Total enrollment
4,469
+111 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Macon County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Inside Macon County, North Carolina, public K-12 schools number 12 and serve about 4,469 students out of a population of 37,941. By grade band, the county runs 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Macon County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
12
+1 (+9%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Macon County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 52.1% | #45 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,469 | #68 of 98 | #1,446 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 12 | #65 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.7:1 | #46 of 98 | #1,991 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 81.6% | #73 of 98 | #472 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 43.4% | #75 of 94 | #1,359 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.
Macon County school rankings
Residents
37,941
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
12
1 districts
Enrollment
4,469
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$59,061
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
81.6%
Below North Carolina avg
Elementary
4
1,542 students
Middle
2
1,190 students
High
3
1,252 students
Combined / other
3
485 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Macon County Schools
4,469 students · 1 district in Macon County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Macon 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+
27.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.8%
civilian labor
Median age
50
17.7% under 18
Test scores in Macon County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Macon Early College High School· 92.5%
- Highlands School· 62.8%
- Franklin High· 60.6%
- Cartoogechaye Elementary· 56.3%
- South Macon Elementary· 53.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Mountain View Intermediate· 44.8%
- Macon Middle School· 47.0%
- East Franklin Elementary· 47.3%
- Iotla Valley Elementary· 47.8%
- Nantahala School· 51.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin High | Franklin | High | 09-12 | 996 | · |
| Mountain View Intermediate | Franklin | Middle | 05-06 | 614 | · |
| Macon Middle School | Franklin | Middle | 07-08 | 576 | · |
| South Macon Elementary | Franklin | Elementary | PK-04 | 465 | · |
| Iotla Valley Elementary | Franklin | Elementary | PK-04 | 408 | · |
| Cartoogechaye Elementary | Franklin | Elementary | PK-04 | 354 | · |
| Highlands School | Highlands | Combined | KG-12 | 344 | · |
| East Franklin Elementary | Franklin | Elementary | KG-04 | 315 | · |
| Macon Early College High School | Franklin | High | 09-13 | 154 | · |
| Bartram Academy | Franklin | High | 09-12 | 102 | · |
| Nantahala School | Topton | Combined | KG-12 | 97 | · |
| Macon Virtual Academy | Franklin | Combined | KG-12 | 44 | · |
Cities in Macon County
About Macon County
Across the rural-scale North Carolina county of Macon County of about 37,941 residents, the public-school footprint covers 12 schools and about 4,469 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $59,061, roughly 28% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 7% below the North Carolina median.
For a sense of the school types, Macon County covers 4 elementary schools (1,542 students), 2 middle schools (1,190), 3 high schools (1,252), and 3 combined or other schools.
Macon County Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 4,469 students on its own.
Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 4,469 students, expanded 3% from the 4,358 reported in SY 2020-21. Macon County now counts 12 public schools, up from 11 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Macon 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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data