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Haywood County

North Carolina · Public K-12

Haywood County hosts 16 public K-12 schools. Together they educate about 7,092 North Carolina students across 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high.

7-year change in Haywood County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
7,092
-604 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
16
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
84%
was 87%
% Hispanic
10%
was 8%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
16
2 districts
Enrollment
7,092
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,912
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
98.8%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
8
3,048 students
Middle
3
1,456 students
High
4
1,972 students
Combined / other
1
616 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Haywood County Schools
6,476 students · 2 districts in Haywood County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Haywood County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
91%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
6%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
84%
Hispanic
10%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
29.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.1%
civilian labor
Median age
48
17.6% under 18

Test scores in Haywood County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 13 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Riverbend Elementary· 79.4%
  2. Pisgah High· 70.6%
  3. Junaluska Elementary· 69.3%
  4. Tuscola High· 66.7%
  5. Bethel Middle· 63.3%

See all 13 schools in Haywood County ranked by score →

All schools (16)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Tuscola HighWaynesvilleHigh09-12873·
Pisgah HighCantonHigh09-12859·
Waynesville MiddleWaynesvilleMiddle06-08727·
Shining Rock Classical AcademyWaynesvilleCombinedKG-12616·
Bethel ElementaryCantonElementaryKG-05537·
Clyde ElementaryClydeElementaryPK-05523·
Hazelwood ElementaryWaynesvilleElementaryPK-05490·
Canton MiddleCantonMiddle06-08475·
Junaluska ElementaryWaynesvilleElementaryKG-05428·
Jonathan Valley ElementaryWaynesvilleElementaryPK-05336·
North Canton ElementaryCantonElementaryPK-05332·
Bethel MiddleWaynesvilleMiddle06-08254·
Riverbend ElementaryClydeElementaryKG-05204·
Meadowbrook ElementaryCantonElementaryPK-05198·
Haywood Early CollegeClydeHigh09-13177·
Central Haywood HighWaynesvilleHigh09-1263·

Cities in Haywood County

Waynesville8 schoolsCanton5 schoolsClyde3 schools

About Haywood County

Across the medium-population North Carolina county of Haywood County of about 62,662 residents, the public-school footprint covers 16 schools and about 7,092 students.

Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $61,912 a year, about 30% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

On the school-mix side, Haywood County consists of 8 elementary schools (3,048 students), 3 middle schools (1,456), 4 high schools (1,972), and 1 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in Haywood County is Haywood County Schools, which alone enrolls about 6,476 students.

Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Haywood County has declined 8% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 7,696 students to 7,092.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Haywood County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Haywood County?
Haywood County, North Carolina has 16 public K-12 schools serving approximately 7,092 students.
How many high schools are in Haywood County?
Haywood County, North Carolina has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 1,972 students.
How many middle schools are in Haywood County?
Haywood County, North Carolina has 3 public middle schools, serving approximately 1,456 students.
How many elementary schools are in Haywood County?
Haywood County, North Carolina has 8 public elementary schools, serving approximately 3,048 students.
What is the largest school district in Haywood County?
Haywood County Schools is the largest school district in Haywood County, serving approximately 6,476 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
How many people live in Haywood County?
Haywood County has roughly 62,662 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Haywood County?
Median household income in Haywood County is $61,912, below the North Carolina average of $63,182. About 9.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Haywood County?
Approximately 29.5% of adults 25 and older in Haywood County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Haywood County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 98.8% of students in Haywood County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the North Carolina county average of 86.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Haywood County schools?
Across Haywood County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 17.4 to 1.

Haywood County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data