Swain County High School

Swain County High School is one of the intimate 9-12 campuss in Bryson City, North Carolina, one of the schools within Swain County Schools, with 536 students on its rolls from grades 9 through 12. By comparison, North Carolina's public schools average about 761 students each, so Swain County High School sits 30% below that benchmark.

Swain County High School is one of 6 schools operated by Swain County Schools, a district that instructs 1,872 students overall.

On the student-mix side, Swain County High School shows that 67% of the student body identifies as White. The remainder reads as 18% Native American, 7% multiracial, 7% Hispanic.

Looking at school resources, Swain County High School logs 28 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 19.3:1. The state averages about 19.6:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. About 98% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Swain County High School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 48.9% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 42.4%.

In the area at large, the surrounding county (Swain County) shows that median household earnings sit near $52,349, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 14%. Swain County High School is one of 9 public schools in Swain County (combined enrollment of about 3,393 students).

Nearest neighbor: Swain Academy, around 0.0 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 6 other public schools cluster around Swain County High School. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Swain County High School at 3rd of 5; the average score across the group is 43.9%.

Swain County High School operates from a low-density location.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Swain County High School has ticked down 4%, going from 560 students in 2018 to 536 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio widened from 14.0:1 in 2018 to 19.3:1 today.

Within the allk12 community for this school, members of the Swain County High School community share and discuss pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.