7512 April Ln
North Richland Hills, TX 76182

We absolutely love Smithfield Elementary! We bought our house in the Smithfield boundaries based on a teacher friend’s recommendation, and we are grateful we did. Smithfield feels like one big welcoming family. They are a “Capturing Kids’ Hearts” showcase school, and you can feel the warmth and kindness when you walk through the doors. The counselor, Janie Smith, seems to connect to every single child on their level. We’ve seen the same care from the teachers, who value and invest in their students. The school focuses on different character qualities each quarter, and kids and teachers nominate students who have exemplified these qualities as “Wonderful Wildcats.” I’m just so thankful my child is in such an encouraging and uplifting atmosphere. He loves his teachers, friends, principals, and cafeteria monitors. It did not take long to feel part of the family. Also, since this is a school, I should add that the teachers are very experienced and gifted in helping kids who struggle and those who are high achievers to improve. I don’t know how they have the time to personalize curriculum and reading materials for every child, but they do. I compared all the local school’s ratings in student improvement, and Smithfield stood out several years ago when we were house-hunting. And they still do. The administration, staff, and teachers are doing it right.

I have had one attend and one is attending still. I know it is a highly rated school. There is a lot of opportunity for kids to get tutored before and after school. If kids are willing to work hard they have a lot of opportunities to succeed. My biggest problem with SMS, and the elementary school that we attended prior, is the blatant favoritism. It is rampant. It is constantly teacher's or administrator's children (who work in the district) being recognized for everything. This includes making teams in athletics. A student is in a much better position to make a team, win a leadership role, or get to be on the video announcements, if they are a child of a BISD employee. I may sound like I am complaining, but I have witnessed it for many years and it saddens me to see so many kids overlooked, and I don't mean my own. I know "who you know" is part of life in the real world, I just wish other students, who may not have a parent working for BISD, or an older brother who played football, etc., would get to be picked for announcements, "great call of the week" and core value..etc. You get my drift.

I had 2 daughters that attended this school which means I have had roughly 6 years of experience with Birdville.PROS: I always felt extremely safe having my daughters attending Birdville. They have hallway monitors, very few glass doors / lower level windows; etc. Safety was never a concern for me which is very reassuring this day and age. There are also some incredibly dedicated teachers with tenure. For the most part - my daughters had engaging, personable, respectful (it goes both ways) teachers. I also appreciate the opportunity to have my kids start taking dual credit courses as Juniors. Equally positive - the BCTAL and all of the opportunities it allows for career path search.CONS: Lots of bullying and unnecessary INSANITY going on in the bathrooms. Literally - kids cannot go into the bathroom without being bullied, witnessing drug use, etc. Birdville needs to crack down on the CRAP going on in the restrooms. Secondly - this at one point (might still be) a school that allows Open Enrollment. Anytime there was a major issue with a kid (stealing, fighting, drug use, bullying, 18 year old trying to hook up with a minor) it was ALWAYS involving an out of district kid. This really gets old after a few years. People move to Birdville Schools for a reason - they want their kids in good schools, with good kids, nurturing environment, focused on learning. If I wanted my kid to get bullied and harassed with inappropriate behavior, I'd move to South FTW or Euless.