Top Rankings
Swain County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public middle schools serving 569 students in Swain County Schools. This district's average middle testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Swain County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 35% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
6 Schools
879 Schools
# Students
1,897 Students
493,495 Students
# Teachers
125 Teachers
31,615 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Swain County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 75-79% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#187 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)47%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)85-89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.55
0.71
% American Indian
17%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
7%
20%
% Black
1%
25%
% White
64%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
10%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,269 is higher than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,846 is higher than the state median of $11,617. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$31 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$30 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,269
$11,192
Spending / Student
$15,846
$11,617
Best Swain County Schools Public Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Swain County Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
135 Arlington Ave
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-3480
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-3480
Gr: 6-8 | 467 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: n/an/a
50 Main Street
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-3129
Bryson City, NC 28713
(828) 488-3129
Gr: K-12 | 102 students Minority enrollment: 33%
Recent Articles
Preventing Suicide in Schools: 2026 Guide for Educators
Learn updated 2026 strategies for preventing suicide in schools, including warning signs, intervention plans, and school-wide mental health support.
The Impact of Social Media on Students (2026 Update)
Explore the impact of social media on students in 2026, including academic, mental health, and safety insights for parents and educators.
Building a Summer Reading Plan That Keeps Kids Engaged
Learn how to build a summer reading plan that keeps kids engaged, motivated, and improving literacy skills throughout the break.
