ÎÛÎÛÂþ»­

Jackson County School District

398 Hospital Road
Sylva, NC 28779-5196
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%
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.
ÎÛÎÛÂþ»­ 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

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.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#205 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(21-22)
46%
51%
44%
50%
61%
63%
(21-22)
90%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.54
0.71
% 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.
This School District
This State (NC)
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 ÎÛÎÛÂþ»­ Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Jackson Co Early College
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
404 College Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 339-4499
Gr: 9-13 | 109 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #22.
Fairview School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
251 Big Orange Way
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2819
Gr: PK-8 | 781 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #33.
Smoky Mountain High School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
100 Smoky Mountain Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2177
Gr: 9-12 | 899 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #44.
Blue Ridge School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
95 Bobcat Drive
Cashiers, NC 28717
(828) 743-2646
Gr: PK-6 | 149 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #55.
Cullowhee Valley School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
240 Wisdom Drive
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(828) 293-5667
Gr: PK-8 | 609 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #66.
Scotts Creek School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
516 Parris Branch
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 631-2740
Gr: PK-8 | 438 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #77.
Jackson Community School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3770 Skyland Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4328
Gr: 5-12 | 69 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #88.
Blue Ridge Early College
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
95 Bobcat Dr
Cashiers, NC 28717
(828) 743-2646
Gr: 7-13 | 131 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #99.
Smokey Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
884 Us Hwy 441n
Whittier, NC 28789
(828) 497-5535
Gr: PK-8 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 58%

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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Quick Facts (2025)

  • District size: 9 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 3,541 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 35%
  • : 90% (Top 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 46% (Btm 50%)
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • : 61% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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