Below Average
#2252 of 2,648 schools in NC
Mountain Discovery
Elementary School · Mountain Discovery Charter School · Bryson City, NC
A charter elementary school in Bryson City, NC where students score 22 points below what's typical for similar communities.
890 Jenkins Branch Rd N, Bryson City, NC 28713
- Math 51% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 59% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 17.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Mountain Discovery score 55% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 77%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 11 points since 2020, reaching 55% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 56% (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 42 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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 Mountain Discovery 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 14Car-Dependent
- Bike 5Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,140/100K
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FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Bryson City), 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
$56,368
Median home value
$231,300
Median rent
$707/mo
College educated
25.1%
Homeownership
74.2%
Poverty rate
16.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28713; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–7 | 0.5 mi | 16 | Compare → |
| Cherokee Extension SchoolEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | K–12 | 0.9 mi | 102 | Compare → |
| Swain County West ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | K–5 | 2.7 mi | 419 | Compare → |
| Swain County East ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | K–5 | 4.5 mi | 350 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
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.
Mountain Discovery Charter School
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $12,477NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- The source release did not match this district identifier.
Mountain Discovery is listed in Mountain Discovery Charter School; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mountain Discovery
Mountain Discovery is a public elementary school in Bryson City, NC, part of Mountain Discovery Charter School, serving approximately 193 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 17.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranks #2,252 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mountain Discovery
What grades does Mountain Discovery serve?
Mountain Discovery serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Mountain Discovery?
Mountain Discovery has an enrollment of approximately 193 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mountain Discovery?
The student-teacher ratio at Mountain Discovery is 17.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Mountain Discovery rank in NC?
Mountain Discovery ranks #2,252 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Mountain Discovery's MySchoolScout rating?
Mountain Discovery has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 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 Mountain Discovery?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Mountain Discovery has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Mountain Discovery a charter school?
Yes, Mountain Discovery is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Mountain Discovery a Title I school?
No, Mountain Discovery is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 193
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Swain County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 24.9%
- Phone
- (828) 488-1222
- Area population (ZIP 28713)
- 8,441
- Area average commute
- 23.6 min
- Area median age
- 46.9
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 28713; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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