Macon County Schools & Education
Macon County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
95.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
95.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,090
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#8
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Macon County
Measured School Summary
Macon County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 95.0%.
Funding Context
At $7,090 per pupil, Macon County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 60% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Macon 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
12 public schools and 1 district 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
64/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #8 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
95.0%
7.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,090
$121 above the state average
School coverage
12
1 district 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
Macon County has 12 public schools across 1 district, 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 Macon 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
Macon County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 12 of 12 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#8
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 24 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.
Macon County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
4,450 students
12 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Macon County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 12 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 Macon County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
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 Macon 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.
A dedicated mountain school system
Macon County operates 12 public schools that serve 4,450 students under a single unified district. The system is diverse, featuring four elementary, two middle, three high schools, and three alternative or specialized centers. This centralized structure ensures a cohesive educational experience for all mountain residents.
One district, one community vision
Macon County Schools is the sole educational district, educating the entire student population of 4,450. There are no charter schools currently operating in the county, focusing all local resources on the public district. This unity allows for streamlined programming and community-wide support for all twelve campuses.
Small rural schools with large impacts
Nine of the county's 12 schools are in rural settings, with an average school size of 371 students. Franklin High is the largest campus at 1,005 students, while smaller elementary schools like Comfort offer a highly intimate learning environment. This rural focus provides a quiet, dedicated atmosphere for student learning.
School Overview
Total Schools
12
in Macon County
Reported Enrollment
4,450
12 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Macon County
12 Public Schools in Macon County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 12 of 12 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin High | Profile | Macon County Schools | Franklin, 28734Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,005 |
| Macon Middle School | Record | Macon County Schools | Franklin, 28734Rural: Fringe | 7–8 | Middle | 599 |
| Mountain View Intermediate | Record | Macon County Schools | Franklin, 28734Rural: Fringe | 5–6 | Middle | 567 |
| South Macon Elementary | Record | Macon County Schools | Franklin, 28734Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 498 |
| Iotla Valley Elementary | Record | Macon County Schools | Franklin, 28734Rural: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 403 |
| East Franklin Elementary | Record | Macon County Schools | Franklin, 28734Town: Distant | KG–4 | Primary | 360 |
| Cartoogechaye Elementary | Record | Macon County Schools | Franklin, 28734Rural: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 349 |
| Highlands School | Record | Macon County Schools | Highlands, 28741Rural: Remote | KG–12 | Other | 332 |
| Macon Early College High School | Record | Macon County Schools | Franklin, 28734Rural: Fringe | 9–UG | High | 115 |
| Union Academy | Record | Macon County Schools | Franklin, 28734Rural: Distant | 7–12 | Alternative | 103 |
| Nantahala School | Record | Macon County Schools | Topton, 28781Rural: Remote | KG–12 | Other | 85 |
| Macon Virtual Academy | Record | Macon County Schools | Franklin, 28734Town: Distant | KG–12 | Virtual | 34 |
Franklin High
Macon County Schools
Franklin, 28734 / Town: Distant
Mountain View Intermediate
Macon County Schools
Franklin, 28734 / Rural: Fringe
South Macon Elementary
Macon County Schools
Franklin, 28734 / Rural: Distant
Iotla Valley Elementary
Macon County Schools
Franklin, 28734 / Rural: Fringe
East Franklin Elementary
Macon County Schools
Franklin, 28734 / Town: Distant
Cartoogechaye Elementary
Macon County Schools
Franklin, 28734 / Rural: Fringe
Macon Early College High School
Macon County Schools
Franklin, 28734 / Rural: Fringe
Macon Virtual Academy
Macon County Schools
Franklin, 28734 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,090
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Macon 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 Macon County?
What is the graduation rate in Macon County?
How much does Macon County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Macon County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Macon County, North Carolina?
Macon County operates 12 public schools that serve 4,450 students under a single unified district. The system is diverse, featuring four elementary, two middle, three high schools, and three alternative or specialized centers. This centralized structure ensures a cohesive educational experience for all mountain residents.
What are the major school districts in Macon County, North Carolina?
Macon County Schools is the sole educational district, educating the entire student population of 4,450. There are no charter schools currently operating in the county, focusing all local resources on the public district. This unity allows for streamlined programming and community-wide support for all twelve campuses.
What is the school experience like in Macon County?
Nine of the county's 12 schools are in rural settings, with an average school size of 371 students. Franklin High is the largest campus at 1,005 students, while smaller elementary schools like Comfort offer a highly intimate learning environment. This rural focus provides a quiet, dedicated atmosphere for student learning.
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.