Principal Eric Stewart says there’s just something different about Smart’s Mill Middle School.

The faces are friendly -- and teachers and administrators try to memorize each of those student faces. Stewart guessed that he knows 90 percent of his students’ names when he sees them.

“It just feels different here,” he said.

Stewart says he has proof that parents like the school: At least 18 of his teachers have children who are also students in the school. Stewart – whose children would be attending a different school – has a special waiver for his son to attend Smart’s Mill.

“Parents want their kids to come here,” he said. “We work hard to do what’s best for kids. We’re always thinking about how we can make this a better place.”

About 35 percent of the student body at Smart’s Mill participates in after-school clubs or activities, according to the school’s improvement plan.

The plan identified student performance on the writing portion of the SOL test as an area targeted for improvement.

Smart’s Mill has four family fun nights and an annual event in August that sometimes draws close to 2,000 people. Students also have a variety of clubs available, including the anime, art, chess, ecology and writing clubs.

Stewart said the school is working to close the achievement gap, as are many schools in the district and across the country.

He said the school has an active PTA. The organization is also involved in raising money to provide grants to teachers interested in specific areas of study.
“We want them to remember fondly their time at Smart’s Mill,” Stewart said.