Smithfield High School (Rhode Island)

Last updated

Smithfield High School
Location
Smithfield High School (Rhode Island)
90 Pleasant View Avenue
Smithfield, Rhode Island 02828

United States
Coordinates 41°52′50″N71°32′40″W / 41.8806°N 71.5445°W / 41.8806; -71.5445
Information
Type Public
Established1966
School districtSmithfield School District
Teaching staff63.00 (on an FTE basis) [1]
Grades 9 to 12
Enrollment750 (2023–2024) [1]
Student to teacher ratio11.90 [1]
Colors Green and Gold
MascotSentinel
Website SHS website

Smithfield High School is a public high school located in the Apple Valley section of Smithfield, Rhode Island, near Greenville, Rhode Island, USA (in Providence County). The school, which opened in 1966, was designed by architect Joseph M. Mosher. Prior to its opening, Smithfield students generally attended high schools in Providence or North Providence. It is the only public high school in the Town of Smithfield. High School graduation ceremonies are typically held at nearby Bryant University [2] , but more recently at the nearby sports complex and playground, Deerfield Park. In 2006, the school was ranked 17th out of 52 high schools in Rhode Island. [3]

Contents

Athletics

Smithfield High School's mascot is the Sentinel, and its school colors are green and gold. The school's athletic teams compete in the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, which includes most public and private high schools in the state. [4]

2025 hazing and antisemitic incident in football program

In October 2025, Smithfield High School's football program was the focus of controversy after an alleged hazing incident involving members of the varsity team. According to reports, a Jewish freshman football player was locked in a bathroom by several senior teammates and sprayed with Lysol through a door grate while antisemitic slurs were shouted. [5] [6]

School officials said an internal investigation found "inappropriate conduct" and that the students involved had been barred from participating for the remainder of the season. [7]

On or about 22–24 October 2025, the players were reportedly reinstated to the team, a decision that prompted criticism and public statements from the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, and the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias, which said the reversal undermined accountability and sent a troubling message about tolerance for hateful conduct. [8] [9]

The incident prompted calls for a formal apology from district leadership, implementation of anti-bias training for staff and students, and clearer disciplinary protocols for athletics programs. [10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Smithfield High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ SHS website
  3. ↑ "Ranking of High Schools in Rhode Island". www.psk12.com. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  4. ↑ SHS website
  5. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Edward (October 24, 2025). "R.I. high school reinstated football players who hazed a Jewish student. Now, Jewish groups are speaking out". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  6. ↑ Becker, Dana (October 24, 2025). "Rhode Island High School Reinstates Suspended Football Players". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  7. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Edward (October 24, 2025). "R.I. high school reinstated football players who hazed a Jewish student. Now, Jewish groups are speaking out". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Smithfield High School faces backlash after reinstating football players accused of hazing". TurnTo10 (WJAR). October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Jewish groups seek answers after Rhode Island high school football players in antisemitic hazing case reinstated". Boston.com. October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  10. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Edward (October 24, 2025). "R.I. high school reinstated football players who hazed a Jewish student. Now, Jewish groups are speaking out". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.