Smiley Elementary School

Smiley Elementary School, a moderately sized primary school in Ludowici, Georgia, operated by Long County, educates 765 students, covering grades 2 through 3. Enrollment runs roughly 26% larger than the state mean of about 605.

Across the 5 schools in Long County (4,724 students total), Smiley Elementary School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, Smiley Elementary School logs that 42% of students identify as White, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Other groups include 26% Black, 20% Hispanic, 10% multiracial. By comparison, Long County as a whole is about 55% White, so the school skews visibly less White than its surroundings.

On the resource side, On paper, Smiley Elementary School has 48 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 15.9:1. The state averages around 13.3:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. About 77% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Smiley Elementary School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 37.4%; this one delivers 36.8%.

In the area at large, the surrounding county (Long County) logs that the typical household earns roughly $68,808 per year, 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 15%. Across Long County's 5 public schools (combined enrollment of about 4,724 students), Smiley Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Long County High School, around 0.3 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 4 other public schools cluster around Smiley Elementary School. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Smiley Elementary School at 3rd of 8; the average score across the group is 34.3%.

Geographically, the school is in a countryside area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Smiley Elementary School has fell 35%, going from 1,170 students in 2018 to 765 in 2025. The White share of enrollment declined from 53% to 42% over that span.

On allk12, recent activity here tends to focus on pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.