Top Rankings
Haywood County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 11 public elementary schools serving 4,504 students in Haywood County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Haywood County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 63% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
15 Schools
2,149 Schools
# Students
6,466 Students
1,095,543 Students
# Teachers
379 Teachers
71,743 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Haywood County Schools, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 85% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#72 out of 325 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)65%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
78%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)89%
86%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)20.3%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.28
0.72
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
10%
22%
% Black
1%
24%
% White
84%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,657 is higher than the state median of $11,170. The school district revenue/student has grown by 22% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,517 is higher than the state median of $11,594. The school district spending/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$82 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$81 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,657
$11,170
Spending / Student
$12,517
$11,594
Best Haywood County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Riverbend Elementary School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
71 Learning Lane
Clyde, NC 28721
(828) 627-6565
Clyde, NC 28721
(828) 627-6565
Gr: K-5 | 204 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #22.
Bethel Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4700 Old River Road
Canton, NC 28716
(828) 646-3448
Canton, NC 28716
(828) 646-3448
Gr: K-5 | 537 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #33.
Bethel Middle School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
630 Sonoma Road
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 646-3442
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 646-3442
Gr: 6-8 | 254 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #44.
Junaluska Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2238 Asheville Road
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 456-2407
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 456-2407
Gr: K-5 | 428 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #55.
North Canton Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
60 Thompson St
Canton, NC 28716
(828) 646-3444
Canton, NC 28716
(828) 646-3444
Gr: PK-5 | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #66.
Hazelwood Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1111 Plott Creek Road
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 456-2406
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 456-2406
Gr: PK-5 | 490 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #77.
Clyde Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4182 Old Clyde Road
Clyde, NC 28721
(828) 627-2206
Clyde, NC 28721
(828) 627-2206
Gr: PK-5 | 523 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Jonathan Valley Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
410 Hall Drive
Waynesville, NC 28785
(828) 926-3207
Waynesville, NC 28785
(828) 926-3207
Gr: PK-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Meadowbrook Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
85 Morningstar Rd
Canton, NC 28716
(828) 646-3445
Canton, NC 28716
(828) 646-3445
Gr: PK-5 | 198 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1010.
Waynesville Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
495 Brown Ave
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 456-2403
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 456-2403
Gr: 6-8 | 727 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #1111.
Canton Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
60 Penland St
Canton, NC 28716
(828) 646-3467
Canton, NC 28716
(828) 646-3467
Gr: 6-8 | 475 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
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