Best Schools in Smithfield, North Carolina
11 schools · 2 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Smithfield?
Use this page to compare every school in Smithfield by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
The Innovation Academy at South Campus
Middle · Johnston County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
South Smithfield Elementary
Elementary · Johnston County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Johnston Co Early College Academy
High · Johnston County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Smithfield for 2026 are The Innovation Academy at South Campus (8.7/10), South Smithfield Elementary (7.2/10), and Johnston Co Early College Academy (6.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$230,200
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$230,200
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +10.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Smithfield schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Smithfield
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 rated schools; 11 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Innovation Academy at South Campus | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | South Smithfield Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Johnston Co Early College Academy | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Johnston County Schools Career Technical | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Smithfield-Selma High | 6.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Neuse Charter School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Smithfield Middle | 5.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Choice Plus Academy | 4.7 / 10 |
| 9 | West Smithfield Elementary | 4.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Jcps Virtual Academy | 4.0 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $56,237
- Median home value
- $230,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 22%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 67%
18% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Smithfield compares
North Carolina rank
#168 of 255
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below North Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$56k
83% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
11
Johnston County Public Schools runs 90% of Smithfield's public schools
Smithfield touches 2 districts, but Johnston County Public Schools is the one most addresses actually attend.
Johnston County Public Schools accounts for 9 of 10 public schools (90%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 10 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.0 to 8.7 — the spread is inside Smithfield, not a citywide average.
- Johnston County Public Schools9 public · 90%
- Neuse Charter School1 public · 10%
About Schools in Smithfield, North Carolina
Smithfield is the seat of Johnston County, and its public school landscape spans 10 ranked schools with a city-wide average score of 6.5 out of 10. That average tells only part of the story. Five of those ten schools — exactly half — clear the 7-point mark, which means strong options exist at every grade band. School selection here carries real weight: the gap between the city average and its top performers is wide enough to matter.
The standout is The Innovation Academy at South Campus, a middle school rated 9.2 out of 10 — the highest score in the city by a significant margin. At the high school level, Johnston County Schools Career Technical earns an 8.3, one of the stronger career and technical programs in the region. Johnston Co Early College Academy follows at 7.2, giving academically focused students a second competitive high school option. Together, Smithfield's secondary offerings form one of the city's clearest strengths.
Elementary families have two above-average choices. West Smithfield Elementary scores 8.1 out of 10, the top-ranked elementary in the city. South Smithfield Elementary follows at 7.5. Both sit well above the city average, so parents with younger children aren't limited to a single strong entry-level option.
The practical takeaway: Smithfield's 6.5 city average understates what's available at the top. The five schools scoring 7 or above span all grade levels — elementary through high school — which means a student can follow a high-performing path through the public system without switching districts. Parents should focus on school-level ratings rather than the city average when comparing options, confirm attendance zones early in the search process, and note that the career-technical and early college tracks give older students meaningful post-secondary preparation within the same public network.
Elementary Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 463 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 446 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.5 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 262 students · 6th–8th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 530 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 282 students · 9th–UG | 6.8 |
| 2 | 196 students · 9th–UG | 6.7 |
| 3 | 1,551 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 |
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 912 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 2 | 70 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.7 | ||
| 3 | 333 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.0 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Star Christian AcademyPrivate 81 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Smithfield
Smithfield, North Carolina · 11 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$56,237
Median Home Value
$230,200
Median Rent
$802/mo
Population
26,946
College Educated
22%
Homeownership
67%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
21.0%
Community Profile
Smithfield has a median household income of $56,237. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $230,200, with a median rent of $802/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.0%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 2
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 4
Resources
Other Major Cities in North Carolina
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Smithfield, North Carolina
How many schools are in Smithfield, North Carolina?
Smithfield has 11 schools, including 10 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Smithfield, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Smithfield is 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Smithfield, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Smithfield on MySchoolScout is The Innovation Academy at South Campus with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Smithfield, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Smithfield on MySchoolScout is South Smithfield Elementary with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Smithfield, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Smithfield on MySchoolScout is The Innovation Academy at South Campus with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best high school in Smithfield, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Smithfield on MySchoolScout is Johnston Co Early College Academy with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Smithfield, North Carolina?
Smithfield is served by 2 school districts: Neuse Charter School, Johnston County Public Schools.
What is the education level in Smithfield, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 22% of adults in Smithfield have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Smithfield, North Carolina?
The median household income in Smithfield is approximately $56,237 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Smithfield, North Carolina?
Yes, Smithfield has 1 private school alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Star Christian Academy with a score of 5.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Smithfield, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Smithfield is 14.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Smithfield, North Carolina?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Moving to Raleigh-Durham? A Parent's Guide to School Choice in the Triangleguides
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.