Enrollment
450
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Smithfield, NC
South Smithfield Elementary
Federal NCES profile for South Smithfield Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370237001030
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 10
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Smithfield Elementary earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of North Carolina schools.
- #4 of 5
- schools in Smithfield · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.3:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 99.3%
- free-lunch eligible
South Smithfield Elementary has class sizes smaller than 90% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Smithfield Elementary ranks #4 of 5 schools in Smithfield, NC.
School address
District: Johnston County Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370237001030 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.3:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.3%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Smithfield Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Smithfield Elementary
South Smithfield Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Smithfield, North Carolina, enrolling 450 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.3:1, South Smithfield Elementary is leaner than roughly 90% of North Carolina schools and 28% 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 99.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 450 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 542 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #205.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (42%) and African American (34%) (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 450 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.1% 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.
Among Smithfield's public schools, it stands alongside Neuse Charter School (925 students): South Smithfield Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.3:1 vs 19.7:1).
Johnston County Public Schools also operates Corinth Holders High (2,187 students) and Clayton High (1,929 students) alongside South Smithfield Elementary.
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 South Smithfield Elementary compares
South Smithfield Elementary 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 | 11.3:1 | ▼ 28% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.3% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 450 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
450
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
99.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 28% below state mean
Top 10% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
31.1%
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 450 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 37 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
Hispanic or Latino 42.0%
African American 33.8%
White 17.6%
Two or More 4.9%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.6, South Smithfield Elementary 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 South Smithfield Elementary.
$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 South Smithfield Elementary 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 South Smithfield Elementary'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
Jcps Virtual Academy
Standard public school
203 students 9.2:1 students per teacher
Choice Plus Academy
Alternative education program
97 students 12.1:1 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 (~450 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Smithfield Elementary's federal record.
- Compare South Smithfield Elementary 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 South Smithfield Elementary
How many students attend South Smithfield Elementary?
South Smithfield Elementary has 450 students enrolled. It is a public school in Smithfield, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Smithfield Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at South Smithfield Elementary is 11.3:1, which is 28% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 28% 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 South Smithfield Elementary?
99.3% of students at South Smithfield Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Smithfield Elementary?
The largest demographic group at South Smithfield Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 42.0% of enrollment, in Smithfield, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Smithfield Elementary?
South Smithfield Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical 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 South Smithfield Elementary rank among schools in Smithfield?
By Resource Investment Index, South Smithfield Elementary ranks #4 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 South Smithfield Elementary a good school?
South Smithfield Elementary earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of North Carolina schools. 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 South Smithfield Elementary, 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.