Best Schools in Jackson County, NC
Jackson County, NC has 20 public schools (5 high, 2 middle, 9 elementary) serving 7,297 students. On average they score 51% on state proficiency tests against a projected 47%, so schools in Jackson County underperform expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Jackson County, NC
The top high schools in Jackson County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Jackson Co Early College
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jackson County Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 101 Students
2. Smoky Mountain High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jackson County Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 899 Students
3. Blue Ridge Early College
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jackson County Public Schools • Public • Grades 7 - 13 • 132 Students
4. Jackson Community School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jackson County Public Schools • Public • Grades 5 - 12 • 75 Students
5. Cherokee Central High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cherokee Central High School • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 709 Students
Best Middle Schools in Jackson County, NC
The top middle schools in Jackson County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Catamount School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Catamount School • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 59 Students
2. Waynesville Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Haywood County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 720 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Jackson County, NC
The top elementary schools in Jackson County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Jonathan Valley Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Haywood County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 378 Students
2. Fairview Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jackson County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 762 Students
3. Blue Ridge School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jackson County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 165 Students
4. Scotts Creek Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jackson County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 451 Students
5. Cullowhee Valley School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jackson County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 619 Students
6. Swain County East Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Swain County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 339 Students
7. Smokey Mountain Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jackson County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 353 Students
8. Heritage Christian Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Heritage Christian Academy • Private • Grades KG - 7 • 77 Students
9. Cherokee Central Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cherokee Central Elementary School • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 625 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Jackson County, NC
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Jackson County, NC has a total population of 43,109 with 32% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 91%, and 30% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Jackson County, NC
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Jackson County, NC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
25.44 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.91 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
21.53 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Jackson County, NC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Jackson County, NC.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Jackson County, NC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Jackson County, NC
How many schools are in Jackson County, NC?
Jackson County, NC has 20 public schools: 5 high schools, 2 middle schools and 9 elementary schools, serving 7,297 students in total.
How do schools in Jackson County perform on state tests?
On average, 20 schools in Jackson County score 51% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 47%, so on average schools in Jackson County underperform expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Jackson County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Jackson County, NC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 51%
- Projected: 41%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 51%
- Projected: 50%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 64%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 61%
- Projected: 53%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 47%
- Projected: 50%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 55%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 58%
- Projected: 53%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 56%
- Projected: 50%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 61%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 39%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Jackson County
4 places in Jackson County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (4)
School districts (1)
- Jackson County Public Schools (8 schools)