Total enrollment
3,823
-1 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Jackson County
North Carolina · Public K-12
For a North Carolina county, Jackson County operates a compact public-school system: 11 schools and 3,823 students, broken out as 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high.
4-year change in Jackson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Jackson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 47.3% | #63 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,823 | #71 of 98 | #1,591 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 11 | #72 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 17.0:1 | #80 of 98 | #2,289 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 96.5% | #50 of 98 | #176 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 54.0% | #60 of 94 | #897 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Jackson County school rankings
Residents
43,771
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
11
3 districts
Enrollment
3,823
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$55,815
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
96.5%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
5
2,273 students
Middle
1
64 students
High
4
1,171 students
Combined / other
1
315 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Jackson County Public Schools
3,444 students · 3 districts in Jackson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Jackson 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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
31.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.9%
civilian labor
Median age
38
16.4% under 18
Test scores in Jackson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Smoky Mountain High School· 56.7%
- Fairview School· 49.6%
- Blue Ridge School· 47.8%
- Scotts Creek School· 47.1%
- Blue Ridge Early College· 44.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Smokey Mountain Elementary· 32.5%
- Cullowhee Valley School· 41.4%
- Blue Ridge Early College· 44.1%
- Scotts Creek School· 47.1%
- Blue Ridge School· 47.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoky Mountain High School | Sylva | High | 09-12 | 881 | · |
| Fairview School | Sylva | Elementary | PK-08 | 797 | · |
| Cullowhee Valley School | Cullowhee | Elementary | PK-08 | 570 | · |
| Scotts Creek School | Sylva | Elementary | PK-08 | 422 | · |
| Smokey Mountain Elementary | Whittier | Elementary | PK-08 | 340 | · |
| Summit Charter | Cashiers | Combined | KG-12 | 315 | · |
| Blue Ridge School | Cashiers | Elementary | PK-06 | 144 | · |
| Blue Ridge Early College | Cashiers | High | 07-13 | 127 | · |
| Jackson Co Early College | Sylva | High | 09-13 | 113 | · |
| Catamount School | Cullowhee | Middle | 06-08 | 64 | · |
| Jackson Community School | Sylva | High | 05-12 | 50 | · |
Cities in Jackson County
About Jackson County
Across the sparse North Carolina county of Jackson County of about 43,771 residents, the public-school footprint covers 11 schools and about 3,823 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $55,815, roughly 31% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 10%. That income level is 12% meaningfully below the North Carolina median.
On the school-mix side, Jackson County comprises 5 elementary schools (2,273 students), 1 middle school (64), 4 high schools (1,171), and 1 combined or other schools.
Jackson County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,444 students across Jackson County.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Jackson County has remained close to its prior level since SY 2020-21, moving from about 3,824 students to 3,823.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Jackson County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data