Ben L. Smith High School

Summary:

Ben L. Smith High School is a public high school in Greensboro, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12 and part of the Guilford County Schools district, which is ranked 149 out of 242 districts in the state.

Despite its diverse student population, which is 47.63% African American and 38.8% Hispanic, Ben L. Smith High School consistently underperforms compared to the district and state averages in end-of-course assessments. The school ranks in the bottom 15% of North Carolina high schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Performance varies significantly across student subgroups, with Asian and African American students performing better than Hispanic and White students, while English Language Learners, Special Education students, and Gifted and Talented students perform significantly lower. The school's spending per student of $10,645 is higher than the state average, but it's unclear how this funding is being utilized to support student achievement.

Interestingly, Ben L. Smith High School is located in close proximity to several higher-performing schools, such as GTCC Middle College High, Philip J. Weaver Educational Center, and Grimsley High School, suggesting that the challenges faced by Ben L. Smith High School may be more systemic in nature. However, the school appears to be providing relatively stronger support for homeless students and English Language Learners, indicating that there may be opportunities for improvement with the right interventions and strategies.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 2407 South Holden Road
       Greensboro, NC  27407-5799


(336) 294-7300

District: Guilford County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
540th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,645 Help


Feeder schools for Ben L. Smith High School:

Elementary:    Archer Elementary
    Clara J Peck Elementary
    Cyrus P Frazier Elementary
    Hunter Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Allen Middle
    Jackson Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  15.7 Help
Number of students:  1,371

Racial breakdown:

African American:
47.6%
Hispanic:
38.8%
Asian:
6.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.8% Help


 See top rated North Carolina high schools

 Compare Ben L. Smith High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Ben L. Smith High School ranks worse than 84.4% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 23rd among 25 ranked high schools in the Guilford County Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 16.69. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (47.6%), Hispanic (38.8%), Asian (6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 99.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Guilford County Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ben L. Smith High School is 15.7. 15 high schools in the Guilford County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Ben L. Smith High School employs 87 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ben L. Smith High School is $10,645, which is the 13th highest among 25 high schools in the Guilford County Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ben L. Smith High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Ben L. Smith High School 540th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Ben L. Smith High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Guilford County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Guilford County Schools 149th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Ben L. Smith High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 24.44 364th 431 15.5%
2007 19.66 385th 453 15.0%
2008 9.65 432nd 477 9.4%
2009 10.93 441st 490 10.0%
2010 31.05 397th 499 20.4%
2011 21.90 430th 506 15.0%
2012 26.30 394th 502 21.5%
2013 15.73 412th 505 18.4%
2014 7.90 425th 451 5.8%
2015 14.80 435th 531 18.1%
2016 15.11 417th 507 17.8%
2017 16.66 388th 476 18.5%
2018 13.48 407th 469 13.2%
2019 10.27 463rd 514 9.9%
2021 8.92 565th 594 4.9%
2022 17.29 521st 621 16.1%
2023 19.12 515th 626 17.7%
2024 16.69 540th 640 15.6%
See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.23 172nd 185 7.0%
2019 20.19 171st 195 12.3%
2024 13.00 245th 261 6.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.19 108th 147 26.5%
2019 48.77 70th 173 59.5%
2021 28.05 94th 124 24.2%
2022 38.68 77th 156 50.6%
2023 36.13 123rd 226 45.6%
2024 29.68 202nd 262 22.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 38.92 189th 349 45.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.31 326th 424 23.1%
2019 14.80 406th 446 9.0%
2021 17.07 389th 432 10.0%
2022 26.88 409th 544 24.8%
2023 26.13 454th 597 24.0%
2024 23.43 481st 613 21.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 35.81 23rd 34 32.4%
2023 40.97 26th 45 42.2%
2024 52.82 19th 47 59.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 12.76 406th 449 9.6%
2019 8.79 451st 475 5.1%
2021 6.19 464th 475 2.3%
2022 15.03 515th 594 13.3%
2023 18.72 497th 588 15.5%
2024 16.98 516th 602 14.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.37 293rd 349 16.0%
2019 17.92 336th 364 7.7%
2022 25.70 253rd 330 23.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.10 95th 100 5.0%
2019 36.87 246th 325 24.3%
2021 1.21 332nd 337 1.5%
2022 8.86 378th 398 5.0%
2023 5.91 389th 403 3.5%
2024 17.05 377th 403 6.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.26 420th 463 9.3%
2019 9.26 455th 488 6.8%
2021 10.40 458th 481 4.8%
2022 18.80 483rd 585 17.4%
2023 19.21 498th 602 17.3%
2024 16.05 526th 607 13.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 12.62 69th 77 10.4%
2019 9.88 83rd 89 6.7%
2021 5.56 79th 83 4.8%
2022 11.46 86th 91 5.5%
2023 23.93 78th 98 20.4%
2024 16.19 87th 101 13.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.68 276th 359 23.1%
2019 17.54 336th 369 8.9%
2021 25.91 273rd 364 25.0%
2022 29.24 301st 430 30.0%
2023 31.21 285th 434 34.3%
2024 31.81 293rd 437 33.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 19.30 294th 340 13.5%
2019 12.95 339th 354 4.2%
2021 14.21 354th 370 4.3%
2022 24.02 351st 436 19.5%
2023 27.06 343rd 449 23.6%
2024 20.98 383rd 454 15.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Ben L. Smith High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 19.36 376th 427 11.9%
2022 23.78 428th 534 19.9%
2024 21.59 462nd 553 16.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Ben L. Smith High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Ben L. Smith High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1994 422 757 162 9 33 n/a n/a 0 1383
1995 343 734 136 33 16 n/a n/a 0 1262
1996 343 734 136 33 16 n/a n/a 0 1262
1997 339 747 150 30 17 n/a n/a 0 1283
1998 278 740 184 29 23 n/a n/a 0 1254
1999 248 734 197 28 19 n/a n/a 0 1226
2000 245 753 189 40 16 n/a n/a 0 1243
2001 195 716 189 62 10 n/a n/a 0 1172
2002 176 1122 169 80 10 n/a n/a 0 1557
2003 176 1122 169 80 10 n/a n/a 0 1557
2004 132 1180 158 99 13 n/a n/a 0 1582
2005 125 1278 154 138 14 n/a n/a 0 1709
2006 113 1196 148 155 11 n/a n/a 0 1623
2007 74 967 151 161 15 n/a n/a 49 1417
2008 50 833 154 155 11 n/a n/a 37 1240
2009 51 861 150 168 14 n/a n/a 0 1244
2010 36 853 132 184 15 n/a n/a 0 1220
2011 44 782 114 174 17 3 37 0 1171
2012 53 764 109 238 11 4 42 0 1221
2013 58 775 118 252 15 4 40 0 1262
2014 54 775 108 251 11 5 44 0 1248
2015 63 761 97 310 16 2 47 0 1296
2016 51 732 97 342 6 5 38 0 1271
2017 46 723 95 365 6 5 43 0 1283
2018 53 646 110 400 8 5 52 0 1274
2019 43 660 121 403 9 4 59 0 1299
2020 43 601 94 424 8 5 56 0 1231
2021 44 625 94 473 6 4 52 0 1298
2022 53 657 89 497 9 9 46 0 1360
2023 44 653 82 532 8 7 45 0 1371

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Ben L. Smith High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1994 1383 74.0 18.7 21
1995 1262 68.0 18.6 27.9
1996 1262 68.0 18.6 27.9
1997 1283 70.0 18.3 33.2
1998 1254 84.0 14.9 31.4
1999 1226 75.0 16.3 49.6
2000 1243 85.0 14.6 48.6
2001 1172 88.0 13.3 45.7
2002 1557 67.0 23.2 63.5
2003 1557 67.0 23.2 63.5
2004 1582 67.0 23.6 64.5
2005 1709 67.0 25.5 61.3
2006 1623 67.0 24.2 61.2
2007 1417 89.0 15.9 58.2
2008 1240 97.5 12.7 n/a
2009 1244 95.2 13.1 63.9
2010 1220 89.3 13.6 72.9
2011 1171 90.9 12.8 79.6
2012 1221 85.8 14.2 82.2
2013 1262 91.9 13.7 84.3
2014 1248 92.0 13.5 86.5
2015 1296 85.0 15.2 99
2016 1271 88.0 14.4 99.8
2017 1283 89.3 14.3 96.4
2018 1274 86.5 14.7 95.4
2019 1299 84.8 15.3 99.8
2020 1231 83.8 14.6 99.8
2021 1298 84.5 15.3 99.8
2022 1360 85.5 15.9 99.8
2023 1371 87.0 15.7 99.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Ben L. Smith High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1994 1383 74.0 18.7 21
1995 1262 68.0 18.6 27.9
1996 1262 68.0 18.6 27.9
1997 1283 70.0 18.3 33.2
1998 1254 84.0 14.9 31.4
1999 1226 75.0 16.3 49.6
2000 1243 85.0 14.6 48.6
2001 1172 88.0 13.3 45.7
2002 1557 67.0 23.2 63.5
2003 1557 67.0 23.2 63.5
2004 1582 67.0 23.6 64.5
2005 1709 67.0 25.5 61.3
2006 1623 67.0 24.2 61.2
2007 1417 89.0 15.9 58.2
2008 1240 97.5 12.7 n/a
2009 1244 95.2 13.1 63.9
2010 1220 89.3 13.6 72.9
2011 1171 90.9 12.8 79.6
2012 1221 85.8 14.2 82.2
2013 1262 91.9 13.7 84.3
2014 1248 92.0 13.5 86.5
2015 1296 85.0 15.2 99
2016 1271 88.0 14.4 99.8
2017 1283 89.3 14.3 96.4
2018 1274 86.5 14.7 95.4
2019 1299 84.8 15.3 99.8
2020 1231 83.8 14.6 99.8
2021 1298 84.5 15.3 99.8
2022 1360 85.5 15.9 99.8
2023 1371 87.0 15.7 99.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Ben L. Smith High School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,589 (14.9%) $9,057 (85.1%) $10,645

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Ben L. Smith High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 463rd of 514 High schoolsRanks 515th of 626 High schools
 7.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Ben L. Smith High School)28.926
 2.9%
   End of Course Biology (Guilford County Schools)57.749.4
 8.3%
   End of Course Biology (North Carolina)59.654.1
 5.5%
End of Course English II (Ben L. Smith High School)32.238.1
 5.9%
   End of Course English II (Guilford County Schools)57.354.7
 2.6%
   End of Course English II (North Carolina)59.758.5
 1.2%
End of Course Math I (Ben L. Smith High School)18.618.2
 0.4%
   End of Course Math I (Guilford County Schools)2723.1
 3.9%
   End of Course Math I (North Carolina)41.235.9
 5.3%
End of Course Math III (Ben L. Smith High School)13.848.3
 34.5%
   End of Course Math III (Guilford County Schools)4651
 5%
   End of Course Math III (North Carolina)46.858.3
 11.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students12991371
 5.5%
African American660653
 1.1%
American Indian98
 11.1%
Asian12182
 32.2%
Hispanic403532
 32%
Pacific Islander47
 75%
White4344
 2.3%
Two or More Races5945
 23.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.8%99.8%
 0%


Schools Near Ben L. Smith High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Ben L. Smith High School

Students at Ben L. Smith High School are 48% African American, 39% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 3% Two or more races, 3% White.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,371 students attended Ben L. Smith High School.

Ben L. Smith High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Archer Elementary
Elementary : Clara J Peck Elementary
Elementary : Cyrus P Frazier Elementary
Elementary : Hunter Elementary
Elementary : Julius I Foust Elementary
Elementary : Murphey Traditional Academy
Elementary : Sedgefield Elementary
Elementary : Wiley Accel/Enrichment
Middle : Allen Middle
Middle : Jackson Middle

Ben L. Smith High School ranks in the bottom 15.6% of North Carolina high schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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