The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Summary:

The Innovation Academy at South Campus is a public middle school located in Smithfield, North Carolina, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 232 students. As part of the Johnston County Public Schools district, which is ranked 90 out of 242 districts in the state, this school has consistently outperformed its peers and earned a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The Innovation Academy at South Campus stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with students scoring significantly higher than the district and state averages in Mathematics, Reading, and Science. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school ranked 64 out of 793 middle schools in North Carolina, demonstrating a strong commitment to academic excellence. The school's performance is particularly impressive in Mathematics, where 6th-grade students scored 67.3% proficient or better, 7th-grade students scored 86.8% proficient or better, and 8th-grade students scored 65.8% proficient or better, all significantly higher than the district and state averages.

The Innovation Academy at South Campus also excels in supporting the academic achievement of diverse student subgroups, including female students, male students, African American students, Hispanic students, and students with low socioeconomic status. The school's diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 52.59% White, 14.22% African American, 28.02% Hispanic, and other ethnicities, provides a rich learning environment. When compared to nearby schools within the Johnston County Public Schools district, such as Riverwood Middle, Cleveland Middle, and Smithfield Middle, The Innovation Academy at South Campus stands out as a top-performing school, consistently delivering exceptional academic results across various metrics.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 521 Martin Luther King Dr
       Smithfield, NC  27577


(919) 934-6481

District: Johnston County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
64th of 793 North Carolina Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,168 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  12.2 Help
Number of students:  232

Racial breakdown:

White:
52.6%
Hispanic:
28.0%
African American:
14.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  52.6% Help


 See top rated North Carolina middle schools

 Compare The Innovation Academy at South Campus to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details The Innovation Academy at South Campus ranks better than 91.9% of middle schools in North Carolina. It also ranks first among 12 ranked middle schools in the Johnston County Public Schools District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 89.75. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details The Innovation Academy at South Campus has the smallest middle school student body size in the Johnston County Public Schools District. Student population at The Innovation Academy at South Campus is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (52.6%), Hispanic (28%), African American (14.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 52.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at The Innovation Academy at South Campus is 12.2, which is the 3rd best among 12 middle schools in the Johnston County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare The Innovation Academy at South Campus employs 19 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at The Innovation Academy at South Campus is $8,168. 8 middle schools in the Johnston County Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

The Innovation Academy at South Campus:

SchoolDigger ranks The Innovation Academy at South Campus 64th of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See The Innovation Academy at South Campus in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented 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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Rank History for The Innovation Academy at South Campus

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Rank History for all students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 62.42 269th 737 63.5%
2021 72.52 185th 741 75.0%
2022 88.63 71st 786 91.0%
2023 92.45 50th 784 93.6%
2024 89.75 64th 793 91.9%
See the entire list of North Carolina Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 98.51 3rd 473 99.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 75.49 96th 639 85.0%
2021 84.02 46th 633 92.7%
2022 95.86 13th 689 98.1%
2023 98.73 4th 735 99.5%
2024 93.94 24th 743 96.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 49.70 370th 684 45.9%
2021 72.02 171st 706 75.8%
2022 86.05 80th 733 89.1%
2023 89.84 57th 731 92.2%
2024 89.92 56th 738 92.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 66.59 74th 478 84.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 47.07 302nd 448 32.6%
2022 66.34 127th 450 71.8%
2023 76.86 19th 452 95.8%
2024 75.35 26th 461 94.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 70.91 180th 697 74.2%
2021 70.53 183rd 711 74.3%
2022 88.77 67th 748 91.0%
2023 93.44 31st 747 95.9%
2024 87.45 75th 751 90.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 51.95 214th 519 58.8%
2021 88.82 33rd 533 93.8%
2022 89.14 41st 550 92.5%
2023 84.64 57th 559 89.8%
2024 89.49 40th 560 92.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 81.20 51st 493 89.7%
2021 65.11 121st 522 76.8%
2022 94.37 16th 541 97.0%
2023 95.20 19th 553 96.6%
2024 92.92 32nd 564 94.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 46.21 353rd 624 43.4%
2021 62.41 212th 632 66.5%
2022 82.61 100th 658 84.8%
2023 88.49 58th 656 91.2%
2024 83.70 96th 652 85.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle 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.

The Innovation Academy at South Campus 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: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Tuesday, November 5, 2019

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Enrollment information for The Innovation Academy at South Campus

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2018 46 20 0 25 0 0 2 0 93
2019 101 30 0 53 2 0 10 0 196
2020 152 43 0 85 2 0 9 0 291
2021 156 37 1 88 4 0 6 0 292
2022 143 32 2 87 2 0 6 0 272
2023 122 33 2 65 2 0 8 0 232

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 The Innovation Academy at South Campus

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2018 93 6.0 15.5 65.6
2019 196 10.1 19.2 45.4
2020 291 16.9 17.1 37.8
2021 292 16.0 18.2 30.1
2022 272 15.0 18.1 31.6
2023 232 19.0 12.2 52.6

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 The Innovation Academy at South Campus

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2018 93 6.0 15.5 65.6
2019 196 10.1 19.2 45.4
2020 291 16.9 17.1 37.8
2021 292 16.0 18.2 30.1
2022 272 15.0 18.1 31.6
2023 232 19.0 12.2 52.6

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 The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $360 (4.4%) $7,808 (95.6%) $8,168

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

Impact of COVID-19 on The Innovation Academy at South Campus

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 269th of 737 Middle schoolsRanks 50th of 784 Middle schools
 30.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Mathematics (The Innovation Academy at South Campus)7483.1
 9.1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Johnston County Public Schools)51.954.7
 2.8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.852.3
 6.5%
6th Grade Reading (The Innovation Academy at South Campus)7070.4
 0.4%
   6th Grade Reading (Johnston County Public Schools)55.548.1
 7.4%
   6th Grade Reading (North Carolina)6049.3
 10.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (The Innovation Academy at South Campus)45.870.2
 24.4%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Johnston County Public Schools)51.855
 3.2%
   7th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.450.1
 8.3%
7th Grade Reading (The Innovation Academy at South Campus)62.579.8
 17.3%
   7th Grade Reading (Johnston County Public Schools)52.852.9
 0.1%
   7th Grade Reading (North Carolina)58.850.2
 8.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students196232
 18.4%
African American3033
 10%
American Indian22
Asian02
Hispanic5365
 22.6%
Pacific Islander00
White101122
 20.8%
Two or More Races108
 20%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients45.4%52.6%
 7.2%


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Frequently Asked Questions about The Innovation Academy at South Campus

Students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus are 53% White, 28% Hispanic, 14% African American, 3% Two or more races.

Yes. The Innovation Academy at South Campus ranks in the top 8.1% of North Carolina middle schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 232 students attended The Innovation Academy at South Campus.


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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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