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Watson-Sanders HouseWatson-Sanders House · Photo: LikeGrantTookRichmond · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Smithfield · Johnston County Schools

Smithfield’s public schools outscore 65% of North Carolina districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Smithfield, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

#75of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
52%
▲ 2 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
54%
▲ 3 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 6 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.4K
▼ 5% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.3
NC 16.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
8
3,085 students on the public path
In brief

Smithfield’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 247 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Smithfield’s, its schools beat 82%, higher than their 65% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 52% and math 54% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,420 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then two middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Neuse Charter School is in town. JCPS Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Smithfield’s grade

B Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 65% of North Carolina school districts, #75 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 65%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (247)Better than 82%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 19,454 test results and a graduating class of 3,131 could put Smithfield anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Smithfield’s students in the tested grades sat them (18,655 in math, 20,253 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Smithfield, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5South Smithfield ElementaryJohnston County SchoolsC−
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC− to B+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC to A+

Smithfield’s public schools are run by Johnston County Schools, which also serves Archer Lodge, Benson, Clayton and Four Oaks and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Johnston County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 48 schools · 37,320 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 17.3 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$12,420NC $13,045 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading52%
State average 49.9% · 20253 students tested
Math54%
State average 50.8% · 18655 students tested

Smithfield vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Smithfield’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SmithfieldB+Johnston County Schools
SelmaB+Johnston County Schools

Every school in Smithfield

9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Smithfieldby address
South Smithfield Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
450 students12:1Rate it →
Smithfield Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
573 students13:1Rate it →
The Innovation Academy at South Campus
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
263 students14:1Rate it →
Smithfield-Selma High
High · Grades 9–12
C
1,548 students18:1Rate it →
Johnston Co Early College Academy
High · Grades 9–12
A+
251 students35:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Johnston County Schools Career Technical
High · Grades 9–12
A+
Career and Technical
241 studentsRate it →
Choice Plus Academy
Grades K–12
C−
Alternative Education
97 students9:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Neuse Charter School
Grades K–12
B+
Charter
925 students17:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Smithfieldnot counted as local schools
JCPS Virtual Academy
Grades K–12
Online
203 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Smithfield’s schools

Are Smithfield’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Smithfield children attend outscore 65% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #75 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 82%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Smithfield in?

Johnston County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 37,320 students in 48 schools (2024–25).

Where do Smithfield kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Smithfield-Selma High and Johnston Co Early College Academy.

What is Smithfield’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Johnston County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Smithfield spend per student?

$12,420 in Johnston County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Smithfield families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Smithfield → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.