Jackson County Schools & Education
Jackson County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
56/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
93.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
93.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,931
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
56/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#16
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Jackson County
Measured School Summary
Jackson County performs at an average level with a school score of 56/100 and a solid graduation rate of 93.0%.
Funding Context
At $6,931 per pupil, Jackson County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 41% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Jackson County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
11 public schools and 3 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
56/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #16 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
93.0%
5.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,931
roughly matches the state average
School coverage
11
3 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Jackson County has 11 public schools across 3 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Jackson County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Jackson County Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 9 of 11 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#16
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 16 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Jackson County Public Schools
Elementary and high visible
3,557 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Summit Charter
Other grade structure
292 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Catamount School
Middle school only in this slice
59 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Jackson County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 9 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Jackson County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Jackson County district systems?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Jackson County, North Carolina
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Intimate educational settings in the mountains
Jackson County operates 11 public schools that serve a total enrollment of 3,908 students. The infrastructure includes five elementary schools and four high schools distributed among three local districts. This smaller scale allows for a focused approach to student development across the county.
Jackson County Public Schools leads the way
The Jackson County Public Schools district is the primary provider, educating 3,557 students across nine campuses. Summit Charter serves as the county's single charter option with 292 students, while the Catamount School provides a highly specialized environment for 59 students. These varied districts offer tailored educational paths for mountain residents.
A predominantly rural learning environment
Almost all schools in Jackson County are situated in rural locales, creating a tight-knit community feel. The average school size is just 355 students, with Smoky Mountain High School being the largest at 899 pupils. Schools like Fairview Elementary provide a mid-sized primary education experience with 762 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
11
in Jackson County
Reported Enrollment
3,908
11 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
1
9% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Jackson County
Jackson County Public Schools
GuideSummit Charter
Catamount School
11 Public Schools in Jackson County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 11 of 11 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoky Mountain High School | Record | Jackson County Public Schools | Sylva, 28779Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 899 |
| Fairview Elementary | Record | Jackson County Public Schools | Sylva, 28779Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 762 |
| Cullowhee Valley School | Record | Jackson County Public Schools | Cullowhee, 28723Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 619 |
| Scotts Creek Elementary | Record | Jackson County Public Schools | Sylva, 28779Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 451 |
| Smokey Mountain Elementary | Record | Jackson County Public Schools | Whittier, 28789Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 353 |
| Summit Charter | Record | Summit Charter | Cashiers, 28717Rural: Distant | KG–12 | Charter | 292 |
| Blue Ridge School | Record | Jackson County Public Schools | Cashiers, 28717Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 165 |
| Blue Ridge Early College | Record | Jackson County Public Schools | Cashiers, 28717Rural: Distant | 7–UG | High | 132 |
| Jackson Co Early College | Record | Jackson County Public Schools | Sylva, 28779Town: Distant | 9–UG | High | 101 |
| Jackson Community School | Record | Jackson County Public Schools | Sylva, 28779Rural: Fringe | 6–12 | Alternative | 75 |
| Catamount School | Record | Catamount School | Sylva, 28779Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 59 |
Smoky Mountain High School
Jackson County Public Schools
Sylva, 28779 / Rural: Fringe
Fairview Elementary
Jackson County Public Schools
Sylva, 28779 / Rural: Fringe
Cullowhee Valley School
Jackson County Public Schools
Cullowhee, 28723 / Rural: Fringe
Scotts Creek Elementary
Jackson County Public Schools
Sylva, 28779 / Rural: Fringe
Smokey Mountain Elementary
Jackson County Public Schools
Whittier, 28789 / Rural: Distant
Blue Ridge School
Jackson County Public Schools
Cashiers, 28717 / Rural: Distant
Blue Ridge Early College
Jackson County Public Schools
Cashiers, 28717 / Rural: Distant
Jackson Co Early College
Jackson County Public Schools
Sylva, 28779 / Town: Distant
Jackson Community School
Jackson County Public Schools
Sylva, 28779 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,931
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Jackson County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?
How should I read the school score in Jackson County?
What is the graduation rate in Jackson County?
How much does Jackson County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Jackson County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Jackson County, North Carolina?
Jackson County operates 11 public schools that serve a total enrollment of 3,908 students. The infrastructure includes five elementary schools and four high schools distributed among three local districts. This smaller scale allows for a focused approach to student development across the county.
What are the major school districts in Jackson County, North Carolina?
The Jackson County Public Schools district is the primary provider, educating 3,557 students across nine campuses. Summit Charter serves as the county's single charter option with 292 students, while the Catamount School provides a highly specialized environment for 59 students. These varied districts offer tailored educational paths for mountain residents.
What is the school experience like in Jackson County?
Almost all schools in Jackson County are situated in rural locales, creating a tight-knit community feel. The average school size is just 355 students, with Smoky Mountain High School being the largest at 899 pupils. Schools like Fairview Elementary provide a mid-sized primary education experience with 762 students.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.