B
Good
75/100

James W Smith Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 🏫 Elementary
📍 150 Koonce Town Road, Cove City, NC 28523
Overall
B
75/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
C
1.2 grade levels below the U.S. average · 35th percentile in North Carolina
Growth
A
Students gain 1.11 grade levels a year (U.S. average 1.0) · 79th percentile
Resources
B+
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against North Carolina schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

75
Repit Score
out of 100
330
Students
enrolled
12.7:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$12K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Achievement (reading & math, grades 3–8)40%35/1001.2 grade levels below the national average, 2022–25 (Stanford SEDA)
📈 Growth (how fast students learn)45%79/100Students gain 1.11 grade levels per school year in 2022–25 (national average ≈ 1.0) and gained 1.10 in 2009–19; 78th percentile in North Carolina (recent period weighted 70%)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)15%81/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 97% students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Compared with North Carolina schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are −6 points worse than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in North Carolina. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency37% (−9 pts vs. state avg 46%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2020–21
➗ Math proficiency27% (−15 pts vs. state avg 42%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2020–21

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the North Carolina state test (2020–21), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White52%37%reading -6 pts, math -21 pts29th percentile (list)
Black15%15%reading -11 pts, math -4 pts27th percentile (list)
Hispanic10%30%reading -19 pts, math +1 pts23rd percentile (list)
Low-income27%17%reading -1 pts, math -8 pts35th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 150 Koonce Town Road
City Cove City
ZIP Code 28523
District 3703310
NCES School ID 370331002211
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 28523

Understanding the community around James W Smith Elementary helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $43,994
Per Capita Income $26,305
Poverty Rate 5.8%
Households Earning $100K+ 21.4%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.5%
High School or Higher 94.7%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $137,500
Median Rent $634
Owner-Occupied 70.6%
Renter-Occupied 29.4%
View full data for ZIP 28523 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 28523 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 28523 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for James W Smith Elementary.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 52.4%
Female 47.6%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 38.2%
Black 35.8%
Hispanic/Latino 16.7%
Two or More Races 8.5%
American Indian 0.9%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 330
Teachers (FTE) 26.0
Student:Teacher Ratio 12.7:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for James W Smith Elementary?
James W Smith Elementary has a Repit School Score of 75 out of 100, earning a grade of B. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend James W Smith Elementary?
James W Smith Elementary has 330 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1.
What grades does James W Smith Elementary serve?
James W Smith Elementary serves grades Pre-K – 05 and is classified as a Elementary. This is a public school.
How much funding does James W Smith Elementary receive per student?
James W Smith Elementary receives $12,267 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is around the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around James W Smith Elementary in 28523 ▼
Avg Home Value
$186,342
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,071
1-Year Change
+1.2%
% Renters
29.4%

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026