Kids R Kids Photo

Best Johnston County Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 6 private schools serving 844 students in Johnston County, NC (there are 41 public schools, serving 30,012 public students). 3% of all K-12 students in Johnston County, NC are educated in private schools (compared to the NC state average of 8%).
The top-ranked private school in Johnston County, NC is Southside Christian School.
The average acceptance rate is 95%, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average acceptance rate of 81%.
67% of private schools in Johnston County, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian).

Top-Ranked Johnston County Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Southside Christian School
Southside Christian School Photo - Go, SCS WARRIORS!
(Christian)
120 Discipleship Drive
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 585-6742
Gr: PK-12 | 472 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 2 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Academy Of Hope
All-girls (Christian)
408 Covered Bridge Rd
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-8181
Gr: 7-11 | 6 students Avg. class size: 350 students
Kids R Kids
Kids R Kids Photo
Daycare / Preschool
307 Tew Ct
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-8864
Gr: PK-K | 153 students Sports: 2 | Extracurrculars: 2 Tuition listed
Lifespring Academy
(Christian)
4967 Us 70 Bus Hwy W
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 359-9959
Gr: K-12 | 146 students
Riverwood KinderCare
Daycare / Preschool
204 Cunningham Lane
Clayton, NC 27527
(919) 550-9200
Gr: NS-PK
Star Christian Academy
(Christian)
4423 Wilsons Mills Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(252) 395-2771
Gr: K-12 | 67 students

Overview

This County (Johnston County)
This State (NC)
# Schools
6 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
844 Students
136,490 Students
% Average Students of Color
35%
24%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
76 Teachers
13,557 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
30%
47%
Average Class Size
15 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
5 courses
11 courses
Average SAT score
1229
(Out of 1600)
1210
Average ACT score
21
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$8,200
$13,414
Average Summer Program Cost
$179
$737
Average Acceptance Rate
95%
81%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.57
0.58
# American Indian Students
1 Student
641 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
8 Students
4,215 Students
% Asian Students
1%
3%
# Hispanic Students
17 Students
5,804 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
4%
# Black Students
108 Students
9,651 Students
% Black Students
13%
7%
# White Students
207 Students
79,836 Students
% White Students
24%
60%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
496 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
509 Students
33,802 Students
% of Others Students
60%
25%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
2 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
5 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Johnston County, NC?
The top-ranked private schools in Johnston County, NC is Southside Christian School.
How many private schools are located in Johnston County?
6 private schools are located in Johnston County.
How diverse are private schools in Johnston County?
Johnston County private schools are approximately 35% minority students, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average of 24%.
What percentage of students in Johnston County go to private school?
3% of all K-12 students in Johnston County are educated in private schools (compared to the NC state average of 8%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Johnston County?
67% of private schools in Johnston County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian).
Which private schools in Johnston County are often viewed compared to one another?

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