Very Good
#541 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 20% in state
Junaluska Elementary
Elementary School · Haywood County Schools · Waynesville, NC
A Haywood County Schools elementary school where students score 27 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2238 Asheville Road, Waynesville, NC 28786
- Math 77% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 69% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Junaluska Elementary score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 9 points since 2020, reaching 73% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Junaluska Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 13Car-Dependent
- Bike 10Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,339/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Waynesville), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$56,047
Median home value
$266,800
Median rent
$1,084/mo
College educated
31.8%
Homeownership
70%
Poverty rate
12.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28786; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shining Rock Classical AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.8 | K–11 | 1.6 mi | 630 | Compare → |
| Haywood Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.0private | PK–12 | 2.0 mi | 129 | Compare → |
| Hazelwood ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | PK–5 | 3.6 mi | 495 | Compare → |
| Clyde ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–5 | 4.2 mi | 523 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Haywood County Schools
- Schools in district
- 15
- Rank in district
- #5 of 15
- District spending per student
- $12,458NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 17.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Junaluska Elementary is listed in Haywood County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Junaluska Elementary
Junaluska Elementary is a public elementary school in Waynesville, NC, part of Haywood County Schools, serving approximately 421 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #541 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Junaluska Elementary
What grades does Junaluska Elementary serve?
Junaluska Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Junaluska Elementary?
Junaluska Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 421 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Junaluska Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Junaluska Elementary is 16.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Junaluska Elementary rank in NC?
Junaluska Elementary ranks #541 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Junaluska Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Junaluska Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Junaluska Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Junaluska Elementary has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Junaluska Elementary a charter school?
No, Junaluska Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Junaluska Elementary a Title I school?
No, Junaluska Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Junaluska Elementary?
99.3% of students at Junaluska Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 421
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Haywood County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 25.7%
- Phone
- (828) 456-2407
- Area population (ZIP 28786)
- 22,153
- Area average commute
- 22.6 min
- Area median age
- 49.3
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28786; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.