Johnston County Public Schools offers several middle school options for students other than the traditional middle school setting. These middle schools/programs include smaller class sizes and support for students who are interested in pursuing specific careers or desire more rigorous curriculum. One program involves sending select students to our Innovation Academy (6-8), where students have the opportunity to meet other students across the district and become pioneers in their own education. Another program, AVID, is offered in select middle schools and strives to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. Conexiones is offered to students coming from our Dual Language elementary schools. The IB Middle Years Program offered at Smithfield Middle School, for graders 6 through 8 and at Smithfield-Selma High School, for grades 9-10, serves as a beneficial and effective pathway to IB Diploma and IB Career-related Programs in high school. 

Below you will find a brief description of all the middle school programs offered in Johnston County Public Schools. Prospective students can apply to AVID and the Innovation Academy through an application process.  

Application Deadlines

• Applications for AVID and Innovation Academy open in December 1.

• The deadline for application submission is March 17. 

• Middle schools offering the AVID elective to students enrolled at the school are Clayton, Cleveland, McGee's Crossroads, Riverwood, Selma, Smithfield and Swift Creek.

• To access the Innovation Academy application or the AVID program application, follow the links below.