For the 2025 school year, there are 9 public schools serving 3,541 students in Jackson County School District. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Jackson County School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 35% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
9 Schools
2,764 Schools
# Students
3,541 Students
1,547,014 Students
# Teachers
244 Teachers
100,085 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
District Rank
Jackson County School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has increased from 87% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#205 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
90%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.54
0.71
# American Indian Students
212 Students
16,971 Students
% American Indian Students
6%
1%
# Asian Students
38 Students
65,132 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
738 Students
326,941 Students
% Hispanic Students
21%
21%
# Black Students
45 Students
380,120 Students
% Black Students
1%
25%
# White Students
2,295 Students
665,292 Students
% White Students
65%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
2,147 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
216 Students
92,182 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
118
23,648
# Students in K Grade:
221
110,403
# Students in 1st Grade:
236
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
271
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
279
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
236
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
245
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
239
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
273
116,793
# Students in 8th Grade:
261
119,029
# Students in 9th Grade:
305
137,977
# Students in 10th Grade:
316
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
281
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
260
104,759
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,706 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,496 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$45 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$44 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,706
$11,187
Spending / Student
$12,496
$11,612
Best Jackson County School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Jackson Co Early College
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
404 College Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 339-4499
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 339-4499
Grades: 9-13
| 109 students
Rank: #22.
Fairview School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
251 Big Orange Way
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2819
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2819
Grades: PK-8
| 781 students
Rank: #33.
Smoky Mountain High School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
100 Smoky Mountain Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2177
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2177
Grades: 9-12
| 899 students
Rank: #44.
Blue Ridge School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
95 Bobcat Drive
Cashiers, NC 28717
(828) 743-2646
Cashiers, NC 28717
(828) 743-2646
Grades: PK-6
| 149 students
Rank: #55.
Cullowhee Valley School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
240 Wisdom Drive
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(828) 293-5667
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(828) 293-5667
Grades: PK-8
| 609 students
Rank: #66.
Scotts Creek School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
516 Parris Branch
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 631-2740
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 631-2740
Grades: PK-8
| 438 students
Rank: #77.
Jackson Community School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3770 Skyland Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4328
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4328
Grades: 5-12
| 69 students
Rank: #88.
Blue Ridge Early College
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
95 Bobcat Dr
Cashiers, NC 28717
(828) 743-2646
Cashiers, NC 28717
(828) 743-2646
Grades: 7-13
| 131 students
Rank: #99.
Smokey Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
884 Us Hwy 441n
Whittier, NC 28789
(828) 497-5535
Whittier, NC 28789
(828) 497-5535
Grades: PK-8
| 356 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Jackson County School District?
Jackson County School District manages 9 public schools serving 3,541 students.
What is the rank of Jackson County School District?
Jackson County School District is ranked #203 out of 320 school districts in North Carolina (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year.
What is the racial composition of students in Jackson County School District?
65% of Jackson County School District students are White, 21% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are American Indian, 6% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Jackson County School District?
Jackson County School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is equal to the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Jackson County School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $12,496 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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