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Academy at Smith

Q: Is Academy at Smith a good school?

Academy at Smith ranks 250 th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

250^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 62% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Academy at Smith is a small public high school in Greensboro, NC, serving 246 students in grades 9-12 as part of Guilford County Schools, located right beside a much larger traditional high school. The school currently ranks 250th out of 662 high schools statewide (62nd percentile, 3 stars), a strong rebound from last year's 2-star showing. Its standout strength is upper-level math: 84.5% of students scored proficient in Math III in 2025-26, well above both the Guilford County average (70.1%) and the North Carolina average (68.9%). English II (72.2%) and Biology (63.5%) also beat district and state averages, while Math I remains a relative weak spot at 42.2%.

The most striking comparison is with Ben L. Smith High School, just a quarter-mile away. Both schools serve nearly identical high-poverty populations, yet Academy at Smith dramatically outperforms its neighbor: 72.2% of its students passed English II versus 39.8% at Ben L. Smith, Math III proficiency is 84.5% versus 60.4%, and chronic absenteeism is just 16.0% compared with a staggering 54.1%. The Academy's absenteeism rate is actually lower than the county average (29.2%) and state average (24.2%), pointing to a stable, engaging environment. Smaller classes likely help — Academy at Smith has about 12.4 students per teacher, while nearby comprehensive high schools range from 15.9 to 19.9.

This small-school model also delivers strong results for student groups often underserved in public schools. African American and Hispanic students score at the 78th percentile statewide, while low-income students rank at the 70th percentile. One red flag stands out: Gifted and Talented students have fallen from the 75th percentile in 2022-23 to the 12th percentile in 2025-26, suggesting the school's highest-identified learners may need more challenge. And with just 246 students, test scores can swing noticeably from year to year. Overall, Academy at Smith — while not a selective magnet — holds its own in math against Guilford County's early-college programs and offers families a small, stable school with a strong record of success among economically disadvantaged students.

246

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

2225 South Holden Road
Greensboro, NC 27407

(336) 316-5866

District: Guilford County Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

53.3%

Hispanic:

31.3%

Asian:

8.1%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Academy at Smith to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 94th percentile in 2016 → 62nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (67% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (62nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 32 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school67%

District avg58%

North Carolina avg60%

250^th of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 38%▼ down 31 pts since 2016

From top 6% (2016) to top 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

150^th of 246Guilford County Schools among North Carolina districts

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

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.4	250 of 662	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.8	362 of 641	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.2	267 of 640	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.7	191 of 626	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.9	240 of 621	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.8	379 of 594	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.6	197 of 514	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	85.1	38 of 469	91.9%	★★★★★
2017	81.1	43 of 476	91.0%	★★★★★
2016	80.9	32 of 507	93.7%	★★★★★
2015	76.2	53 of 531	90.0%	★★★★★
2014	66.8	81 of 451	82.0%	★★★★☆
2013	38.1	249 of 505	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	76.8	35 of 502	93.0%	★★★★★
2011	81.2	19 of 506	96.2%	★★★★★
2010	79.7	21 of 499	95.8%	★★★★★
2009	60.3	164 of 490	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	27.2	391 of 477	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	71.6	101 of 450	77.6%	★★★★☆
2025	57.7	132 of 440	70.0%	★★★★☆
2024	65.5	102 of 437	76.7%	★★★★☆
2023	83.5	65 of 434	85.0%	★★★★☆
2022	81.1	68 of 430	84.2%	★★★★☆
2021	52.4	107 of 364	70.6%	★★★★☆
2019	59.8	68 of 369	81.6%	★★★★☆
2018	94.5	12 of 359	96.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.7	279 of 629	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	38.1	383 of 610	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.6	262 of 602	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.4	191 of 588	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.8	220 of 594	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.1	282 of 475	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.3	284 of 475	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.6	126 of 449	71.9%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.0	360 of 407	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.2	376 of 412	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	73.1	99 of 403	75.4%	★★★★☆
2022	77.1	61 of 398	84.7%	★★★★☆
2021	24.3	282 of 337	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	14.2	305 of 325	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	60.9	36 of 100	64.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	73.6	102 of 474	78.5%	★★★★☆
2025	61.1	139 of 462	69.9%	★★★★☆
2024	69.6	107 of 454	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	67.4	109 of 449	75.7%	★★★★☆
2022	51.8	169 of 436	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.7	225 of 370	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	86.2	17 of 354	95.2%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	63.2	188 of 620	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.7	242 of 606	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.4	182 of 613	70.3%	★★★★☆
2023	70.9	139 of 597	76.7%	★★★★☆
2022	76.4	98 of 544	82.0%	★★★★☆
2021	50.8	112 of 432	74.1%	★★★★☆
2019	64.6	62 of 446	86.1%	★★★★☆
2018	93.6	11 of 424	97.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.9	196 of 624	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	43.9	318 of 601	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.8	371 of 607	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.3	213 of 602	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.2	323 of 585	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.6	339 of 481	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	62.1	125 of 488	74.4%	★★★★☆
2018	92.2	19 of 463	95.9%	★★★★★

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)

Hispanic (2026)78th percentile+16 vs school

African American (2026)78th percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)70th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)69th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)56th percentile-7 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)12th percentile-51 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Math III84%+16 vs state

English II72%+8 vs state

Biology64%+5 vs state

Math I42%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Academy at Smith

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (2026)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Academy at Smith	Public, Magnet	9-12	2225 South Holden Road	Greensboro	27407	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(336) 316-5866	246	20	12.4	—	7 (2.8%)	131 (53.3%)	77 (31.3%)	20 (8.1%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.7%)	60.4	250^th of 662 public high schools	62.2%		41.8	362^nd of 641 public high schools	43.5%	112	63.5	72.2	42.2	84.5	$14,187	$784	$13,403
Ben L. Smith High School	Public	9-12	2407 South Holden Road	Greensboro	27407	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 294-7300	1,348	83	16.1	—	57 (4.2%)	657 (48.7%)	498 (36.9%)	87 (6.5%)	7 (0.5%)	7 (0.5%)	35 (2.6%)	24.9	520^th of 662 public high schools	21.5%		17.3	545^th of 641 public high schools	15.0%	25	48.7	39.8	26.1	60.4	$10,645	$1,589	$9,057
UNCG Early/Middle College	Public	9-12	1510 Walker Avenue	Greensboro	27412	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 334-3662	199	13	15.0	—	43 (21.6%)	89 (44.7%)	37 (18.6%)	15 (7.5%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (6.5%)	85.6	103^rd of 662 public high schools	84.4%		82.4	125^th of 641 public high schools	80.5%	22	84.0	87.2	70.0	96.8	$9,502	$349	$9,154
GC Middle College High	Public	11-12	815 West Market Street	Greensboro	27401	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 370-8300	106	7	14.5	97.2%	15 (14.2%)	58 (54.7%)	21 (19.8%)	8 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.8%)								(n/a)				87.5	$12,240	$479	$11,761
Philip J Weaver Educational Center	Public, Magnet	9-12	300 South Spring Street	Greensboro	27401	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(336) 370-8282	260	38	6.8	—	148 (56.9%)	57 (21.9%)	27 (10.4%)	13 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.8%)	82.7	127^th of 662 public high schools	80.8%		92.2	61^st of 641 public high schools	90.5%	66	84.8	93.8	42.3	94.4	$17,000	$482	$16,518
Grimsley High	Public, Magnet	9-12	801 N Josephine Boyd St.	Greensboro	27408	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(336) 370-8180	1,967	98	19.9	—	830 (42.2%)	715 (36.3%)	246 (12.5%)	73 (3.7%)	5 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	96 (4.9%)	63.3	232^nd of 662 public high schools	65.0%		61.8	223^rd of 641 public high schools	65.2%	9	68.5	77.2	32.5	78.9	$8,660	$655	$8,005
Western Guilford High	Public, Magnet	9-12	409 Friendway Road	Greensboro	27410	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(336) 316-5800	1,243	73	16.9	—	241 (19.4%)	610 (49.1%)	267 (21.5%)	46 (3.7%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	77 (6.2%)	27.8	496^th of 662 public high schools	25.1%		45.4	335^th of 641 public high schools	47.7%	161	38.7	53.5	37.5	56.0	$8,638	$478	$8,159
Early College at Guilford	Public	9-12	5608 West Friendly Avenue	Greensboro	27410	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 316-2860	193	9	22.7	—	53 (27.5%)	23 (11.9%)	4 (2.1%)	99 (51.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (7.3%)								(n/a)	368.9	100.0		571.7	$10,526	$188	$10,337
GTCC Middle College High	Public	9-12	613 East Main Street	Jamestown	27282	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 819-2957	255	16	16.2	—	62 (24.3%)	108 (42.4%)	59 (23.1%)	12 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	13 (5.1%)	87	99^th of 662 public high schools	85.0%		88.3	89^th of 641 public high schools	86.1%	10	89.5	89.7		88.9	$9,013	$587	$8,425
C Joyner Greene Education Center	Public	9-12	604 East Main Street	Jamestown	27282	Guilford County	Guilford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 454-7440	67	14	4.8	95.5%	17 (25.4%)	35 (52.2%)	4 (6.0%)	8 (11.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.0%)	1 (1.5%)								(n/a)					$34,607	$1,654	$32,953

Frequently Asked Questions about Academy at Smith

Is Academy at Smith a good school?

Academy at Smith ranks 250^th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Academy at Smith?

Students at Academy at Smith are 53% African American, 31% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 3% White.

How many students attend Academy at Smith?

In the 2024-25 school year, 246 students attended Academy at Smith.

What district is Academy at Smith in?

Guilford County Schools

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

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.