Jackson County Public Schools School District
School District · Sylva, North Carolina
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
9
5 elem, 4 high
Enrollment
3,546
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
9
5 elem, 4 high
Enrollment
3,546
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#105 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,568
+$456 vs North Carolina median
District size
3,546 students
Smaller than North Carolina median
The short answer
Jackson County Public Schools ranks #105 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Jackson County Public Schools's schools with real test data average 5.6/10 across 9 schools. Its top-rated schools are Smoky Mountain High School (7.3/10), Jackson Co Early College (6.7/10), and Scotts Creek School (6.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.4/10 despite 98% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.3 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Jackson County Public Schools schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +3.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Jackson County Public Schools schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Jackson County Public Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (9 of 9). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoky Mountain High School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Jackson Co Early College | 6.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Scotts Creek School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Blue Ridge Early College | 6.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Cullowhee Valley School | 5.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Smokey Mountain Elementary | 4.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Blue Ridge School | 4.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Fairview School | 4.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Jackson Community School | 4.1 / 10 |
See all 9 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Jackson County Public Schools
Jackson County Public Schools is a Sylva, North Carolina school district serving 9 schools.The district educates 3,546 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.5:1. District-level spending was $13,568 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.6/10, Jackson County Public Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Smoky Mountain High School, which has a composite score of 7.3/10.
In standardized testing, Jackson County Public Schools students show an average math proficiency of 45.0% and ELA proficiency of 46.0%.
The district includes 5 elementary schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Jackson County Public Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Jackson County Public Schools with test data.
Schools in Jackson County Public Schools
9 schoolsDistrict Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Sylva
- Total Enrollment
- 3,546
- Teachers (FTE)
- 244
- District spending per student
- $13,568NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 16.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Jackson County Public Schools?
Jackson County Public Schools has 9 schools in total — 5 elementary, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Jackson County Public Schools?
The average composite rating for Jackson County Public Schools is 5.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Jackson County Public Schools?
Jackson County Public Schools's district-level spending was $13,568 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Jackson County Public Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Jackson County Public Schools is 14.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in Jackson County Public Schools?
Smoky Mountain High School is the highest-rated school in Jackson County Public Schools with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What are the test scores in Jackson County Public Schools?
Across schools in Jackson County Public Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 45.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 46.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Jackson County Public Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Jackson County Public Schools has an average school rating of 5.6/10 across 9 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 45.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 46.0%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Jackson County Public Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-Burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-Statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-Salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Cleveland County Schools (28)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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