Who Protects Johnston County's High Schools?

cyberscoutwatchdog

Sep 23

4 min read

Looking at Enrollment Growth, School Resource Officer Agreements, and the Questions Residents Are Asking

As Johnston County continues to experience rapid growth, so do our schools.

According to Johnston County Public Schools' 2026-2027 10-day enrollment data, more than 12,300 students are enrolled across the district's high school programs. Several traditional high schools now serve well over 1,500 students, with some campuses approaching the 2,000-student mark.

At the same time, School Resource Officers (SROs) remain a visible part of school safety efforts throughout the county. Recently obtained Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between JCPS and various law enforcement agencies outline expectations, responsibilities, training requirements, and funding agreements for SRO programs throughout Johnston County.

The documents provide useful insight into how SRO programs operate.

They also leave a few important questions unanswered.

Johnston County High School Enrollment

2026-2027 10-Day Enrollment

School	Enrollment
Corinth Holders High	1,978
Clayton High	1,832
Cleveland High	1,735
West Johnston High	1,542
Smithfield-Selma High	1,376
South Johnston High	1,269
North Johnston High	774
Wilson's Mills High	581
Princeton High	578

These numbers represent some of the largest student populations in county history and reflect the continued growth occurring throughout Johnston County.

What Are School Resource Officers?

School Resource Officers are certified law enforcement officers assigned to school campuses.

The MOUs reviewed clearly state that school administrators remain responsible for student discipline, while SROs focus on school safety, criminal investigations, emergency response, mentoring, and community outreach. The agreements also outline training requirements, including School Resource Officer training and Crisis Intervention Training (CIT).

The documents emphasize that routine disciplinary matters such as dress code violations, tardiness, classroom disruptions, or similar school-rule violations should generally remain under school administration rather than law enforcement involvement.

Which Agencies Provide SROs?

The reviewed agreements involve multiple law enforcement agencies, including:

Johnston County Sheriff's Office
Smithfield Police Department
Wilson's Mills Police Department
Princeton Police Department
Pine Level Police Department
Benson Police Department
Selma Police Department
Four Oaks Police Department

The packet also includes a Town of Clayton resolution authorizing renewal and negotiation of an SRO agreement.

One Item That Stands Out

While the agreements explain how SRO program's function, most do not identify exactly how many officers are assigned to each school. (We have been told ONE)

One exception appears in an amendment involving the Smithfield Police Department.

That amendment specifically states that Smithfield-Selma High School is assigned two School Resource Officers, along with additional SRO assignments at several other schools and a supervisory lieutenant position.

The amendment identifies:

Two SROs assigned to Smithfield-Selma High School
One SRO assigned to Smithfield Middle School
One SRO assigned to Choice Plus Academy
One SRO assigned to Innovation Academy
One SRO assigned to South Smithfield Elementary
One SRO assigned to West Smithfield Elementary
One Lieutenant supervisor position

A Question About Transparency

The MOUs provide extensive detail regarding:

✅ Training requirements

✅ Student rights

✅ Parent notifications

✅ Confidentiality requirements

✅ School discipline procedures

✅ Funding responsibilities

✅ Officer expectations

Does School Size Matter?

North Carolina does not require a specific number of SROs based on enrollment.

There is no statewide rule requiring:

One SRO per 500 students
One SRO per 1,000 students
Two SROs per large high school

Those decisions are generally made at the local level.

However, nationally, districts often use enrollment as one factor when determining staffing needs.

Commonly cited staffing benchmarks include:

School Size	Typical SRO Coverage
Under 1,000 Students	1 SRO
1,000-2,000 Students	1-2 SROs
Over 2,000 Students	2+ SROs

These are not legal requirements. They are simply common staffing practices used in many jurisdictions.

When comparing these benchmarks to Johnston County enrollment, some residents may understandably wonder how staffing decisions are being made as schools continue to grow.

Another Interesting Detail

The Johnston County Sheriff's Office agreement includes language stating that replacement officers should be prioritized for high school campuses whenever possible.

That language suggests that high schools are considered especially important locations when staffing shortages occur.

Questions Worth Asking

This discussion is not about criticizing schools, law enforcement, or SRO programs.

It is about understanding how resources are allocated.

Residents may reasonably ask:

How many SROs are currently assigned to each high school?
How many SRO positions are currently filled?
How many positions are vacant?
Are assignments based on enrollment?
How are staffing levels determined?
Should schools approaching 2,000 students receive additional coverage?

These are transparency questions, not political questions.

Education Before Action

Johnston County residents have access to enrollment data. Residents also have access to SRO agreements. What remains missing is a simple public-facing staffing roster showing how SRO coverage is distributed throughout the school system.

A straightforward report identifying each campus, assigned agency, number of authorized SRO positions, and any vacancies would help residents better understand how school safety resources are allocated across one of North Carolina's fastest-growing school districts.

Because informed communities make better decisions. And good questions are often where transparency begins.

Sources: Enrollment data provided by Johnston County Public Schools 2026-2027 10-day enrollment report. School Resource Officer Memorandums of Understanding reviewed from JOCO Records - SRO MOUs .pdf>.

JoCo Citizens 📚 Education Before Action 🔍 Transparency Builds Trust 🦉 Empowering Residents Through Information

That is all!

Carry on!