Total enrollment
3,393
+1,144 (+51%) vs SY 2017-18
Swain County
North Carolina · Public K-12
The 9 public K-12 schools in Swain County cover all standard grade bands (4 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high), with combined enrollment around 3,393.
7-year change in Swain County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
+3 (+50%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
9
4 districts
Enrollment
3,393
NCES CCD
Median income
$52,349
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
95.7%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
4
1,569 students
Middle
1
453 students
High
3
1,261 students
Combined / other
1
110 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Swain County Schools
1,872 students · 4 districts in Swain County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Swain 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+
21.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.6%
civilian labor
Median age
43
20.8% under 18
Test scores in Swain County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- Swain County High School· 54.2%
- Swain County Middle School· 43.3%
- Swain County West Elementary· 39.9%
- Swain County East Elementary· 31.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Central High School | Cherokee | High | 06-12 | 693 | · |
| Cherokee Central Elementary School | Cherokee | Elementary | KG-05 | 607 | · |
| Swain County High School | Bryson City | High | 09-12 | 536 | · |
| Swain County Middle School | Bryson City | Middle | 06-08 | 453 | · |
| Swain County West Elementary | Bryson City | Elementary | KG-06 | 403 | · |
| Swain County East Elementary | Bryson City | Elementary | KG-05 | 338 | · |
| Mountain Discovery | Bryson City | Elementary | KG-08 | 221 | · |
| Cherokee Extension School | Bryson City | Combined | KG-12 | 110 | · |
| Swain Academy | Bryson City | High | 09-12 | 32 | · |
Cities in Swain County
About Swain County
In North Carolina, Swain County is a thinly populated county of about 14,013 residents. 9 public schools across the county serves about 3,393 students between them.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $52,349, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 14% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 17% meaningfully below the North Carolina median.
On the school-mix side, Swain County is built around 4 elementary schools (1,569 students), 1 middle school (453), 3 high schools (1,261), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Swain County is Swain County Schools, which alone enrolls about 1,872 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Swain County has expanded 51% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 2,249 students to 3,393. Swain County now counts 9 public schools, up from 6 in SY 2017-18.
On this page, the community for Swain County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Swain County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data