Public schools in Smithfield, NC
10 open public schools with an address in Smithfield, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,842
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.5:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Smithfield public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Smithfield, NC: 3 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 2 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,842 students, an average of 538 per school. The largest campus is Smithfield-Selma High (1,548 students), and the largest elementary school is West Smithfield Elementary (494).
Johnston County Public Schools operates the most schools here (9), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.5:1, lower than the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 99% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Smithfield
Elementary schools in Smithfield
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Smithfield Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 450 | 12.4:1 | |
| Swift Creek Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | — | — | |
| West Smithfield Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 494 | 13.1:1 |
Middle schools in Smithfield
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield Middle Johnston County Public Schools | 06–08 | 573 | 13.2:1 | |
| The Innovation Academy at South Campus Johnston County Public Schools | 06–08 | 263 | 14.5:1 |
High schools in Smithfield
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston Co Early College Academy Johnston County Public Schools | 09–13 | 251 | 35:1 | |
| Johnston County Schools Career Technical Johnston County Public Schools · Career and Technical School | 09–13 | 241 | 41.1:1 | |
| Smithfield-Selma High Johnston County Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,548 | 18:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Smithfield
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choice Plus Academy Johnston County Public Schools · Alternative School | KG–12 | 97 | 8.6:1 | |
| Neuse Charter School Neuse Charter School · Charter | KG–12 | 925 | 17.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White30.4%
- Hispanic40.7%
- Black22.8%
- Asian0.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial4.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Smithfield schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,842 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Smithfield
How many public schools are in Smithfield, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Smithfield: 3 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 4,842 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Smithfield?
Schools with an address in Smithfield belong to 2 education agencies, led by Johnston County Public Schools (9 schools), Neuse Charter School (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Smithfield?
Smithfield-Selma High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Smithfield, with 1,548 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Smithfield?
Yes. 1 of the 10 public schools in Smithfield are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Neuse Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Smithfield schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Smithfield public schools is 14.5:1, lower than the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Smithfield guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities