Jackson County Public Schools

398 Hospital Road
Sylva, NC 28779-5196
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public preschools serving 2,333 students in Jackson County Public Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Jackson County Public Schools have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
9 Schools
994 Schools
# Students
3,541 Students
464,055 Students
# Teachers
244 Teachers
33,275 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Jackson County Public Schools, 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 86% has decreased from 92% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#205 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(21-22)
46%
51%
44%
50%
61%
63%
(21-22)
90%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.54
0.72
% American Indian
6%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
21%
23%
% Black
1%
25%
% White
65%
41%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,706 is higher than the state median of $11,191. The school district revenue/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,496 is higher than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$45 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$44 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,706
$11,191
Spending / Student
$12,496
$11,616

Best Jackson County Public Schools Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Fairview School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
251 Big Orange Way
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2819
Gr: PK-8 | 781 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #22.
Blue Ridge School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
95 Bobcat Drive
Cashiers, NC 28717
(828) 743-2646
Gr: PK-6 | 149 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #33.
Cullowhee Valley School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
240 Wisdom Drive
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(828) 293-5667
Gr: PK-8 | 609 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #44.
Scotts Creek School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
516 Parris Branch
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 631-2740
Gr: PK-8 | 438 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #55.
Smokey Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
884 Us Hwy 441n
Whittier, NC 28789
(828) 497-5535
Gr: PK-8 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 58%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 9 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 3,541 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 35%
  • : 90% (Top 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 46% (Btm 50%)
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • : 61% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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