The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in Science. The lowest is 53% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Smithfield El Sch
Smithfield Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in East Stroudsburg, a mid-sized Pocono borough anchored by a university and a regional hospital. The school enrollment is moderate for its grade band, with enrollment evenly spread across kindergarten through fifth grade. A substantial share of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student population reflects considerable diversity, with white, Black, and students of two or more races each representing meaningful shares, alongside smaller cohorts of American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic students. Data on English learners and special education students was not available.
State assessment results show strength in science, where students demonstrated strong proficiency. In mathematics, about half of tested students in grades three through five reached proficiency, while in English language arts, proficiency sat just above half. These results place Smithfield above the midpoint among Monroe County districts when proficiency is averaged across tested subjects and grades.
The school sits within a district that is managing significant change. East Stroudsburg Area School District received a substantial tax equity supplement from Pennsylvania in its most recent budget cycle, recurring revenue that eases pressure on local property taxes. At the same time, the district is conducting a feasibility study driven by declining enrollment that includes options such as consolidating its two high schools, realigning school assignments, and potentially closing one elementary building. This restructuring may affect where Smithfield families send their children in later grades. The district also piloted a co-teaching model in kindergarten through second grade in the current school year, pairing special education and general education teachers in the same classroom across all subjects, and plans to expand that model next year. This pedagogy shift changes how primary-grade instruction is organized across the district.
The borough itself is in a growth phase. Housing values have risen, new construction is active in surrounding areas, and major institutional expansion is underway at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono, the area's largest employer alongside East Stroudsburg University. The walkable historic downtown along Crystal Street hosts shops and restaurants, and a regional trail loop connects the borough to parks and recreation. A public pool, sports facilities, and community spaces anchor civic life at Dansbury Park. The area is accessible via Routes 80 and Interstate highways and served by regional bus transit.
Parents should note that the district's ongoing facility and enrollment study may bring changes to school boundaries and offerings in the coming years, and a parent may want to reach out to the school directly about the timeline and any implications for Smithfield's future.
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