Top Rankings
Swain County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 1,338 students in Swain County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Swain County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 46% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
6 Schools
2,174 Schools
# Students
1,897 Students
1,091,007 Students
# Teachers
125 Teachers
73,903 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Swain County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 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 87% has increased from 75-79% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#187 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)47%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)85-89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.55
0.72
% American Indian
17%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
7%
21%
% Black
1%
25%
% White
64%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
10%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,269 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,846 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$31 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$30 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,269
$11,187
Spending / Student
$15,846
$11,612
Best Swain County Schools School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Swain County West Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4142 Hwy 19 West
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-2119
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-2119
Grades: K-5
| 419 students
Rank: #22.
Swain County Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
135 Arlington Ave
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-3480
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-3480
Grades: 6-8
| 467 students
Rank: #33.
Swain County East Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
4747 Ela Rd
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-0939
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-0939
Grades: K-5
| 350 students
Rank: n/an/a
50 Main Street
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-3129
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-3129
Grades: K-12
| 102 students
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