For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public elementary schools serving 2,402 students in Jackson County School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Jackson County School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
9 Schools
2,174 Schools
# Students
3,541 Students
1,091,007 Students
# Teachers
244 Teachers
73,903 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
0.72
# American Indian Students
212 Students
12,383 Students
% American Indian Students
6%
1%
# Asian Students
38 Students
47,310 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
738 Students
227,576 Students
% Hispanic Students
21%
21%
# Black Students
45 Students
268,051 Students
% Black Students
1%
25%
# White Students
2,295 Students
465,086 Students
% White Students
65%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
1,488 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
216 Students
69,126 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
118
23,192
# Students in K Grade:
221
109,971
# 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
113,393
# Students in 8th Grade:
261
115,504
# Students in 9th Grade:
305
11,612
# Students in 10th Grade:
316
10,182
# Students in 11th Grade:
281
8,704
# Students in 12th Grade:
260
7,975
# 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 Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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
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