The top reported proficiency rate is 90% in Social studies. The lowest is 28% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Smiley Elementary School
Smiley Elementary School in Ludowici serves grades PK through 2 and enrolls a substantial population of students, most of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is located in Long County, a rural area of southeast Georgia experiencing significant housing-driven growth, much of it connected to the presence of Fort Stewart and affordable land relative to coastal markets.
The school's academic profile shows mixed performance. In the most recent testing data available, Smiley's third-grade students scored below the state midpoint in both English language arts and mathematics. The school has older data from statewide science and social studies assessments; those results are several years old and therefore of limited use in understanding current academic standing. Because the school serves only pre-kindergarten and the early elementary grades, state testing applies only to third grade, meaning most of the school's enrollment is below the tested range. A parent should understand that Smiley's reported proficiency numbers reflect a single grade level and a single year of assessment, so they represent a limited window into school performance.
The student body is racially diverse, with roughly equal shares of white and Black students, a substantial Hispanic population, and smaller numbers of students from other backgrounds. About three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate considerably higher than the state average and reflective of Long County's economic context. Special education enrollment and English learner identification data were not available, so a parent looking into those services should contact the school directly.
Long County Schools recently underwent a structural change. The district now operates Long County Primary School (serving kindergarten and first grade), Smiley Elementary (serving grades 2-3), and McClelland Elementary (serving grades 4-5), replacing the earlier configuration in which Smiley served kindergarten through second grade. This reconfiguration affects which building children attend and how families with multiple elementary-age children coordinate transportation. The district also moved to staggered school start times in the 2024-25 school year to manage morning and afternoon traffic congestion caused by population growth. Both changes are permanent and worth checking the school's website or contacting the district to understand how they apply to your family's schedule.
Ludowici itself is a small rural county seat undergoing rapid housing development. The town sits quiet and auto-dependent, with a small historic downtown anchored by the courthouse and the restored Ludowici Well Pavilion, and newer commercial activity concentrated along US Routes 25 and 84. Most families in the area commute to jobs outside Ludowici, many to Fort Stewart or regional paper mills. Housing is relatively affordable by state standards, and the area is attracting young families seeking space and cost-effective suburban living within reasonable distance of larger employment centers. The Altamaha River and Morgan Lake offer outdoor recreation nearby.
State testing data, enrollment and demographic counts, and school eligibility and staffing information were complete. The school's website did not appear in the data provided. Beyond recent test scores for third grade, no multi-year trend data or advanced program offerings were available, so a parent seeking information about curriculum depth, gifted services, or how the school's performance has changed over time should reach out to the school or district directly.
See more original research from School Decision →