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
Student By Grade
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 86% has decreased from 92% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#205 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)46%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)90%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.54
0.72
% American Indian
6%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
21%
21%
% Black
1%
25%
% White
65%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
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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