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Below Average

#377 of 404 private schools in NC

Heritage Christian Academy

Elementary School

1955 WEBSTER RD, Sylva, NC 28779

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on NC statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

77

Student-Teacher

11:1

Score

4.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 7th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Sylva

#2 of 2

public schools

North Carolina elementary schools

#114 of 124

About Heritage Christian Academy

Heritage Christian Academy serves 77 students from kindergarten through seventh grade in Sylva, North Carolina. This small elementary school maintains an intimate learning environment with just 7 full-time equivalent teachers, creating an excellent 11:1 student-teacher ratio that allows for personalized attention and strong student-teacher relationships. The school has earned recognition for its academic performance, receiving a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranking #122 out of 404 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 70th percentile among North Carolina schools.

This strong ranking reflects the school's commitment to educational excellence despite its modest size. Located at 1955 Webster Road, Heritage Christian Academy operates as a regular public school serving families in the Jackson County area. The surrounding 28779 ZIP code is home to 18,421 residents, with a median household income of $53,470 and median home values of $224,600.

About 29% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while 16.3% of families live below the poverty line. The school sits in a rural setting near the town of Sylva, offering students a close-knit community atmosphere where educators can focus on individual student growth and development in a peaceful, small-town environment.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 77 students, Heritage Christian Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

As a private school, Heritage Christian Academy operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Located in a rural area, Heritage Christian Academy may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$8,508
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$9,637
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.13x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
56%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$1.2M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 77 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Heritage Christian Academy compares to 5 public schools serving similar grades in Sylva, NC

Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
This School
vs
15.1:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
77
This School
vs
291
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
4.5
This School
vs
6.7
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 93.5% vs 0%
Black 2.6% vs 0%
Hispanic 1.3% vs 0%
Heritage Christian Academy Sylva Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Heritage Christian Academy (this school) 4.5
Jackson Co Early College 6.0
Catamount School 9.1
Fairview School 6.9
Scotts Creek School 6.2
Jackson Community School 5.3

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in NC.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B- 5.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 11:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.5 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,170
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C 2.6 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 8%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 5.2 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 77
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in NC

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 93.5%
Black 2.6%
Native American 2.6%
Hispanic 1.3%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1955 WEBSTER RD, Sylva, NC 28779

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Heritage Christian Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Iotla Valley Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 13.2 miles away, in nearby Franklin), which scores notably higher. Another option is Cherokee Central Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 12.6 miles away, in nearby Cherokee), which scores notably higher. Additionally, East Franklin Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 13.2 miles away, in nearby Franklin), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Sylva, see our Sylva schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 14.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Jackson Co Early College Sylva 1.3 mi 6.0
Smoky Mountain High School Sylva 1.8 mi 4.2
Catamount School Sylva 1.9 mi 9.1
Fairview School Sylva 2.1 mi 6.9
Cullowhee Valley School Cullowhee 4.1 mi 5.8
Scotts Creek School Sylva 5.5 mi 6.2
Jackson Community School Sylva 5.7 mi 5.3
VICTORY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Sylva 6.3 mi 6.2
Smokey Mountain Elementary Whittier 8.3 mi 4.9
NEW KITUWAH ACADEMY Cherokee 12.1 mi 6.1
Cherokee Central Elementary School Cherokee 12.6 mi 8.2
Cherokee Central High School Cherokee 12.6 mi
Swain County East Elementary Bryson City 12.0 mi 4.6
MACON MULTI-PURPOSE JUVENILE HOME Franklin 12.8 mi
East Franklin Elementary Franklin 13.2 mi 8.1
Iotla Valley Elementary Franklin 13.2 mi 8.3
Macon Middle School Franklin 14.3 mi 5.8
Mountain View Intermediate Franklin 14.4 mi 6.0
ST JOSEPH ACADEMY Maggie Valley 14.5 mi
Franklin High Franklin 14.3 mi 3.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28779 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$54,407

Median Home Value

$234,200

Median Rent

$803/mo

Population

17,845

College Educated

28.2%

Homeownership

66.6%

Avg Commute

21.4 min

Poverty Rate

16.4%

Median Age

42.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Heritage Christian Academy has a median household income of $54,407. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $234,200, with a median rent of $803/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.4%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
FRIENDSHIP DAY SCHOOL FOR THE SCIENCES & THE ARTS Charlotte, NC 4.5
HOLY YOUTH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Chapel Hill, NC 4.6
MONTESSORI AT SANDY FORD Newton, NC 4.2
A SEA OF LEARNING Morehead City, NC 4.1
SALEM CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Dobson, NC 4.9
SOUTHPOINT ACADEMY Durham, NC 4.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Heritage Christian Academy

What grades does Heritage Christian Academy serve?

Heritage Christian Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 7th.

How many students attend Heritage Christian Academy?

Heritage Christian Academy has an enrollment of approximately 77 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Heritage Christian Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Heritage Christian Academy is 11:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Heritage Christian Academy rank in NC?

Heritage Christian Academy is ranked #377 out of 404 private schools in NC.

What is Heritage Christian Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Heritage Christian Academy has a composite rating of 4.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Heritage Christian Academy a private school?

Yes, Heritage Christian Academy is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Heritage Christian Academy a religious school?

Heritage Christian Academy has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (4,820/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Sylva). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 7th
Enrollment
77
Gender Split
45% M / 55% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
Teachers (FTE)
7
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
6.5 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
JACKSON
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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