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Neuse Charter School

Q: Is Neuse Charter School a good school?

Neuse Charter School ranks 693 rd of 1490 North Carolina alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12

693^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Alternative Schools

Better than 53% of North Carolina alternative schools

Summary

Neuse Charter School is an alternative public charter school located in Smithfield, North Carolina, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 912 students. The school has a history of strong academic performance, consistently outperforming state averages in key metrics.

Neuse Charter School's four-year graduation rate has ranged from 86.5% to 93.0% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average. The school's students have also demonstrated strong proficiency in mathematics, reading, science, and end-of-course assessments, with many grade levels exceeding the state's proficiency rates. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's 7th-grade mathematics proficiency rate was 60.3%, compared to the state's 53.5%, and its 7th-grade reading proficiency rate was 79.5%, compared to the state's 51.9%. Additionally, the school's 8th-grade science proficiency rate was 74.2%, compared to the state's 60.1%, and its Math III EOC proficiency rate was 89.3%, compared to the state's 66.4%. Neuse Charter School has maintained a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 16.2 to 18.9 over the past few years, which may contribute to its academic success.

When compared to nearby schools, such as American Leadership Academy - Johnston, a public charter school located 4.39 miles away, Neuse Charter School generally outperforms them in terms of academic proficiency and graduation rates. While Neuse Charter School's performance is impressive, the school's free and reduced-price lunch rates are not provided, which could indicate potential socioeconomic challenges that the school may be addressing. Nonetheless, Neuse Charter School appears to be a high-performing educational institution that is effectively serving its students and community.

925

Students ?

17.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

18.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

909 M. Durwood Stephenson Park
Smithfield, NC 27577

(919) 626-2300

District: Neuse Charter School

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.4%

Hispanic:

15.1%

African American:

11.8%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Neuse Charter School to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 66th percentile in 2022 → 78th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (63% vs 55% meeting standards)

✓93% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (87%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2022

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school63%

North Carolina avg55%

Elementary school

693^rd of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 47%▼ down 32 pts since 2015

From top 14% (2015) to top 47% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

162^nd of 773

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 21%▼ down 9 pts since 2015

From top 12% (2015) to top 21% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

143^rd of 641

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From top 26% (2015) to top 22% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	52.9	693 of 1490	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.4	693 of 1505	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.4	555 of 1502	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.1	642 of 1514	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	75.6	306 of 1489	79.4%	★★★★☆
2019	59.2	586 of 1473	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.1	624 of 1434	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	66.8	462 of 1429	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	76.3	291 of 1425	79.6%	★★★★☆
2015	81.9	204 of 1440	85.8%	★★★★☆
2014	79.1	251 of 1390	81.9%	★★★★☆
2013	75.0	298 of 1403	78.8%	★★★★☆
2012	79.5	222 of 1388	84.0%	★★★★☆
2011	81.4	181 of 1381	86.9%	★★★★☆
2010	85.6	111 of 1363	91.9%	★★★★★
2009	69.2	417 of 1354	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	67.9	388 of 1324	70.7%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	72.9	171 of 918	81.4%	★★★★☆
2023	59.5	311 of 933	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.3	699 of 949	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	48.6	466 of 927	49.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	52.1	229 of 634	63.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	48.6	738 of 1451	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.2	781 of 1455	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.1	616 of 1459	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.9	703 of 1458	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	74.3	297 of 1440	79.4%	★★★★☆
2019	63.0	505 of 1424	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.5	644 of 1405	54.2%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	72.6	7 of 710	99.0%	★★★★★
2024	46.7	518 of 669	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	68.0	102 of 582	82.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	68.6	222 of 961	76.9%	★★★★☆
2024	56.7	371 of 951	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.7	306 of 915	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	31.7	675 of 893	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	68.5	175 of 843	79.2%	★★★★☆
2019	41.8	519 of 865	40.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	57.6	528 of 1437	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.0	456 of 1450	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	509 of 1437	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.9	616 of 1366	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	76.0	189 of 1329	85.8%	★★★★☆
2019	51.7	642 of 1361	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	31.8	993 of 1332	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	56.5	607 of 1450	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.3	582 of 1464	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.3	465 of 1461	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.1	545 of 1464	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	74.5	328 of 1444	77.3%	★★★★☆
2019	52.9	694 of 1430	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.3	604 of 1413	57.3%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	62.8	47 of 154	69.5%	★★★★☆
2022	56.7	52 of 133	60.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	47.1	362 of 821	55.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	37.8	795 of 1172	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.6	786 of 1166	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.5	647 of 1183	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.2	707 of 1194	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	67.8	343 of 1172	70.7%	★★★★☆
2019	46.7	665 of 1183	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.7	730 of 1178	38.0%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	75.7	162 of 773	79.0%	★★★★☆
2024	60.5	284 of 793	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.1	172 of 784	78.1%	★★★★☆
2022	82.5	124 of 786	84.2%	★★★★☆
2021	69.3	204 of 741	72.5%	★★★★☆
2019	85.3	76 of 737	89.7%	★★★★☆
2018	88.0	48 of 691	93.1%	★★★★★
2017	87.2	54 of 694	92.2%	★★★★★
2016	87.8	59 of 692	91.5%	★★★★★
2015	84.9	85 of 705	87.9%	★★★★☆
2014	85.1	72 of 627	88.5%	★★★★☆
2013	76.5	127 of 673	81.1%	★★★★☆
2012	80.4	85 of 662	87.2%	★★★★☆
2011	85.0	32 of 648	95.1%	★★★★★
2010	84.8	38 of 640	94.1%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	54.7	198 of 560	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.4	82 of 533	84.6%	★★★★☆
2019	73.1	82 of 519	84.2%	★★★★☆
2018	63.9	122 of 494	75.3%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2021	47.2	207 of 478	56.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	75.6	158 of 733	78.4%	★★★★☆
2024	59.5	279 of 738	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.0	210 of 731	71.3%	★★★★☆
2022	78.1	140 of 733	80.9%	★★★★☆
2021	67.8	200 of 706	71.7%	★★★★☆
2019	86.6	56 of 684	91.8%	★★★★★
2018	91.0	30 of 656	95.4%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	66.8	133 of 458	71.0%	★★★★☆
2024	53.7	272 of 461	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	78.0	7 of 452	98.5%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	63.6	156 of 562	72.2%	★★★★☆
2024	52.4	249 of 564	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.5	163 of 553	70.5%	★★★★☆
2021	57.5	172 of 522	67.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	73.6	118 of 729	83.8%	★★★★☆
2024	61.2	245 of 743	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	79.4	96 of 735	86.9%	★★★★☆
2019	84.8	44 of 639	93.1%	★★★★★
2018	75.9	87 of 604	85.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	72.3	175 of 733	76.1%	★★★★☆
2024	57.9	288 of 751	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	78.2	143 of 747	80.9%	★★★★☆
2022	84.7	92 of 748	87.7%	★★★★☆
2021	68.2	199 of 711	72.0%	★★★★☆
2019	80.5	109 of 697	84.4%	★★★★☆
2018	84.8	66 of 665	90.1%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	84.6	38 of 328	88.4%	★★★★☆
2024	67.7	84 of 306	72.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	71.2	171 of 649	73.7%	★★★★☆
2024	50.9	315 of 652	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.3	218 of 656	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.2	151 of 658	77.1%	★★★★☆
2021	56.1	250 of 632	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	84.4	78 of 624	87.5%	★★★★☆
2018	84.7	68 of 596	88.6%	★★★★☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	77.6	143 of 641	77.7%	★★★★☆
2024	76.3	150 of 640	76.6%	★★★★☆
2023	59.2	233 of 626	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.4	211 of 621	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.4	164 of 594	72.4%	★★★★☆
2019	76.7	63 of 514	87.7%	★★★★☆
2018	70.6	93 of 469	80.2%	★★★★☆
2017	74.0	67 of 476	85.9%	★★★★☆
2016	60.3	103 of 507	79.7%	★★★★☆
2015	55.5	136 of 531	74.4%	★★★★☆
2014	50.4	154 of 451	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	46.0	180 of 505	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	72.2	54 of 502	89.2%	★★★★☆
2011	79.0	31 of 506	93.9%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	16.9	399 of 434	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	62.7	111 of 430	74.2%	★★★★☆
2021	69.1	44 of 364	87.9%	★★★★☆
2019	18.1	332 of 369	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	76.8	41 of 359	88.6%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	79.0	31 of 364	91.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	81.4	117 of 610	80.8%	★★★★☆
2024	67.5	188 of 602	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.9	176 of 588	70.1%	★★★★☆
2022	75.7	138 of 594	76.8%	★★★★☆
2021	68.4	93 of 475	80.4%	★★★★☆
2019	76.6	67 of 475	85.9%	★★★★☆
2018	63.0	142 of 449	68.4%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	77.9	79 of 412	80.8%	★★★★☆
2024	55.5	232 of 403	42.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	72.6	135 of 606	77.7%	★★★★☆
2024	67.0	158 of 613	74.2%	★★★★☆
2023	61.2	178 of 597	70.2%	★★★★☆
2022	54.5	196 of 544	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	75.9	32 of 446	92.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	72.9	160 of 601	73.4%	★★★★☆
2024	81.3	129 of 607	78.7%	★★★★☆
2023	48.2	284 of 602	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.2	278 of 585	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.7	93 of 481	80.7%	★★★★☆
2019	74.3	62 of 488	87.3%	★★★★☆
2018	75.4	73 of 463	84.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	72.6	158 of 542	70.8%	★★★★☆
2024	66.7	193 of 553	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.8	187 of 537	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.3	208 of 534	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.7	83 of 439	81.1%	★★★★☆
2019	79.9	48 of 444	89.2%	★★★★☆
2018	75.8	80 of 427	81.3%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Gifted and Talented (2025)99th percentile+46 vs school

African American (2025)81st percentile+28 vs school

Hispanic (2025)77th percentile+23 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)69th percentile+6 vs school

Disabled (2022)64th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)63rd percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)58th percentile+5 vs school

Special Education (2025)56th percentile~ school

Female (2025)49th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)32nd percentile-21 vs school

Middle school

Multi-racial (2025)88th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)84th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)78th percentile~ school

Male (2025)76th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)74th percentile-5 vs school

Hispanic (2025)72nd percentile-7 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)71st percentile-8 vs school

African American (2024)65th percentile~ school

Disabled (2021)57th percentile-16 vs school

High school

Disabled (2019)91st percentile+4 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)81st percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)81st percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)78th percentile~ school

Male (2025)73rd percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)71st percentile-7 vs school

African American (2023)8th percentile-55 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Math III89%+23 vs state

English II74%+14 vs state

Biology67%+19 vs state

Science66%+5 vs state

Reading65%+12 vs state

Math I56%+22 vs state

Mathematics54%-3 vs state

4.0

5 ratings · 5 written reviews

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1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, June 26, 2019

The school's treatment of special needs students has been abhorrent. Details here: https://medium.com/@trogdor8768/exceptional-and-extraordinary-2281abde4ab4 Close Quote

by a student
Sunday, October 8, 2017

It used to be better, then it got worse, but it's getting better now. I've been going there my whole life. It's not a bad school at all. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, December 19, 2014

Neuse Charter School has much smaller classes. The classes are well organized and meet the needs of the students the school rather than the district as a whole. It is focuses on multicultural and technology based curricula. I this extremely clean and well cared for by teacher, students, staff, and parent volunteers. Parents volunteers are vital and a requirement of the school. The fact that is a K-12 school is also very convenient families and aids in the development of the students. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Neuse Charter School is now a K-12th grade school of excellence. Our address is 909 E. Booker Dairy Road Smithfield NC 27577. I have had all three of my children attend this school since the day it opened it's doors back in 2007. I have never regretted the decision to have them attend this fabulous public charter school. With low class sizes, high expectations and huge parent involvement they are lucky to be here. We are lucky not to have to deal with many of the problems of other schools. No drugs, not gangs, no sagging pants and disrespect. It is a privilege to attend this school! Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, December 12, 2012

This school has moved to 909 E. Booker Dairy Road, Smithfield, NC 27577. Close Quote

Schools Near Neuse Charter School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				EOC Biology (2025)	EOC English II (2025)	EOC Math I (2025)	EOC Math III (2025)	EOG Mathematics (2025)						EOG Reading (2025)						EOG Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Total
Neuse Charter School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	909 M. Durwood Stephenson Park	Smithfield	27577	Johnston County	Neuse Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(919) 626-2300	925	53	17.4		586 (63.4%)	109 (11.8%)	140 (15.1%)	7 (0.8%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	80 (8.6%)								(n/a)	67.3	74.1	56.4	89.3	50.0	53.8	49.2	58.8	60.3	51.5	45.6	64.1	57.1	67.5	79.5	74.2	57.1	74.2
JCPS Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	1455 Buffalo Rd	Smithfield	27577	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(984) 285-3700	203	16	12.9	98.0%	87 (42.9%)	54 (26.6%)	44 (21.7%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (8.4%)								(n/a)	37.9	57.9	17.4	34.5		53.8	58.3	53.3	14.3	12.5		53.8	66.7	46.7	57.1	43.8	66.7	37.5
Choice Plus Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	211 East Rose Street	Smithfield	27577	Johnston County	Johnston County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(984) 230-0500	97	11	8.6	96.9%	14 (14.4%)	49 (50.5%)	31 (32.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.1%)								(n/a)		13.2		13.2				10.0						18.2	12.5	10.3		7.7
American Leadership Academy - Johnston	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	3770 US-70 Bus	Clayton	27520	Johnston County	American Leadership Academy - Johnston	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(984) 302-3630	2,082	92	22.7	41.7%	1,081 (51.9%)	343 (16.5%)	427 (20.5%)	34 (1.6%)	11 (0.5%)	1 (0.0%)	185 (8.9%)								(n/a)	37.8	70.3	38.0	59.0	61.7	72.0	60.3	59.8	53.1	36.6	47.3	68.8	57.1	53.4	52.5	63.9	69.2	67.8

Frequently Asked Questions about Neuse Charter School

Is Neuse Charter School a good school?

Neuse Charter School ranks 693^rd of 1490 North Carolina alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Neuse Charter School?

Students at Neuse Charter School are 63% White, 15% Hispanic, 12% African American, 9% Two or more races.

How many students attend Neuse Charter School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 925 students attended Neuse Charter School.

What district is Neuse Charter School in?

Neuse Charter School

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Schools in Smithfield, NC

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.