- Enrollment
- 1,608
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Chapel Hill, NC
Smith Middle
Federal NCES profile for Smith Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370072002600
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 49
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Smith Middle earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 5
- middle schools in Chapel Hill · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 23.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Smith Middle has class sizes smaller than 79% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Smith Middle ranks #2 of 5 middle schools in Chapel Hill, NC.
School address
District: Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370072002600 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-19 students YoY
Smith Middle held near 749 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-19 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 59.6 → 58.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-19 students YoY 370072002600 · Chapel Hill, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
763 enr · 12.9:1 · 23.2% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Chapel Hill High (1,608 students)
Smith Middle held near 749 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-19 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 59.6 → 58.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Smith Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Chapel Hill Hi
Chapel Hill High
1,608 students
- East Chapel Hi
East Chapel Hill High
1,419 students
- Carrboro High
Carrboro High
885 students
- This school
Smith Middle
763 students
- Mcdougle Middl
Mcdougle Middle
659 students
- Culbreth Middl 632
Culbreth Middle
632 students
What this shows Smith Middle reports 763 students on the CCD universe file.
How Smith Middle compares
Smith Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 18% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.2% | ▼ 65% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 763 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
763
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 21% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
12.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$16,963
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 254 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
37
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 42.2%
Asian 22.3%
African American 13.6%
Hispanic or Latino 12.8%
Two or More 9.0%
Largest group: White at 42.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.9, Smith Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools reports $16,963 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Smith Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Chapel Hill High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carrboro High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mcdougle Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Culbreth Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Smith Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,419
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 885
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 659
- Students per teacher
- 10.5:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 632
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Similar middle schools in Chapel Hill
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Margaret B. Pollard Middle
Standard public school
736 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Mcdougle Middle
Standard public school
659 students 10.5:1 students per teacher
Culbreth Middle
Standard public school
632 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Phillips Middle
Standard public school
600 students 10.7:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~763 students)
Frequently asked questions about Smith Middle
How many students attend Smith Middle?
Smith Middle has 763 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Chapel Hill, NC. CCD year-over-year: 768 (2022-23) → 749 (2023-24), nearly flat (-19).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Smith Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Smith Middle is 12.9:1, which is 18% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 18% 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 Smith Middle?
23.2% of students at Smith Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Smith Middle?
The largest demographic group at Smith Middle is White at 42.2% of enrollment, in Chapel Hill, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Smith Middle?
Smith Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Smith Middle rank among middle schools in Chapel Hill?
By Resource Investment Index, Smith Middle ranks #2 of 5 middle schools in Chapel Hill, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Chapel Hill on the city page.
What other schools are in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools?
Besides Smith Middle, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools also operates Chapel Hill High (1,608 students), East Chapel Hill High (1,419 students), and Carrboro High (885 students). See the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district page for the complete list.