Swain County Schools & Education
Swain County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
35/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
87.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,915
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
35/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#53
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Swain County
Measured School Summary
Swain County faces educational challenges with a school score of 35/100 and a graduation rate of 87.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,915 per pupil, Swain County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 13% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Swain 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
6 public schools and 2 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
35/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #53 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
87.0%
1.0 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,915
$54 below the state average
School coverage
6
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Swain County has 6 public schools across 2 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 Swain 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.
Small-system county
Swain County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#53
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points below 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.
Swain County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,910 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Mountain Discovery Charter School
Elementary school only in this slice
174 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Swain County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Swain County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Swain County district systems?
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 Swain 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 Small and Focused Learning Community
Swain County hosts 2,084 students across six public schools, creating one of the most intimate systems in the state. The landscape features three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one specialized campus. Two districts manage the local education, providing both traditional and charter options.
Traditional and Charter School Diversity
Swain County Schools serves the majority of the population with 1,910 students across five schools. Mountain Discovery Charter School offers a smaller alternative, enrolling 174 students and making up nearly 17% of the county's school count. Swain County High School is the largest campus in the region with 560 students.
Purely Rural Education Experience
Every single school in Swain County is classified as a rural locale, offering a consistent environment focused on the local community. The average school size is just 347 students, ensuring that teachers and administrators know their students well. From Swain County West Elementary to the high school, the feeling is neighborly and focused.
School Overview
Total Schools
6
in Swain County
Reported Enrollment
2,084
6 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
1
17% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Swain County
Swain County Schools
Mountain Discovery Charter School
6 Public Schools in Swain 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 6 of 6 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swain County High School | Record | Swain County Schools | Bryson City, 28713Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 560 |
| Swain County Middle School | Record | Swain County Schools | Bryson City, 28713Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 485 |
| Swain County West Elementary | Record | Swain County Schools | Bryson City, 28713Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 403 |
| Swain County East Elementary | Record | Swain County Schools | Bryson City, 28713Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 339 |
| Mountain Discovery | Record | Mountain Discovery Charter School | Bryson City, 28713Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Charter | 174 |
| Cherokee Extension School | Record | Swain County Schools | Bryson City, 28713Rural: Distant | KG–12 | Other | 123 |
Swain County High School
Swain County Schools
Bryson City, 28713 / Rural: Distant
Swain County Middle School
Swain County Schools
Bryson City, 28713 / Rural: Distant
Swain County West Elementary
Swain County Schools
Bryson City, 28713 / Rural: Distant
Swain County East Elementary
Swain County Schools
Bryson City, 28713 / Rural: Distant
Mountain Discovery
Mountain Discovery Charter School
Bryson City, 28713 / Rural: Distant
Cherokee Extension School
Swain County Schools
Bryson City, 28713 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,915
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Swain 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 Swain County?
What is the graduation rate in Swain County?
How much does Swain County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Swain County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Swain County, North Carolina?
Swain County hosts 2,084 students across six public schools, creating one of the most intimate systems in the state. The landscape features three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one specialized campus. Two districts manage the local education, providing both traditional and charter options.
What are the major school districts in Swain County, North Carolina?
Swain County Schools serves the majority of the population with 1,910 students across five schools. Mountain Discovery Charter School offers a smaller alternative, enrolling 174 students and making up nearly 17% of the county's school count. Swain County High School is the largest campus in the region with 560 students.
What is the school experience like in Swain County?
Every single school in Swain County is classified as a rural locale, offering a consistent environment focused on the local community. The average school size is just 347 students, ensuring that teachers and administrators know their students well. From Swain County West Elementary to the high school, the feeling is neighborly and focused.
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.