The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in English language arts. The lowest is 52% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Clay Elementary School
Clay Elementary School is a regular public school in the small, rural community of Clay, Kentucky, serving students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade as part of Webster County Public Schools. The school sits within a highway-crossroads town where daily life is car-dependent and commercial activity is limited. Housing in the area is predominantly owner-occupied, and the cost of living is low relative to national averages, but the population has experienced a slow decline in recent years, with projections suggesting that trend will continue. The most notable recent civic change was a 2022 vote that made Clay a “wet city,” permitting alcohol sales. No major new housing developments or commercial projects have been publicly identified.
With an enrollment that is small for its grade band, the school serves a student body that is overwhelmingly white, with a very small number of students identifying as Black, two or more races, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. A substantial share of students come from low-income households, as reflected in the free- and reduced-price lunch count, which sits well above the midpoint of the national range for elementary schools. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the level of support offered for those student groups.
State assessment results from the 2024-25 school year show a mixed picture that varies noticeably by grade and subject. In reading and language arts, proficiency rates for the grades where results were reported ranged from below the state average in third grade to solidly above it in sixth grade. In mathematics, the pattern is even more uneven. One grade level reported performance that was well below typical levels, while another grade level reported three-quarters of students meeting proficiency standards. Results for several grade levels and subjects were suppressed, likely because the number of students tested was small; this is not unusual in a small school and does not by itself indicate poor performance. Science and social studies results were also suppressed for the grades tested. Because the data come from a single year and some groups are missing, it is difficult to see a clear trend, but the school clearly has bright spots in the upper elementary grades, particularly in math and reading for sixth graders.
Outside of test scores, the available information on school operations is thin. No data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or course access were found. The school likely shares resources and support services with the broader Webster County district, but specific details about art, music, physical education, or enrichment programs are not included in the public record. Because the school serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report.
For a family considering this school, Clay Elementary offers a small, familiar setting in a quiet, low-cost rural community. The academic results are uneven, with some grades performing well and others falling short, so it is worth asking the principal how the school addresses gaps in the lower grades and what supports are available for students who are behind. The lack of publicly reported information on staff experience or student behavior means a parent would benefit from visiting and talking to current families. The broader context of a slowly shrinking town and limited local employment may matter for families weighing long-term plans, but for those already rooted in the area, the school is the neighborhood elementary option within Webster County.
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