Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 27577

Zip code 27577 in Smithfield, NC is served by two public middle schools—Smithfield Middle and The Innovation Academy at South Campus—both part of Johnston County Public Schools and both enrolling students in grades 6 through 8, with nearly identical rates of economic disadvantage (over 98% free/reduced-price lunch).

Despite that shared demographic profile, these two schools sit at opposite ends of the academic spectrum. The Innovation Academy at South Campus is a standout performer, earning 5-star ratings for three straight years and ranking in the top 5-8% of North Carolina middle schools (39th out of 778 in 2025–2026). It beats district and state averages in every subject and grade, with most proficiency rates above 80%. Smithfield Middle, by contrast, has earned 1-star ratings for three consecutive years and ranks near the bottom 15% of the state (660th out of 778 in 2025–2026). The achievement gap between the two schools is enormous: in 2025–2026 7th grade math, only 33.6% of Smithfield students were proficient versus 93.5% at Innovation Academy—a nearly 60-point difference. Similar gaps appear in 8th grade science, reading, and other subjects.

What makes the comparison so revealing is that money and poverty do not explain the outcome. Smithfield Middle actually spends more per student ($10,489) than Innovation Academy ($8,168), yet produces far lower results. One major difference is chronic absenteeism: 32.7% of Smithfield students miss too many days, compared to just 15.4% at Innovation Academy, which is also well below the state average of 24.2%. Smithfield also shows a troubling pattern where math proficiency declines from 6th to 8th grade, suggesting students fall further behind as they progress. The clear takeaway for parents is that in the same zip code, under the same district, Innovation Academy demonstrates that high-poverty schools can achieve elite outcomes—while Smithfield Middle likely needs urgent attention around attendance, support, and instruction to close a gap that defines two very different middle school experiences.