Very Good
#981 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 37% in state
Smoky Mountain High School
High School · Jackson County Public Schools · Sylva, NC
A Jackson County Public Schools high school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
100 Smoky Mountain Drive, Sylva, NC 28779
- Math 72% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 57% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 94.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Smoky Mountain High School score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 8 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 64% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 60% (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 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
53.4%
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 Smoky Mountain High 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 39Car-Dependent
- Bike 23Somewhat 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
1 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Community SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | 5–12 | 4.0 mi | 69 | 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
- #2 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
Smoky Mountain High School is listed in Jackson County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Smoky Mountain High School
Smoky Mountain High School is a public high school in Sylva, NC, part of Jackson County Public Schools, serving approximately 899 students in grades 9th-12th with a 17:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #981 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Smoky Mountain High School
What grades does Smoky Mountain High School serve?
Smoky Mountain High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Smoky Mountain High School?
Smoky Mountain High School has an enrollment of approximately 899 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Smoky Mountain High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Smoky Mountain High School is 17:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Smoky Mountain High School rank in NC?
Smoky Mountain High School ranks #981 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Smoky Mountain High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Smoky Mountain High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Smoky Mountain High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Smoky Mountain High School has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Smoky Mountain High School a charter school?
No, Smoky Mountain High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Smoky Mountain High School a Title I school?
No, Smoky Mountain High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Smoky Mountain High School?
53.4% of students at Smoky Mountain High 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 899
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 53
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Jackson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 37.6%
- Phone
- (828) 586-2177
- 4-Year Graduation
- 94.0%
- 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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