The New Year is here and applications are open! 🗓️
Don't miss this opportunity to start the new year exploring new possibilities! JCPS will host a Choice Programs Information Night on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Smithfield-Selma High School from 5:45 PM to 8 PM.
Attendees will be provided 15-minute information sessions about the various programs offered to 8th graders and a Q&A session.
The application window for students wanting to attend High School Choice Programs starts today, January 1st, and will end on February 15th.
Click here to learn more about JCPS Choice Programs: https://bit.ly/4abrFH4
Johnston County Public Schools wishes everyone a Happy New Year!
Sarah Willoughby, Principal at West Clayton Elementary, is one of many school-based administrators who ensure that our students and staff are safe and have a great learning and work environment.
Sarah invites you to join the JCPS team by applying for the various positions currently available in our schools!
View current job opportunities here: www.johnston.k12.nc.us/employment
Cleveland High’s Quarterback Isabella “Izzy” Sholar, the Carolina Panthers High School Flag Football Player Of the Year, is one of eight finalists for the 2025 Girls National Flag Football Player of the Year Award.
Read more about Sholar and this nomination here: https://bit.ly/3YMcMWy
Congratulations Izzy! We're all rooting for you! 🎉 The winner will be announced on January 10th.
Merry Christmas Eve!
We are excited to share that for the 2024-2025 academic year, two seniors and two 2025 graduates are candidates for the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma™, and three seniors and two 2025 graduates are candidates for the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™.
The College Board AP Capstone is a two-year program based on two AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. The program helps students develop critical thinking, collaboration, and research and presentation skills that are essential to academic and career success.
Instead of learning subject-specific content, these courses develop students’ skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. Students who complete the two-year program can earn one of two different AP Capstone awards, the AP Capstone Diploma™ or the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™, which are valued by colleges across the United States and around the world.
To read more about these candidates and the AP Capstone Program, click here: https://bit.ly/4aZyi1r
The countdown to graduation is on! 🎓🎉
Full details for Class of 2026 ceremonies are available on the JCPS Graduation Information webpage: www.johnston.k12.nc.us/graduation
For school-specific questions, contact your school.
A festive welcome this morning at South Smithfield Elementary for the last day before break, with a special appearance from Superintendent Dr. David Pearce! 🌟
Known for her warm smile, sense of humor, and strong work ethic, Martinez brings positivity to the school community while taking her responsibilities seriously. She is deeply valued by students, staff, parents, and the broader Pine Level community.
In her Spotlight Q&A, Martinez expresses the love she has for Pine Level Elementary. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4qij8ZM
#GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS
This is a friendly reminder of the Christmas break closure dates for students on the traditional calendar.
There will be no school from December 22 through January 5, 2026.
Enjoy the holidays and have a safe, joyful break!
Christmas carolers from Clayton High Honors Chorus treated Riverwood Middle students and staff to traditional Christmas songs, with a few fun ones mixed in. They also took their holiday cheer and shared it with staff at the A.G. Glenn Building. The halls were filled with music, and everyone’s hearts were full of joy.
Thank you to the JCPS Fine Arts Department for providing this special performance!
JCPS is thrilled to announce an exciting community event you won’t want to miss! Our wonderful partners, the Johnston County Ed Foundation, will host a Harlem Wizards basketball fundraiser on February 9, 2026, at Smithfield-Selma High School. The event will begin at 6:30 PM and doors will open at 5:30 PM.
We invite all JCPS families, staff, and community members to join us for an unforgettable night of high-flying basketball where some of JCPS’s most captivating athletes will compete against the Harlem Wizards! Come cheer as some of your favorite principals, teachers, coaches, and support staff step onto the court for some friendly competition, school spirit, and lots of laughs. This high-energy evening promises fun, laughter, and unforgettable entertainment for students, families, and staff, all while supporting a great cause.
🏀 Who are the Harlem Wizards?
The Harlem Wizards are a nationally renowned basketball entertainment team known for their incredible ball-handling skills, jaw-dropping trick shots, and interactive, family-friendly showmanship. Blending athletic talent with comedy and crowd engagement, the Harlem Wizards create an electrifying experience that delights audiences of all ages while promoting positive messages about teamwork, education, and community.
🏀 Who is the Johnston County Ed Foundation?
This event is spearheaded by the Johnston County Education Foundation, which plays a vital role in supporting JCPS by investing directly in our educators and classrooms. Through grant funding and other initiatives, the Foundation helps bring innovative instructional projects to life, supports creative teaching strategies, and enhances learning opportunities for students across the district. Events like this fundraiser make it possible for the Foundation to continue expanding its impact in JCPS schools.
So, if you are looking for great entertainment, for an even greater cause, mark your calendar now and get ready for a night of excitement, community engagement, and fun for everyone!
🎟️ To register, click here: https://bit.ly/4anzlrL
Attention Middle Schoolers & Parents!! 🎉
JCPS will host a Choice Programs Information Night on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Smithfield-Selma High School (700 M Durwood Stephenson Pkwy, Smithfield, NC 27577), from 5:45 PM to 8 PM.
Attendees will be provided 15-minute information sessions about the various programs offered to 8th graders and a Q&A session.
The application window for students wanting to attend High School Choice Programs starts on January 1st and will end on February 15th.
Click here to learn more about JCPS Choice Programs: https://bit.ly/4abrFH4
He shows emotional maturity when he stays focused on his work and never disrupts others or gets distracted himself.
As a member of our Safety Patrol, his dependability helps to keep all students safe by ensuring that students follow the hallway rules each morning.
Congratulations, James, for being recognized as the December Character Ed Student for Pine Level Elementary! 👏
Join us this Wednesday, December 17th, 2025, at 2 PM for our Welcome Wednesdays session, an open-door approach to assisting individuals aspiring to become a part of the JCPS team!
Welcome Wednesdays is a hands-on, in-person opportunity for individuals to receive assistance with applications and to ask questions about the various job openings we have within the district.
See you soon!
During the 2025 Summer break, 212,540 meals were served over the course of 9 weeks. The district also received an honorable mention for the Rural Non-Congregate Innovation Award, which requires the site to demonstrate use of new program regulations, innovative concepts, and marketing strategies to provide meals to families in underserved rural areas.
We are honored to have received recognition by the State agency as well as No Kid Hungry/Carolina Hunger Initiative!
He completes his work diligently, is consistently on the Honor Roll, and actively supports his classmates. Jacob frequently offers help to peers and staff, bringing positive energy to every situation.
Known as kind, dependable, and honest, he continually strives to do his best and seeks opportunities to make a difference in his school community.
Congratulations, Jacob, for being recognized as the December Character Ed Student for North Johnston Middle! 👏
Congratulations to the Clayton Comets football team for an unforgettable season and an incredible championship run.
They played their hearts out and left it all on the field.
We are extremely proud of our players and coaches! 👏
#ClaytonComets
