Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 18 schools in district

Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary

174 Marshallberg Road, Smyrna, NC 28579Carteret County Public Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades PK–08Non-Charter
249
Students
Total enrolled
$13,818
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
10.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 31% vs nat'l
43/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 15% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 249 students in grades PK–08 in Smyrna, North Carolina.
Near-average funding
District spends $13,818 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 43th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary is a mid-sized elementary in Smyrna, North Carolina, serving grades PK–08 with 249 students. The district invests $13,818 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary

249
Total Students
10.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
99%
Free Lunch
24
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (PK–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution137 male · 112 female
55%
45%
Male 55%Female 45%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility99%
National avg 52% · 246 students
Student Composition
93%
White93%
Hispanic / Latino4%
Multiracial3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 370063000258

Academic Outcomes at Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
43
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 43th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 44th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 28579

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,818Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$13,818
State avg
$13,042
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,080
Student Support$2,625
Administration$1,658
Operations$2,073
Other$1,382
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $13,818 spent per student, an estimated $6,121 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
55%
26%
State government
54.7%
Local (property tax)
26.2%
Federal programs
19.2%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 99% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
White Oak ElementaryNewport ElementaryMorehead City PrimaryBogue Sound Elementary
+4 more
↓
Middle
Broad Creek MiddleMorehead City MiddleNewport MiddleBeaufort Middle
↓
High School
West Carteret HighCroatan HighEast Carteret HighMarine Sci. and Tech. Early College HS
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesPK – 08
Location—
CountyCarteret County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictCarteret County Public Schools →
Phone: (252)729-2301
NCES ID: 370063000258
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Smyrna seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Carteret County Public Schools
High
West Carteret High
1,146 students · 09–12
40% FRL
High
Croatan High
974 students · 09–12
● 32 opp26% FRL
Elem
White Oak Elementary
772 students · PK–05
● 41 opp100% FRL
Mid
Broad Creek Middle
710 students · 06–08
● 32 opp100% FRL
Elem
Newport Elementary
645 students · KG–05
● 32 opp100% FRL
Elem
Morehead City Primary
545 students · PK–03
99% FRL
High
East Carteret High
530 students · 09–12
● 43 opp45% FRL
Mid
Morehead City Middle
482 students · 06–08
99% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
174 Marshallberg Road, Smyrna, NC 28579
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.