Top Rankings
Swain County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 1,304 students in Swain County Schools. 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 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 38% of the student body (majority American Indian), 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
6 Schools
2,146 Schools
# Students
1,872 Students
1,094,560 Students
# Teachers
104 Teachers
71,669 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Swain County Schools, 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 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
87%
86.5%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)44.8%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.72
% American Indian
17%
1%
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
8%
22%
% Black
n/a
24%
% White
63%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
11%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,748 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,959 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$30 MM
$20,622 MM
Spending
$30 MM
$21,575 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,748
$13,318
Spending / Student
$15,959
$13,934
Best Swain County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: K-6 | 403 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
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
Gr: K-5 | 338 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: n/an/a
50 Main Street
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-3129
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-3129
Gr: K-12 | 110 students Minority enrollment: 32%
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