Students and presenters described the Ideal Academy at South Johnston High School as a hands-on choice program offering internships, college credit through University of Mount Olive access and workplace preparation; students called the program "a family" and credited it with expanding post‑graduation options.
District narration describes construction progress at Cooper Academy, Swift Creek Elementary and Wilson’s Mills High School and lists multiple bond-funded projects; the Johnston County Board of Education voted unanimously on Oct. 28, 2025, to approve the Clayton High rebuild project, according to the district presenter.
Johnston County Public Schools released a progress update on 2022 and 2024 bond projects — including Cooper Academy renovations, a new Swift Creek Elementary and rapid work at Wilson's Mills High — and the district reported the Clayton High rebuild was unanimously approved by the Board of Education.
About 3,500 eighth-graders visited the JoCo Works career expo to test hands-on exhibits and meet local employers, with district leaders and teachers highlighting links to CTE pathways, internships and later postsecondary placement.
The Johnston County Board of Education voted unanimously on Oct. 28, 2025, to approve a rebuilt Clayton High School — a roughly 278,000 sq. ft. campus with CTE labs, science labs and a 762-seat auditorium — and the Board of Commissioners will consider the project in November 2025.
JoCo Works, a two‑day career fair for Johnston County eighth‑graders, brought roughly 3,500 students together with employers such as Novo Nordisk and partners including Johnston Community College to explore careers, practice mock interviews and learn about apprenticeships and internships.
Johnston County Public Schools announced changes to elementary grading that will take effect in the 2025–26 school year, district officials said. Paige Barnes, executive director of elementary education for Johnston County Public Schools, outlined the changes in a recorded message to families.
Assistant Superintendent Christy Stephenson presented the district's 2024–25 summative assessment results, reporting an 8% overall performance increase, continued outperformance of the state in most tested areas, and expected declines in science tied to new state tests.
The Johnston County Board of Education heard details of changes to elementary grading practices for the 2025–26 school year, moving K–2 to a 1–4 standards-based indicator and grades 3–5 to a 10-point scale, with guidance on special-area reporting and staff training.
Board celebrated the grand opening of Swift Creek Elementary, recognized six student character-education honorees and presented employee-of-the-month awards and a CTE teacher finalist announcement.