Smith Academy Information

Smith Academy and Hatfield Elementary endeavor to use their resources to enable all students to achieve their fullest potential by providing a learning environment conducive to growth. This includes acquiring an appreciation for the values of our society, a respect for self and others, and an academic background necessary for the students' understanding of their role as citizens in a pluralistic society. This learning environment will stress the importance of independent and critical thinking, while recognizing individual strengths and talents. It will also encourage a closeness which will assist students to overcome adversity and provide hope for the future. Smith Academy, the town's public secondary school, was endowed by a Hatfield resident, Sophia Smith. Smith Academy began accepting students in 1872. Miss Smith is also credited with founding Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. In September of 1921, Smith Academy opened for the first time as a public high school, and in 1980, a new 59,000 square foot middle school-senior high school was built to accommodate a projected enrollment of 300 students. This facility is located on a 42-acre site on School Street. Hatfield is a residential, suburban town with a population of approximately 3,300 located in Hampshire County. Residents are employed in professional, managerial, agriculture, and skilled craft positions. Nearby colleges include Amherst College, Smith College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, the University of Massachusetts, Greenfield Community College, and Holyoke Community College.