The Innovation Academy at South Campus, an experimental middle school made up of students from throughout the county, was one of several celebrated last week for noteworthy academic progress in 2024-25. (Johnston County Public Schools photo)

Leaders tout progress for county's schools as a whole

Three of Smithfield's traditional public schools saw declines in percentages of their students scoring at Grade Proficient Level (GPL) in annual state testing results posted last week. One of them – Smithfield Middle – was downgraded from D to F, losing ground with a decline from 36.9% to 34.2% of its students scoring at GPL. It's the only Johnston County school graded F.

Smithfield-Selma High registered a GPL decline from 42.7% in 2023-24 to 41.0% this past school year while West Smithfield Elementary declined from 43.1% 40.4% GPL. Even so, both schools maintained their state-measured grades of C.

South Smithfield Elementary showed a GPL gain from 39.6% to 41.6% yet continues to be graded D. Wilson's Mills Elementary had the best showing among Smithfield's traditional public schools by improving its overall GPL score from 48.7% to 50.3% and holding onto its C grade.

Neuse Charter School, meanwhile, raised its GPL from 58.5% to 62.9% yet continues to be graded C by the state. American Leadership Academy Johnston raised its state grade from D to C and reached a GPL of 57.3%.

For the county's specialty schools based in Smithfield, the Innovation Academy at South Campus maintained its B grade, raising its GPL from 76.5% to 83.7%. Both the Career & Technical Leadership Academy and the Early College Academy housed on the campus of Johnston Community College with limited enrollments maintained their A grades with more than 95% of their students achieving GPL.

READ the state's explanation of how schools' letter grades are calculated>

In announcing the past year's state test results, leaders of Johnston County Public Schools cited several points of progress for the system as a whole:
 • Johnston raised its ranking from 35th to 30th among the state's 115 school districts based on overall performance data. "The improvement from 2024 has been due primarily to reading and math gains," notes a news release from JCPS.
• Johnston's overall Grade Proficient score rose from 56.4% to 57.2% – ahead of a statewide gain from 54.2% to 55.0%.
• The percentage of JCPS schools graded A, B, or C increased from 89% to 93%, "well above" the statewide average of 69%.
• Graduation rates for Johnston's schools as a whole rose to 92.5% – above the statewide rate which rose to 87.7%.

READ the JCPS news release about this year's test results>

More students taking AP courses, passing national tests

Assistant Superintendent Kristy Stephenson summarized results of annual state testing of students during Tuesday's monthly meeting of the Johnston County Board of Education, then went further to tout some academic success that "isn't part of the (state's) accountability system."

More Johnston County high-school students are enrolling in Advanced Placement courses, and they're scoring higher on national AP tests, Ms. Stephenson reported.

In 2021, 890 students elected to take AP classes and 41.2% achieved passing grades on national AP tests. This past year 1,086 Johnston students took AP courses and 74.3% of them earned passing grades.

Board approves "initial" budget that's "better than most"

With a final 2025-26 budget for Johnston County's schools awaiting results of the N.C. General Assembly's unfinished budget, Chief Financial Officer Stephen Britt presented an "initial" budget this week that avoids major spending cuts facing other school districts across the state just now.

"We're in a better position than most," Mr. Britt told the Board of Education Tuesday. He cited two reasons for that: (1) "very strong support from the County Commissioners" and (2) "stable enrollment with manageable growth" over the past several years.

The County Commissioners increased funding for Johnston's schools by $6 million in the county's budget for the new fiscal year that began July 1. Mr. Britt said the county's appropriation of $110 million for school operations is supplemented by revenues from fines and forfeitures and $3.5 million from the schools' Fund Balance to produce an operating budget totaling $113,909,884 – up from last year's $108,032,190. The school board approved the new budget by unanimous vote.

Mr. Britt predicted that most of this year's budgeted Fund Balance appropriation won't be needed and is mainly in place to cover unforeseen expenditures. (Earlier during his presentation, he said it appears the school system ended the past fiscal year June 30 with a Fund Balance of about $14 million. An auditor's report expected next month will produce the actual amount.)

Mr. Britt's comment about "manageable growth" came in reference to this year's 10th-day enrollment report for Johnston's traditional public schools which showed a relatively modest gain to 37,126 students in class as of Monday of this week. Last year's final enrollment total reported to the state was 36,519.

SRO contracts approved for 39 officers countywide

The Board of Education signed off on contracts for School Resource Officers, most of them provided by the Johnston County's Sheriff's Department, the others by five of Johnston's municipalities for schools within their jurisdictions:
• Sheriff's Department – 18 SROs plus one supervisor at an annual cost to the school system of $2,221,000.
• Town of Smithfield – seven SROs plus one supervisor, $739,110.
• Town of Clayton – seven SROs, $577,500.
• Town of Princeton – two SROs, $140,000.
• Town of Wilson's Mills – one SRO, $60,500.
• Town of Pine Level – two part-time SROs, $48,000.
Lesser amounts of funding to be provided by the individual departments for SROs are not listed in the contracts approved by the school board this week.
 

 

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JCC gets $565,044 for cybersecurity programs

Story & photo from Johnston Community College

JCC has been awarded a three-year, $565,044 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support its cybersecurity programs.

The funded project focuses on integrating skills which employers seek from graduates with technical expertise. This award will expand opportunities for JCC students to participate in cybersecurity competitions, workforce training, and professional skill development.

The three-year initiative will engage more than 180 students in hands-on learning experiences. Funding will also provide resources for travel to national competitions, purchase of cutting-edge materials and supplies, and support for student stipends.

JCC leaders credit Mentor Connect, a national program that provides guidance to two-year colleges seeking NSF grants, for its continued support in the grant process. “Mentor Connect has been instrumental in guiding our team, and we are grateful for their mentorship,” said Daphne Lewis, director of institutional grants at JCC. “We are excited to see this project come to life and help our students thrive.”

This is Johnston Community College’s second NSF-funded cybersecurity initiative in consecutive years, reflecting the institution’s commitment to addressing workforce needs in information security while opening new doors for students.

The grant aligns with NSF’s Advanced Technological Education program, which invests in strengthening the skills of technicians in high-demand fields across the United States. It also builds on JCC’s growing reputation in cybersecurity education. In 2024, the college received a $645,836 NSF grant to establish a Simulated Cyber Range Training Environment, providing students with realistic, hands-on experiences in responding to cyber threats.

The college is a member of the Carolina Cyber Network, a statewide collaboration dedicated to advancing the cybersecurity workforce and sharing resources across North Carolina. For more information visit www.johnstoncc.edu>
 

A study on the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2024” reports that visitors to Johnston County last year spent $314.59 million – a. 5.2% increase over spending in 2023. Statewide, visitor spending in 2024 rose 3.1% to reach a record $36.7 billion while "direct tourism employment" increased 1.4% to 230,338.

“The study confirms the strength of North Carolina’s tourism industry,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC, the state's official tourism agency which commissioned the report. “The fact of spending growth, even in the headwinds of Hurricane Helene, underscores the industry’s vitality and the appeal of our destinations and the authentic cultural, recreational, and culinary experiences that travelers find rewarding," noted Mt. Tuttell.

What does $314.59 million in visitor spending mean for Johnston?

● Visitors to the county spend $861,890 a day for hotels, retail and outlet shopping, attractions, dining, and travel services.

● $12.83 million in state tax revenue and $9.76 million in local tax receipts, which reduce the tax burden on every household in the county by approximately $180.
NOTE: Hotel-room taxes paid by visitors is the sole source of operating funds for the Johnston County Visitors Bureau’s marketing campaigns; no local or county property taxes fund the bureau.

● More than 2,000 are employed in the tourism sector, with labor income exceeding $80 million.
  
“Tourism in Johnston County is on the rise, and the momentum is unmistakable," said Aaron Mullins, president & CEO of the Johnston County Visitors Bureau. "With two new hotels now online in Benson and Smithfield — and more accommodation projects in the pipeline — we’re gearing up for record growth. Plus, the game-changing Eastfield Crossing project in Selma continues. It’s clear that JoCo is in the middle of a breakout chapter for visitor spending, economic impact, and the future of tourism in our county,”
 
To learn more, visit www.johnstoncountync.org/about>
 

 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL REPORT 

Last Friday's results for Johnston County teams
(Season's record in parenthesis)
HARNETT CENTRAL 30, SMITHFIELD-SELMA 28 (0-3)
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 26 (3-0), FAIRMONT 16
HOGGARD 38, CLAYTON 14 (2-1)
CLEVELAND 52 (3-0), NORTHERN NASH 28
CORINTH HOLDERS 31 (2-1), SOUTH GARNER 14
NORTH JOHNSTON 45 (3-0), ROSEWOOD 6
PRINCETON 50 (2-1), SEAFORTH 34
SOUTH JOHNSTON (1-1) & WEST JOHNSTON (1-1) DID NOT PLAY
For game summaries and schedules, visit JoCoSports.com>

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

The regular third-Monday meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Courthouse. VIEW the agenda once it's posted>

SSS Homecoming Parade after school day next Tuesday
Smithfield-Selma High School will be hold its 3rd annual Homecoming Parade, "The Spartan Strut," at 4 p.m. Tuesday, beginning at the Recreation & Aquatics Center and moving down Durwood Stephenson Parkway toward the school. The event will feature floats with the theme of "Rio Carnival" highlighting school athletics, clubs, unique academic programs, the Homecoming Court, first responders, the local Corvette Club, and the SSS Band. "The public is invited to line the street to celebrate the school community," reads the announcement from SSS.

Town Council hearing on 1,147-unit subdivision Tuesday

For more information on acceptable IDs, visit the N.C. Board of Elections website or contact the Johnston County Board of Elections at 919-989-5095.
 

 DEATHS AND FUNERALS 
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 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

Why are Smithfield schools lagging on state tests?

My educated guess is that it's all about demographics, and that's nothing new. Year after year, statistics show a close relationship between a school's performance on state testing and the makeup of a school's student body: The poorer the households, the poorer the scores.

An attempt this week to find up-to-date demographic information about Smithfield's schools in particular proved futile, yet I did come across an informative website on North Carolina School Report Cards provided by SAS, Raleigh's highly regarded data-management company.

Let's take Smithfield Middle School for example – Johnston's only school graded F by the state as a result of academic performance assessments for 2024-25:

The latest SAS data posted online is for the 2023-24 school year when Smithfield Middle was graded D by the state. It shows more than 60% of the student body was "economically disadvantaged" (50% for the state as a whole).

Smithfield Middle's "English Learner Proficiency" rate was just 7.6% while the rate for Johnston County schools altogether was 28.2% (with a statewide rate of 27.3%).

Another graphic showed that about 55% of Smithfield Middle's teachers in 2023-24 were classified as "experienced" while about 80% met that mark countywide and statewide as well.

Another startling statistic showed that Smithfield Middle had a bullying and harassment occurrence of 23.99 per 1,000 students while the rate for the county as a whole was 2.45 per 1,000.

And "chronic absenteeism" approached 40% at Smithfield Middle (just over 20% for Johnston County schools as a whole).

You can find similar breakdowns for each of the county's schools by visiting the SAS website at https://ncreports.ondemand.sas.com/src/?county=Johnston>
 

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