North Smithfield

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

North Smithfield, Rhode Island - 3 schools

An equity score of 33/100 ranks North Smithfield #44 of 53 districts in Rhode Island (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $17,779 per pupil, North Smithfield ranks #46 of 60 Rhode Island districts by per-pupil spending (Rhode Island districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,618
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$17,779
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

North Smithfield operates 3 public schools serving 1,618 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Rhode Island. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Providence County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,779 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 60 Rhode Island districts by per-pupil spending. See how Rhode Island compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 64.7% local, 28.0% state, and 7.4% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 33/100, ranked #44 of 53 in Rhode Island against a state average of 51, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (9 AP courses district-wide), a 366.7:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 16.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 79.4% White, 11.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is North Smitfield Hs, with a diversity index of 36.3/100.

Its largest campus is North Smithfield Elementary, enrolling 583 students (36% of the district's total enrollment).

North Smithfield Elementary accounts for 36.0% of all North Smithfield student enrollment

That dominant concentration means North Smithfield-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

North Smithfield student-counselor ratio is 367:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

North Smithfield chronic absenteeism rate is 16.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within North Smithfield is typically wider than the North Smithfield-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.4%
Federal
28.0%
State
64.7%
Local

Funding Equity

33
Equity Score
44 / 53
State Rank
51
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in North Smithfield.

White 79.4%
Hispanic or Latino 11.6%
African American 2.0%
Asian 2.1%
Multiracial 4.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 35.3/100

Average Simpson diversity index across North Smithfield's schools, below the Rhode Island average of 47.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 North Smitfield Hs 36.3
  2. 2 North Smithfield Elementary 35.8
  3. 3 North Smithfield Ms 33.6

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
9 AP courses total
366.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
16.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in North Smithfield

School Enrollment
North Smithfield Elementary
583
North Smitfield Hs
532
North Smithfield Ms
502

How North Smithfield Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Rhode Island districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Tiverton Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Exeter-West Greenwich Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Foster-Glocester Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Newport Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Middletown Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to North Smithfield's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Rhode Island

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Providence
20,725 students · 39 schools · $22,536/pupil
Compare vs North Smithfield →
Cranston
10,225 students · 24 schools · $17,810/pupil
Compare vs North Smithfield →
Pawtucket
8,056 students · 16 schools · $17,139/pupil
Compare vs North Smithfield →
Warwick
8,005 students · 19 schools · $22,540/pupil
Compare vs North Smithfield →
Woonsocket
5,690 students · 10 schools · $18,236/pupil
Compare vs North Smithfield →

Compare North Smithfield

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Providence →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in North Smithfield?

North Smithfield has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,618 students.

How much does North Smithfield spend per student?

North Smithfield spends $17,779 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #44 in Rhode Island.

What is the demographic composition of North Smithfield?

North Smithfield students are 79.4% White, 11.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% Asian, 2.0% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for North Smithfield?

North Smithfield has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #44 out of 53 districts in Rhode Island.