South Smithfield Elementary

Summary:

South Smithfield Elementary is a public elementary school in Smithfield, North Carolina, serving 438 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Johnston County Public Schools district, which is ranked 90 out of 242 districts in the state.

While South Smithfield Elementary has a diverse student population with higher percentages of Hispanic and African American students compared to nearby schools, it has consistently ranked in the bottom 25% of North Carolina elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's test scores in mathematics, reading, and science are significantly lower than the district and state averages, with only 49.4% of 3rd graders proficient or better in mathematics, compared to 66.3% for the district and 62.7% for the state. Additionally, the school has an extremely high percentage of students (over 99%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

Interestingly, South Smithfield Elementary's performance has been declining over the years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 983 out of 1,429 North Carolina elementary schools in 2016-2017 to 1,283 out of 1,505 in 2023-2024. The school's data also shows significant achievement gaps between different racial/ethnic groups, with much lower proficiency rates for African American and Hispanic students compared to the overall student population. When compared to nearby schools, such as Powhatan Elementary, which is only about 9 miles away, South Smithfield Elementary's performance lags significantly behind in terms of test scores and statewide ranking.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 201 W Sanders St
       Smithfield, NC  27577-3717


(919) 934-8979

District: Johnston County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
1283rd of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,484 Help


Students who attend South Smithfield Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Smithfield Middle
High:    Smithfield-Selma High

Student/teacher ratio:  10.9 Help
Number of students:  438

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
41.8%
African American:
29.5%
White:
21.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.3% Help


 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare South Smithfield Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details South Smithfield Elementary ranks worse than 85.2% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks last among 23 ranked elementary schools in the Johnston County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 20.11. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at South Smithfield Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (41.8%), African American (29.5%), White (21%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 99.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Smithfield Elementary is 10.9, which is the 3rd best among 23 elementary schools in the Johnston County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare South Smithfield Elementary employs 40 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Smithfield Elementary is $11,484, which is the 5th highest among 23 elementary schools in the Johnston County Public Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South Smithfield Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks South Smithfield Elementary 1283rd of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See South Smithfield Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Johnston County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Johnston County Public Schools 90th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for South Smithfield Elementary?

Rank History for South Smithfield Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at South Smithfield Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 52.04 685th 1276 46.3%
2007 35.25 962nd 1293 25.6%
2008 47.86 755th 1324 43.0%
2009 53.80 717th 1354 47.0%
2010 51.69 749th 1363 45.0%
2011 49.95 792nd 1381 42.7%
2012 34.59 1015th 1388 26.9%
2013 31.77 1007th 1403 28.2%
2014 23.84 1106th 1390 20.4%
2015 34.93 1004th 1440 30.3%
2016 36.99 970th 1425 31.9%
2017 36.12 983rd 1429 31.2%
2018 19.10 1221st 1434 14.9%
2019 8.49 1403rd 1473 4.8%
2021 22.52 1151st 1489 22.7%
2022 25.59 1166th 1514 23.0%
2023 15.79 1324th 1502 11.9%
2024 20.11 1283rd 1505 14.8%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at South Smithfield Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.44 216th 421 48.7%
2019 21.09 460th 497 7.4%
2021 27.55 310th 385 19.5%
2022 38.28 303rd 485 37.5%
2023 31.96 366th 514 28.8%
2024 38.34 324th 533 39.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at South Smithfield Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 32.72 548th 801 31.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Smithfield Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.16 1051st 1332 21.1%
2019 10.45 1316th 1361 3.3%
2021 18.06 1186th 1329 10.8%
2022 21.94 1189th 1366 13.0%
2023 20.57 1260th 1437 12.3%
2024 29.52 1128th 1450 22.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South Smithfield Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.36 1212th 1405 13.7%
2019 6.30 1390th 1424 2.4%
2021 24.04 1114th 1440 22.6%
2022 28.30 1098th 1458 24.7%
2023 18.12 1279th 1459 12.3%
2024 23.56 1189th 1455 18.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at South Smithfield Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.01 615th 897 31.4%
2019 30.19 667th 878 24.0%
2021 18.51 612th 646 5.3%
2022 25.73 524th 634 17.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at South Smithfield Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.93 1204th 1413 14.8%
2019 13.34 1312th 1430 8.3%
2021 22.15 1143rd 1444 20.8%
2022 25.72 1138th 1464 22.3%
2023 15.75 1302nd 1461 10.9%
2024 19.22 1269th 1464 13.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at South Smithfield Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.87 794th 927 14.3%
2019 10.59 928th 949 2.2%
2021 26.71 697th 896 22.2%
2022 34.31 632nd 927 31.8%
2023 25.43 755th 933 19.1%
2024 31.64 690th 924 25.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at South Smithfield Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.48 675th 851 20.7%
2019 12.11 844th 865 2.4%
2021 34.82 567th 843 32.7%
2022 40.45 540th 893 39.5%
2023 28.49 708th 915 22.6%
2024 28.86 737th 951 22.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at South Smithfield Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.97 835th 1178 29.1%
2019 32.34 902nd 1183 23.8%
2021 43.07 677th 1172 42.2%
2022 31.17 902nd 1194 24.5%
2023 19.57 1047th 1183 11.5%
2024 27.90 927th 1166 20.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary 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.

South Smithfield Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, June 22, 2018

Open Quote I adore our school. My daughter had a fabulous year in Kindergarten! Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, May 11, 2017

Open Quote This school is NOT in a great location. I was NOT pleased with the management how they kept teachers that is in tenure. Close Quote



Enrollment information for South Smithfield Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 368 217 3 5 1 n/a n/a 0 594
1989 351 231 1 9 0 n/a n/a 0 592
1990 349 237 1 12 0 n/a n/a 0 599
1991 358 226 1 25 0 n/a n/a 0 610
1992 343 236 4 26 0 n/a n/a 1 610
1993 337 250 2 28 0 n/a n/a 0 617
1994 254 192 2 24 0 n/a n/a 14 486
1995 261 210 5 46 0 n/a n/a 0 522
1996 261 210 5 46 0 n/a n/a 0 522
1997 264 223 6 60 0 n/a n/a 0 553
1998 256 212 4 54 0 n/a n/a 0 526
1999 215 218 2 57 0 n/a n/a 0 492
2000 214 225 2 63 0 n/a n/a 0 504
2001 203 228 0 91 1 n/a n/a 0 523
2002 209 193 2 133 1 n/a n/a 0 538
2003 209 193 2 133 1 n/a n/a 0 538
2004 259 170 10 122 1 n/a n/a 0 562
2005 244 180 14 104 3 n/a n/a 0 545
2006 227 169 16 116 4 n/a n/a 0 532
2007 198 148 22 134 2 n/a n/a 29 533
2008 166 135 17 134 1 n/a n/a 26 479
2009 172 157 15 133 1 n/a n/a 0 478
2010 172 140 9 135 1 n/a n/a 0 457
2011 161 127 11 148 1 1 31 0 480
2012 213 143 9 189 4 2 31 0 591
2013 154 161 9 197 4 1 11 0 537
2014 158 161 8 197 8 1 15 0 548
2015 142 139 6 213 2 1 12 0 515
2016 145 129 4 228 1 1 10 0 518
2017 133 151 5 225 3 0 9 0 526
2018 129 173 4 231 4 0 15 0 556
2019 116 163 3 216 5 0 26 0 529
2020 124 142 3 216 3 0 33 0 521
2021 127 136 4 209 3 0 36 0 515
2022 118 126 7 197 5 0 31 0 484
2023 92 129 10 183 1 0 23 0 438

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 South Smithfield Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 594 28.0 21.2 39.6
1989 592 30.0 19.7 91.9
1990 599 30.0 19.9 92.8
1991 610 35.0 17.4 91.1
1992 610 35.0 17.4 44.9
1993 617 34.0 18.1 52.4
1994 486 27.0 18.0 70.1
1995 522 40.0 13.1 53.6
1996 522 40.0 13.1 53.6
1997 553 42.0 13.2 50.3
1998 526 45.0 11.7 57
1999 492 47.0 10.5 68.1
2000 504 42.0 12.0 71.6
2001 523 45.0 11.6 63.5
2002 538 55.0 9.8 65.8
2003 538 55.0 9.8 65.8
2004 562 52.0 10.8 49.8
2005 545 52.0 10.5 59.6
2006 532 52.0 10.2 60
2007 533 n/a n/a 63.9
2008 479 45.4 10.6 n/a
2009 478 42.4 11.3 n/a
2010 457 39.7 11.5 69.1
2011 480 39.7 12.0 75.4
2012 591 40.0 14.7 72.9
2013 537 45.0 11.9 78.4
2014 548 41.5 13.2 79.2
2015 515 40.0 12.8 83.5
2016 518 39.0 13.2 79.7
2017 526 41.0 12.8 85
2018 556 42.0 13.2 78.1
2019 529 42.9 12.3 99.4
2020 521 45.6 11.4 99.4
2021 515 43.0 11.9 99.4
2022 484 40.5 11.9 99.4
2023 438 40.0 10.9 99.3

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 South Smithfield Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 594 28.0 21.2 39.6
1989 592 30.0 19.7 91.9
1990 599 30.0 19.9 92.8
1991 610 35.0 17.4 91.1
1992 610 35.0 17.4 44.9
1993 617 34.0 18.1 52.4
1994 486 27.0 18.0 70.1
1995 522 40.0 13.1 53.6
1996 522 40.0 13.1 53.6
1997 553 42.0 13.2 50.3
1998 526 45.0 11.7 57
1999 492 47.0 10.5 68.1
2000 504 42.0 12.0 71.6
2001 523 45.0 11.6 63.5
2002 538 55.0 9.8 65.8
2003 538 55.0 9.8 65.8
2004 562 52.0 10.8 49.8
2005 545 52.0 10.5 59.6
2006 532 52.0 10.2 60
2007 533 n/a n/a 63.9
2008 479 45.4 10.6 n/a
2009 478 42.4 11.3 n/a
2010 457 39.7 11.5 69.1
2011 480 39.7 12.0 75.4
2012 591 40.0 14.7 72.9
2013 537 45.0 11.9 78.4
2014 548 41.5 13.2 79.2
2015 515 40.0 12.8 83.5
2016 518 39.0 13.2 79.7
2017 526 41.0 12.8 85
2018 556 42.0 13.2 78.1
2019 529 42.9 12.3 99.4
2020 521 45.6 11.4 99.4
2021 515 43.0 11.9 99.4
2022 484 40.5 11.9 99.4
2023 438 40.0 10.9 99.3

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 South Smithfield Elementary

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,732 (15.1%) $9,751 (84.9%) $11,484

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

Impact of COVID-19 on South Smithfield Elementary

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 1403rd of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 1324th of 1502 Elementary schools
 7.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (South Smithfield Elementary)36.633.3
 3.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Johnston County Public Schools)56.864.5
 7.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (South Smithfield Elementary)29.736.2
 6.5%
   3rd Grade Reading (Johnston County Public Schools)51.151.4
 0.3%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (South Smithfield Elementary)42.135.4
 6.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Johnston County Public Schools)5158.5
 7.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (South Smithfield Elementary)42.141.5
 0.6%
   4th Grade Reading (Johnston County Public Schools)47.458.2
 10.8%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (South Smithfield Elementary)19.824.1
 4.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Johnston County Public Schools)55.659.5
 3.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (South Smithfield Elementary)23.531.6
 8.1%
   5th Grade Reading (Johnston County Public Schools)46.953.2
 6.3%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (South Smithfield Elementary)30.938
 7.1%
   5th Grade Science (Johnston County Public Schools)66.872.2
 5.4%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students529438
 17.2%
African American163129
 20.9%
American Indian51
 80%
Asian310
 233.3%
Hispanic216183
 15.3%
Pacific Islander00
White11692
 20.7%
Two or More Races2623
 11.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.4%99.3%
 0.1%


Schools Near South Smithfield Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about South Smithfield Elementary

Students who attend South Smithfield Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Smithfield Middle
High : Smithfield-Selma High

South Smithfield Elementary ranks in the bottom 14.8% of North Carolina elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 438 students attended South Smithfield Elementary.

Students at South Smithfield Elementary are 42% Hispanic, 29% African American, 21% White, 5% Two or more races, 2% Asian.


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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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