Below Average
#2366 of 2,648 schools in NC
Scotts Creek School
Elementary School · Jackson County Public Schools · Sylva, NC
A Jackson County Public Schools elementary school where students score 16 points below what's typical for similar communities.
516 Parris Branch, Sylva, NC 28779
- Math 35% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 47% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Scotts Creek School score 41% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 13 points since 2020, reaching 41% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 48% (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).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
66%
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 Scotts Creek School 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 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 1Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,820/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Sylva), 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
$54,407
Median home value
$234,200
Median rent
$803/mo
College educated
28.2%
Homeownership
66.6%
Poverty rate
16.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28779; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | PK–8 | 3.8 mi | 781 | Compare → |
| Blue Ridge SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.3 | PK–6 | Not available | 149 | Compare → |
| Cullowhee Valley SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.1 | PK–8 | Not available | 609 | Compare → |
| Smokey Mountain ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.5 | PK–8 | Not available | 356 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Jackson County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #8 of 9
- District spending per student
- $13,568NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Scotts Creek School is listed in Jackson County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Scotts Creek School
Scotts Creek School is a public elementary school in Sylva, NC, part of Jackson County Public Schools, serving approximately 438 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 out of 10 and ranks #2,366 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Scotts Creek School
What grades does Scotts Creek School serve?
Scotts Creek School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Scotts Creek School?
Scotts Creek School has an enrollment of approximately 438 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Scotts Creek School?
The student-teacher ratio at Scotts Creek School is 12.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Scotts Creek School rank in NC?
Scotts Creek School ranks #2,366 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Scotts Creek School's MySchoolScout rating?
Scotts Creek School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 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 Scotts Creek School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Scotts Creek School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Scotts Creek School a charter school?
No, Scotts Creek School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Scotts Creek School a Title I school?
No, Scotts Creek School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Scotts Creek School?
66.0% of students at Scotts Creek School 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
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 438
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Jackson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 29.2%
- Phone
- (828) 631-2740
- Area population (ZIP 28779)
- 17,845
- Area average commute
- 21.4 min
- Area median age
- 42.1
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 28779; 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
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