Needs Improvement
#2488 of 2,648 schools in NC
Smokey Mountain Elementary
Elementary School · Jackson County Public Schools · Whittier, NC
A Jackson County Public Schools elementary school where students score 17 points below what's typical for similar communities.
884 US Hwy 441N, Whittier, NC 28789
- Math 28% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 33% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Smokey Mountain Elementary score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 7 points since 2020, reaching 31% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 36% (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
96.6%
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 Smokey Mountain 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 8Car-Dependent
- Bike 2Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated1,346/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$46,026
Median home value
$220,900
Median rent
$939/mo
College educated
24.7%
Homeownership
64.3%
Poverty rate
27.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28789; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swain County East ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | K–5 | 4.0 mi | 350 | Compare → |
| New Kituwah AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.1private | PK–6 | 5.0 mi | 54 | 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 → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Jackson County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #9 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
Smokey Mountain Elementary is listed in Jackson County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Smokey Mountain Elementary
Smokey Mountain Elementary is a public elementary school in Whittier, NC, part of Jackson County Public Schools, serving approximately 356 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and ranks #2,488 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Smokey Mountain Elementary
What grades does Smokey Mountain Elementary serve?
Smokey Mountain Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Smokey Mountain Elementary?
Smokey Mountain Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 356 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Smokey Mountain Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Smokey Mountain Elementary is 15.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Smokey Mountain Elementary rank in NC?
Smokey Mountain Elementary ranks #2,488 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Smokey Mountain Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Smokey Mountain Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 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 Smokey Mountain Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Smokey Mountain Elementary has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Smokey Mountain Elementary a charter school?
No, Smokey Mountain Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Smokey Mountain Elementary a Title I school?
No, Smokey Mountain Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Smokey Mountain Elementary?
96.6% of students at Smokey Mountain 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
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 356
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Jackson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.3%
- Phone
- (828) 497-5535
- Area population (ZIP 28789)
- 6,347
- Area median age
- 42.9
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 28789; 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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