Enrollment
97
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Smithfield, NC
Choice Plus Academy
Federal NCES profile for Choice Plus Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370237003545
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 81
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Choice Plus Academy earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in North Carolina.
- #2 of 5
- schools in Smithfield · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 94.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Choice Plus Academy has class sizes smaller than 87% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Choice Plus Academy ranks #2 of 5 schools in Smithfield, NC.
School address
District: Johnston County Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370237003545 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
8.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
94.2%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+43% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Choice Plus Academy compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Choice Plus Academy
Choice Plus Academy is a high-poverty, small combined-grade school in Smithfield, North Carolina, enrolling 97 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 12.1:1, Choice Plus Academy is leaner than roughly 87% of North Carolina schools and 23% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 94.2% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 96% of North Carolina schools, with 97 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 68 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #37.
Its student body is led by African American (51%) and Hispanic or Latino (32%) (diversity index 62/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 97 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 96.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 34 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 97 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Smithfield's public schools, it stands alongside Neuse Charter School (925 students): Choice Plus Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.1:1 vs 19.7:1).
Johnston County Public Schools also operates Corinth Holders High (2,187 students) and Clayton High (1,929 students) alongside Choice Plus Academy.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Choice Plus Academy compares
Choice Plus Academy on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.1:1 | ▼ 23% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 94.2% | ▲ 43% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 97 | top 96% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
97
Bigger than 10% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
94.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 13% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
96.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$10,788
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,017
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 97 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 34 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 50.5%
Hispanic or Latino 32.0%
White 14.4%
Two or More 3.1%
Largest group: African American at 50.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.1, Choice Plus Academy is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Johnston County Public Schools, which includes Choice Plus Academy.
$10,788
Per student
-10%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-35%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 20.7%
State 62.2%
Federal 17.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Choice Plus Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corinth Holders High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clayton High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cleveland High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Johnston High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Smithfield-Selma High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Choice Plus Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,187
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,929
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,889
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,563
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,548
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Smithfield
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Neuse Charter School
Standard public school
925 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
West Smithfield Elementary
Standard public school
494 students 11.5:1 students per teacher
South Smithfield Elementary
Standard public school
450 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Jcps Virtual Academy
Standard public school
203 students 9.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~97 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Choice Plus Academy's federal record.
- Compare Choice Plus Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Johnston County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Choice Plus Academy
How many students attend Choice Plus Academy?
Choice Plus Academy has 97 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Smithfield, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Choice Plus Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Choice Plus Academy is 12.1:1, which is 23% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 23% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Choice Plus Academy?
94.2% of students at Choice Plus Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Choice Plus Academy?
The largest demographic group at Choice Plus Academy is African American at 50.5% of enrollment, in Smithfield, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Choice Plus Academy?
Choice Plus Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Choice Plus Academy rank among schools in Smithfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Choice Plus Academy ranks #2 of 5 schools in Smithfield, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Smithfield on the city page.
Is Choice Plus Academy a good school?
Choice Plus Academy earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in North Carolina. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Johnston County Public Schools?
Besides Choice Plus Academy, Johnston County Public Schools also operates Corinth Holders High (2,187 students), Clayton High (1,929 students), and Cleveland High (1,889 students). See the Johnston County Public Schools district page for the complete list.
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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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.