For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public high schools serving 1,165 students in Jackson County School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Jackson County School District have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Jackson County School District have a Graduation Rate of 84%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Smoky Mountain High School, with 93% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 35% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
9 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
3,438 Students
568,636 Students
# Teachers
200 Teachers
31,535 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Jackson County School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% 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 decreased from 92% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#205 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)46%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)90%
86%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)35.3%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.71
% American Indian
7%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
23%
21%
% Black
1%
25%
% White
62%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,087 is higher than the state median of $11,177. The school district revenue/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,871 is higher than the state median of $11,601. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$45 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$44 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,087
$11,177
Spending / Student
$12,871
$11,601
Best Jackson County School District Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Jackson Co Early College
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
404 College Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 339-4499
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 339-4499
Gr: 9-13 | 112 students Student-teacher ratio: 56:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #22.
Smoky Mountain High School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
100 Smoky Mountain Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2177
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2177
Gr: 9-12 | 881 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #33.
Jackson Community School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3770 Skyland Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4328
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4328
Gr: 5-12 | 50 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #44.
Blue Ridge Early College
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
95 Bobcat Dr
Cashiers, NC 28717
(828) 743-2646
Cashiers, NC 28717
(828) 743-2646
Gr: 7-13 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
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