Enrollment
263
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Smithfield, NC
The Innovation Academy at South Campus
Federal NCES profile for The Innovation Academy at South Campus, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370237003441
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
The Innovation Academy at South Campus earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #2 of 10
- public schools in Smithfield · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 46.6%
- free-lunch eligible
The Innovation Academy at South Campus has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, The Innovation Academy at South Campus ranks #2 of 10 public schools in Smithfield, NC.
School address
District: Johnston County Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370237003441 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.8:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
46.6%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-29% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How The Innovation Academy at South Campus compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at The Innovation Academy at South Campus
The Innovation Academy at South Campus is a mid-sized middle school in Smithfield, North Carolina, enrolling 263 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.8:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 46.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 263 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 95% of the 2,698 North Carolina schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 191 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #21, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (51%) and Hispanic or Latino (26%) (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 263 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
10.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
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 middle schools, it stands alongside Smithfield Middle (573 students): The Innovation Academy at South Campus is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.8:1 vs 13.3:1).
Johnston County Public Schools also operates Corinth Holders High (2,187 students) and Clayton High (1,929 students) alongside The Innovation Academy at South Campus.
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 The Innovation Academy at South Campus compares
The Innovation Academy at South Campus 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 | 13.8:1 | ▼ 13% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.6% | ▼ 29% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 263 | top 82% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
263
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
46.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% below 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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 32% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
10.6%
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
$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 263 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.8 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
White 51.0%
Hispanic or Latino 25.9%
African American 15.6%
Two or More 6.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 51.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.4, The Innovation Academy at South Campus 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 The Innovation Academy at South Campus.
$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 The Innovation Academy at South Campus 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 | Similar 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 | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to The Innovation Academy at South Campus'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 middle schools in Smithfield
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle 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 (~263 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on The Innovation Academy at South Campus's federal record.
- Compare The Innovation Academy at South Campus 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 The Innovation Academy at South Campus
How many students attend The Innovation Academy at South Campus?
The Innovation Academy at South Campus has 263 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Smithfield, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Innovation Academy at South Campus?
The student-teacher ratio at The Innovation Academy at South Campus is 13.8:1, which is 13% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 12% 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 The Innovation Academy at South Campus?
46.6% of students at The Innovation Academy at South Campus are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of The Innovation Academy at South Campus?
The largest demographic group at The Innovation Academy at South Campus is White at 51.0% of enrollment, in Smithfield, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for The Innovation Academy at South Campus?
The Innovation Academy at South Campus has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (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 The Innovation Academy at South Campus rank among public schools in Smithfield?
By Resource Investment Index, The Innovation Academy at South Campus ranks #2 of 10 public 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 public schools in Smithfield on the city page.
Is The Innovation Academy at South Campus a good school?
The Innovation Academy at South Campus earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. 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 The Innovation Academy at South Campus, 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.