Smith Elementary

1101 Maxwell Drive

School District

Wake County
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

public

School Map for Wake County School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by teacher on September 18, 2024

I will never recommend any parents to send their kids to this school from an educator’s point of view since I saw with my own eyes when I was there how the current school administration was putting on a show in front of parents and teachers and in the same time bringing negative impacts to all students and their families which they might or might not find out in the future. The extremely high teacher turnover rate in the past two years (more than half of the teachers have left) tells you everything.
Submitted by parent on August 03, 2023

We have been so happy at Smith after being redistricted from a “higher rated” school. The global learning environment is so enriching for the kids. They are becoming big picture thinkers and problem solvers while being exposed to different languages and cultures. The curriculum is consistently engaging and my kids are appropriately challenged. The social-emotional (and physical) support of students, combined with the amazing staff and community, really make Smith a very special place.
Submitted by parent on August 03, 2023

As part of the PTA board, I have volunteered at varying capacity at Smith. The teachers and staff do a great job to make my kids want to go to school each day. What I love the most about this school is the student diversity. My kids have evolved at Smith both academically and emotionally and are very cognitive of the different cultures around them
Submitted by parent on July 28, 2021

This will be our fourth year at Smith and we have been so impressed. The teachers and administrators are amazing and effectively communicate regarding progress. The magnet program is awesome with both Chinese and Spanish, and adding the first Spanish immersion program for the 2021-2022 school year. My son loves the specials - PE, Music, Art, and Media. I'm also so excited about the federal grant that Smith was awarded (14.1 million to be shared with 3 other schools) - well deserved and will be exciting for the students and staff.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2021

We've been so pleased with the experience at Smith. The magnet theme allows our student to embrace their curiosity by asking questions and researching through project based learning. We love how much our student LOVES learning, no doubt due to the amazing teachers and content. My child is learning multiple languages, knows how to find answers to their questions, and cares about making the world a better place. We love the families, staff and environment at Smith.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2020

The staff at Smith genuinely care about their students and go above and beyond to make sure they succeed.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2018

My kids go here and it is always something my kids always have issues and they always make them seem like the bad ones not sure why but I just keep my eyes open and they also question my kids with out my consent about personal question and they also lost them one day knowing that I pick them up faithfully and we have reliable transportation idk I just keep a lot of notes and documents in my own personal folder because they seem a little shady just my opinon!!
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2017

I adore this school. My son has flourished here. The principal and teachers are wonderful and the curriculum is well thought out. They help kids understand and explore the world around them and how they can fit in while reaching for the stars at the same time! I'm so glad I picked Smith Magnet!
Submitted by parent on January 06, 2017

Every parents night, meet the teacher or other events at the school we've gone too they never greet or acknowledge the parents. As soon as we walk in they spoke to my kids called them by name but never a hello to us parents, its the same with the goodbyes. My kids have had things stolen on several occasions, homework was the same level as in 1st grade for 2nd grade. Its not worth anyone's time to check out this school- they have a D grade on ncreport and it reflects the school correctly.
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2015

This school is horrible, horrible, horrible!!! It was the worst experience of my daughters life. We bring her to counseling now and she was diagnosed with PTSD. Children ganged up on her and her teacher didn't do a thing to protect her. She was beat up on the school bus and was verbally abused every day in that school.The staff does not care about the children. As soon as the bullying began, I met with my daughter's teacher and the guidance counselor many times to try and make things better for my daughter. As I was leaving the school one time, the principal invited me into the conference room and once he had me alone, he vehemently chastised me for being a horrible parent by not making sure that my daughter attended school regularly. My daughter was afraid to go to school.From the beginning, I called on the superintendent of schools for his help. He didn't help either. The school staff and he only cared about their image and blamed everything on the parents and our daughter. They would not take responsibility for what was happening to our daughter on their watch.Needless to say, we took our daughter out of public schools altogether and now home school her.
Submitted by parent on July 24, 2015

Please keep your kids away from this school! This was my daughter's base school but it was a nightmare. I have horror stories that are sensitive in nature so I don't feel comfortable sharing here. We quickly moved out of this area and into a different school system.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2014

Please do not send your child to this school.....please!!! I promise it will be the wrong magnet choice.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2013

My middle son started at Smith in First Grade. My youngest child just started Kindergarten. The staff and teachers are warm, caring people. They do their best to help every child. The teachers work as teams to find innovative ways to create positive behavior and academic progress. I love that the school has programs to keep the AG students challenged, while working with small groups of kids who struggle. The music, art, and foreign languages are phenomenal for Elementary level students! Principal Lassiter wants to create Global minded children, while bringing their basic academic requirements in to the IB theme. My husband and I are very happy with our decision to move our kids to this school. The biggest thing I would like to see changed, is better communications with parents and more parent involvement.
Submitted by other on September 16, 2013

Smith Elementary has been in the Raleigh/Garner community for 50 years! The school was authorized as an IB school 2 years ago and was named a Magnet School of Excellence last year. There are caring, knowledgable teachers who make a difference in the lives of students every day. As an IB school staff have to attend IB training and apply the rigor of Common Core standards with IBO expectations. Also, Smith is a PBIS exemplar school, the climate is great!
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2013

Smith Elementary is a hidden gem in the wake county school system. The school has a diverse student base and great teachers/faculty. We found the school through the Wake County Magnet fair three years ago and couldn't be happier. Smith boast an International Baccalaureate program that exposes children to a global learning experience. Smith added a Chinese language class to the school this year. This year Smith is celebrating its 50th anniversary! I would suggest Smith to any parent looking for a great family atmosphere where education comes first.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2013

The reason my husband and I decided to send our children to Smith Elementary School was based largely on the International Bacclaureate Program and the goal of encouraging children to be inquirers. This kind of program fosters in our children a desire to ask questions about the world around them and make connections. We also enjoy the fact that the student population is so diverse. We believe our children can learn more about a global society by participating in it directly. We also enjoy the fact that our children have access to learning Spanish and Chinese. We are proud to call Smith Elementary School our children's school.
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2013

Smith Magnet Elementary is a great school! I have been connected with the Smith Magnet family since the 2011-2012 school year. The teachers and the rest of the staff are very personable and treat you like family. My children love their teachers and are very excited about attending school everyday. This year will be the first time Chinese is being offered to the students which I believe is an exciting opportunity for the children to experience in elementary school. I have also been very involved with volunteering in the classrooms and the PTA. Principal Lassiter is a wonderful principal and is very fortunate to have a such great team of people working for him. I think that improvements can be made on the playground as well as a better AC unit in the gym. It gets very stuffy in there during events held after school. Otherwise, I am happy that my children attend this school.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2013

This school promises a Global approach and I do believe they provide this well. The communication is lacking and is very last minute. There is a lack of leadership and the Principal does not evoke strength and leadership. My child had a change of teacher in our first year and the school year declined significantly. The Principal clearly hired based on credentials on a piece of paper and seems blind to the lack of respect this particular teacher recieves from parents, staff and children. Overall I do not feel the school is lead well. There are some excellent teachers and the support staff are wonderful.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2012

I have pleased with the school so far. They communicate better than my son's prior school and I am happy with the program so far. My son is taking Spanish classes twice a week, and his learning French in his music class as well. The new gym teacher seems really involved in the school, you can tell she cares about the all around well being and health of the children. PTA needs more active volunteers, both parents and teachers.