Total enrollment
1,077
-15 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Clay County
Nebraska · Public K-12
Clay County's public schools total 12 across the county, with enrollment of about 1,566 and South Central Nebraska Unified 5 the largest single district. By level, that breaks down as 4 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in Clay County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
-1 (-11%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Clay County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Nebraska | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,566 | #31 of 47 | #2,444 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 11 | #20 of 47 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 9.9:1 | #2 of 47 | #112 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 38.6% | #24 of 47 | #2,154 of 2,526 |
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
6,095
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
12
4 districts
Enrollment
1,566
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$78,986
Above Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
38.6%
Below Nebraska avg
Elementary
4
871 students
Middle
3
230 students
High
4
465 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA UNIFIED 5
489 students · 4 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+
22.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.9%
civilian labor
Median age
39
24.6% under 18
Test scores in Clay County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- SANDY CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL· 69.5%
- SANDY CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 58.6%
- SUTTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 56.9%
- SUTTON SECONDARY SCHOOL· 55.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANDY CREEK ELEMENTARY | Fairfield | Elementary | PK-05 | 280 | · |
| SANDY CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Fairfield | Elementary | PK-05 | 275 | · |
| SUTTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Sutton | Elementary | PK-06 | 225 | · |
| SUTTON SECONDARY SCHOOL | Sutton | High | 07-12 | 174 | · |
| SANDY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL | Fairfield | High | 09-12 | 124 | · |
| SANDY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL | Fairfield | High | 09-12 | 117 | · |
| SANDY CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL | Fairfield | Middle | 06-08 | 97 | · |
| HARVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Harvard | Elementary | PK-05 | 91 | · |
| SANDY CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL | Fairfield | Middle | 06-08 | 80 | · |
| HARVARD MIDDLE SCHOOL | Harvard | Middle | 06-08 | 53 | · |
| HARVARD HIGH SCHOOL | Harvard | High | 09-12 | 50 | · |
| CLAY CO LEARNING CENTER - FAIRFIELD | Fairfield | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Clay County
About Clay County
Across the sparse Nebraska county of Clay County of about 6,095 residents, the public-school footprint covers 12 schools and about 1,566 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $78,986, 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 14% higher than the Nebraska median.
In terms of grade levels, Clay County consists of 4 elementary schools (871 students), 3 middle schools (230), 4 high schools (465), and 1 combined or other schools.
SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA UNIFIED 5 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 489 students across Clay County.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 1,092 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,077 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Clay County closed 1 school, going from 9 to 8.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Clay County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data