By type & area
Independent & Non-Religious Schools in Clayton, Smithfield & Johnston County
3 independent & non-religious schools in Clayton, Smithfield & Johnston County, 1 of them on the 2026-27 Direct Payment list. Johnston County east of Raleigh, a small private-school market led by one large Christian K-12 school and a Thales campus at Flowers Plantation.
About this data. School facts come from the NCES Private School Survey (2023-24, plus 2021-22 rows for schools that skipped the latest round). The Direct Payment flag comes from matching names, by county and with code, against the NCSEAA Direct Payment Schools table for 2026-27, downloaded October 30, 2026. Schools found only on the state list show a name and town and nothing else. Neither source reports tuition, so ask the school.
Funding note: This group splits sharply. Ravenscroft, Durham Academy, Cary Academy and Duke School were not on the 2026-27 list; Thales and many small independents were.
| School | Affiliation | Area | Grades | Direct Payment 2026-27 | Students (federal survey) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country Garden Montessori School 1418 Mount Pleasant Rd, Willow Spring 27592 | Independent | Clayton, Smithfield & Johnston County | PK-K | Not listed | 5 |
| Kids 'R' Kids (Clayton) 307 Tew Ct, Clayton 27520 | Independent | Clayton, Smithfield & Johnston County | PK-K | Not listed | 22 |
| Thales Academy at Flowers Plantation 65 Se Flowers Pkwy, Clayton 27527 | Independent | Clayton, Smithfield & Johnston County | PK-8 | ✓ Listed | 452 |
| A ✓ on the Direct Payment column tells you | It does not tell you |
|---|---|
| NCSEAA can send Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+ money to this school for 2026-27 | That a seat is open or that your child will be admitted |
| The award goes to required tuition and fees, up to your tier amount | That the award will cover the full bill |
| The school accepted NCSEAA's testing and audit rules for scholarship students | Whether the school is accredited, which the state table does not show |
Every school in Clayton All independent & non-religious schools
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