Smith Academy for Excellence

Smith Academy for Excellence, a tiny multi-level school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, operated by Smith Academy for Excellence, teaches 64 students, covering grades 3 through 12. Enrollment runs roughly 88% smaller than the state mean of about 531.

Operationally, Smith Academy for Excellence answers to Smith Academy for Excellence, which sets policy, hires staff, and reports enrollment to the state.

Looking at the student body, Smith Academy for Excellence lists that the largest single group is Black at 42%, but no single group is in the majority. Other groups include 25% White, 19% multiracial, 14% Hispanic. By comparison, Allen County as a whole is about 11% Black, so the school skews visibly more Black than its surroundings.

On the income-and-resources front, Smith Academy for Excellence logs 6 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 10.7:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 24.5:1 average. Around 77% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Allen County runs at roughly 50%, so the school's eligibility rate is above the surrounding baseline.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Smith Academy for Excellence sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 21.4%; this one delivers 13.1%.

In the area at large, the surrounding county (Allen County) logs that median household earnings sit near $70,737, about 32% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 10%. Smith Academy for Excellence is one of 92 public schools in Allen County (combined enrollment of about 55,262 students).

Nearest neighbor: Washington Elementary School, around 0.2 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Smith Academy for Excellence. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Smith Academy for Excellence at 5th of 6; the average score across the group is 17.9%.

The campus sits in a downtown setting. As a public charter, Smith Academy for Excellence runs on public funding but with greater curricular and operational autonomy than a typical district school.

Five-year trend. Smith Academy for Excellence's enrollment has decreased 12% since 2018, when it stood at 73 (now 64). The White share of enrollment decreased from 38% to 25% over that span.

On the community side, posts here usually surface around classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.