OUR STUDENTS ARE
ACHIEVING
98.8% IREAD PASS RATE
Our students continue to demonstrate exceptional early literacy achievement.
96.8% GRADUATION RATE
Nearly every Smith-Green student is graduating prepared to take the next step.
COLLEGE & CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Our students have access to Advanced Placement, dual-credit, career and technical education and work-based learning opportunities.
HANDS-ON LEARNINGÂ
Agriculture, FFA, STEM, engineering, wood shop and career pathways give our students opportunities to learn by doing and connect their education to real careers.
RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR RESOURCES
Our schools have worked to create more opportunities for students while controlling costs. Our redesigned CTE partnership saves approximately $200,000 each year while allowing us to provide more opportunities closer to home.
SGCS is proud of what our students are accomplishing and committed to continuing that progress.
SMALL SCHOOL.
BIG OPPORTUNITIES.
There’s a lot happening at Smith-Green. Students have access to Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses, advanced junior high math, and redesigned Career and Technical Education opportunities closer to home.
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Hands-on learning includes an engineering lab, STEM classroom, agriculture wood shop, and expanded wellness and weight-training center, while upgraded auditorium lighting and sound support music, drama, and community events.
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Students gain real-world experience through internships and work-based learning with local businesses, farms, and agricultural employers, with Agriculture and FFA remaining an important part of Smith-Green.
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Beyond the classroom, students continue to achieve in athletics, archery, performing arts, FFA, and other activities.
WHY IS A REFERENDUM NEEDED NOW?
2018 — REFERENDUM APPROVED
Smith-Green voters approved the current operating referendum in 2018.
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The Referendum has Funded: ​
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- Employing Teachers.
- Employing Instructional Aides.
- Employing an Assistant Principal.
- Supporting Student Services
- Supporting Expanded Opportunities.
Indiana changed its property-tax laws in 2025. Those changes provide new deductions, credits, and exemptions that can lower taxes for many property owners. They also reduce the taxable property value available to support local schools. That means the same tax rate can generate less revenue than it did before.
2025 — INDIANA'S PROPERTY-TAX SYSTEM CHANGED
RECENT YEARS — MORE OPPORTUNITY, LOWER COST
Smith-Green redesigned its career and technical education partnership with Columbia City and Whitko. Students can reach more programs closer to home, while the district expects approximately $200,000 in annual savings compared with the previous arrangement.
THE MAXIMUM RATE
IS GOING DOWN.
VOTERS AUTHORIZED A MAXIMUM REFERENDUM RATE OF
$0.6280
PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE
2018
2026 RENEWAL
WOULD REDUCE THE MAXIMUM TO
$0.4988
PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE
$0.2946
2021
$0.2552
2022
$0.3248
2023
$0.3211
2024
$0.3277
2026
SMITH-GREEN HAS NOT BEEN CHARGING THE CURRENT MAXIMUM.
While the maximum referendum rate is set by law after an election, local school boards only collect the amount needed to balance the budget. Smith-Green has consistently stayed well below the approved limit.
$0.6280
MAXIMUM RATE
Referendum
Funding
The proposed Revenue Spending Plan directs 52% of the projected maximum revenue to teachers, staff and class sizes, and 16% each to health and safety, transportation, and academic and student support programs.
1.
Our size should never limit what our students can accomplish. We have expanded Advanced Placement courses, dual-credit opportunities, career and technical education, agriculture, FFA, internships and hands-on learning.
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Referendum funding helps us continue providing the programs and opportunities that prepare our students for college, careers and life.
PROTECT ACADEMIC AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
2.
Great schools depend on great people. Our current referendum helps support teachers, instructional aides and other staff who work directly with our students.
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Continuing this funding helps us retain quality educators, maintain classroom staffing and provide students with the individual attention and support they need to succeed.
RETAIN QUALITY TEACHERS AND STAFF
3.
Students learn best when they feel safe, healthy and supported. Referendum funding helps us maintain the people, services and initiatives that support student health, safety and wellbeing throughout the school day.
KEEP STUDENTS SAFE AND SUPPORTED
4.
Safe, reliable transportation connects our students with their classrooms, teachers, programs, activities and opportunities every day. Referendum funding helps us continue providing this essential service to our students and families.
MAINTAIN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
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