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Average

#1876 of 2,648 schools in NC

Smith Elementary

Elementary School · Wake County Schools

1101 Maxwell Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603

Enrollment

521

Student-Teacher

11.1:1

Score

5.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#1,876 of 2,648

In Raleigh

#76 of 98

public schools

In district

#153 of 194

Wake County Schools

School environment

7.0 / 10

Very Good

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Smith Elementary

5.3/10

Elementary School in Raleigh · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Oak City Academy

5.2/10

1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Wake Christian Academy

5.1/10

1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Smith Elementary

Smith Elementary is a public elementary school in Raleigh, NC, part of Wake County Schools. Smith Elementary serves approximately 521 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Smith Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,876 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Smith Elementary show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.8 pts below district
  • This school 5.3 · Average
  • District avg 7.1
  • NC avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

41% of students at Smith Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.6Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.71 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.8Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency43.6% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency36.5% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-20.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-10.1 pts
Overall Proficiency40% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-15.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile19th
Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,691
Chronic Absenteeism40.5%

Smith Elementary — Students at Smith Elementary score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

68.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 44.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 37.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
72%
ELA
58%
2010
Math
75%
ELA
65%
2011
Math
78%
ELA
64%
2012
Math
32%
ELA
27%
2013
Math
35%
ELA
34%
2014
Math
39%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
43%
ELA
33%
2016
Math
34%
ELA
24%
2017
Math
39%
ELA
22%
2018
Math
38%
ELA
29%
2019
Math
38%
ELA
29%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
47%
ELA
43.7%
2025
Math
43%
ELA
37.2%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.6/10.

How Smith Elementary Compares

See how Smith Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.3/10
29th percentile in NC
Academic
3.8/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
5.6/10
Average
Environment
7.0/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
69%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
47 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
40.5%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1101 Maxwell Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Smith Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. RISE Southeast Raleigh Charter (rated 8.7/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Washington Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 3.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Fuller Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 3.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Raleigh, see our Raleigh schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.1 mi
School Distance Rating
OAK CITY ACADEMY Garner 1.0 mi 5.2
WAKE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Raleigh 1.0 mi 5.1
Garner High Garner 1.0 mi 6.6
Longleaf School of the Arts Raleigh 1.7 mi 7.6
Vandora Springs Elementary Garner 1.7 mi 6.0
Timber Drive Elementary Garner 1.8 mi 5.2
North Garner Middle Garner 2.3 mi 4.3
Vernon Malone College and Career Academy Raleigh 2.9 mi 9.0
RISE Southeast Raleigh Charter Raleigh 2.6 mi 8.7
Aversboro Elementary Garner 2.7 mi 3.3
Fuller Elementary Raleigh 3.4 mi 8.1
Creech Road Elementary Garner 3.0 mi 7.5
Carnage Middle Raleigh 3.8 mi 8.5
Washington Elementary Raleigh 3.9 mi 8.4
Centennial Campus Middle Raleigh 3.7 mi 3.6
Vance Elementary Raleigh 4.0 mi 7.6
Southeast Raleigh High Raleigh 3.6 mi 4.1
Southeast Raleigh Elementary Raleigh 4.0 mi 7.6
Central Wake High School Raleigh 4.2 mi 3.8
KING'S TOWN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Raleigh 4.1 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27603 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$87,939

Median Home Value

$347,000

Median Rent

$1,496/mo

Population

53,835

College Educated

48.1%

Homeownership

60.9%

Avg Commute

27.7 min

Poverty Rate

12.7%

Median Age

34.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Andrews Elementary Andrews, NC 5.3
Bolton Elementary Winston-Salem, NC 5.3
Cape Fear Elementary Rocky Point, NC 5.3
Carver Elementary Wendell, NC 5.3
Cumberland Mills Elementary Fayetteville, NC 5.3
Isenberg Elementary Salisbury, NC 5.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Smith Elementary

What grades does Smith Elementary serve?

Smith Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Smith Elementary?

Smith Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 521 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Smith Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Smith Elementary is 11.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Smith Elementary rank in NC?

Smith Elementary ranks #1,876 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Smith Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Smith Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Smith Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Smith Elementary has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Smith Elementary a charter school?

No, Smith Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Smith Elementary a Title I school?

No, Smith Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Smith Elementary?

68.5% of students at Smith Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
31 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
521
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
47
Free/Reduced Lunch
68.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Wake County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
40.5%

District

Wake County Schools
District Enrollment
161,481
Schools in District
197
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,691
District Rank
#153 of 194

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