYLibertyHigh09-120·
STAR SchoolGladstoneHigh06-120·

Cities in Clay County

Kansas City33 schoolsLiberty16 schoolsKearney9 schoolsExcelsior Springs7 schoolsGladstone7 schoolsSmithville5 schoolsKansas City1 schoolLawson1 schoolMissouri City1 school

About Clay County

Clay County is a sizable Missouri county of about 258,122 residents, home to 80 public schools and roughly 41,553 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $88,468, roughly 37% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 44% meaningfully above the Missouri median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Clay County is made up of 48 elementary schools (18,474 students), 13 middle schools (8,991), 17 high schools (14,053), and 2 combined or other schools.

NORTH KANSAS CITY 74 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 21,252 students across Clay County.

Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 41,140 students in SY 2020-21 versus 41,553 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 74 to 75 across the same 4-year window.

On allk12, the community for Clay County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Clay County?
Clay County, Missouri has 80 public K-12 schools serving approximately 41,553 students.
How many high schools are in Clay County?
Clay County, Missouri has 17 public high schools, serving approximately 14,053 students.
How many middle schools are in Clay County?
Clay County, Missouri has 13 public middle schools, serving approximately 8,991 students.
How many elementary schools are in Clay County?
Clay County, Missouri has 48 public elementary schools, serving approximately 18,474 students.
What is the largest school district in Clay County?
NORTH KANSAS CITY 74 is the largest school district in Clay County, serving approximately 21,252 students. The county contains 8 school districts overall.
What is the population of Clay County?
Clay County, Missouri has a population of approximately 258,122, with a median age of 38. About 23.5% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Clay County?
Median household income in Clay County is $88,468, above the Missouri average of $61,285. About 5.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Clay County?
Approximately 36.5% of adults 25 and older in Clay County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Clay County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 35.4% of students in Clay County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Missouri county average of 54.0%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Clay County schools?
Across Clay County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.8 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data