Average
#2019 of 2,648 schools in NC
Swain County West Elementary
Elementary School · Swain County Schools · Bryson City, NC
An elementary school in Bryson City, NC serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.
4142 Hwy 19 West, Bryson City, NC 28713
- Math 55% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 40% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Swain County West Elementary score 47% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 33 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 48% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 50% (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 Swain County West 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 7Car-Dependent
- Bike 4Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,140/100K
Powered by
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain DiscoveryCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.3 | K–8 | 2.7 mi | 193 | Compare → |
| Grace Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–7 | 3.2 mi | 16 | Compare → |
| Cherokee Extension SchoolEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | K–12 | 3.5 mi | 102 | Compare → |
| Swain County East ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | K–5 | Not available | 350 | 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.
Swain County Schools
- Schools in district
- 5
- Rank in district
- #4 of 4
- District spending per student
- $14,518NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Swain County West Elementary is listed in Swain County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Swain County West Elementary
Swain County West Elementary is a public elementary school in Bryson City, NC, part of Swain County Schools, serving approximately 419 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #2,019 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Swain County West Elementary
What grades does Swain County West Elementary serve?
Swain County West Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Swain County West Elementary?
Swain County West Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 419 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Swain County West Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Swain County West Elementary is 14.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Swain County West Elementary rank in NC?
Swain County West Elementary ranks #2,019 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Swain County West Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Swain County West Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 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 Swain County West Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Swain County West Elementary has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Swain County West Elementary a charter school?
No, Swain County West Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Swain County West Elementary a Title I school?
No, Swain County West Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Swain County West Elementary?
99.3% of students at Swain County West 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
- 419
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Swain County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 41.1%
- Phone
- (828) 488-2119
- 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.
- 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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