There were 3,710 students enrolled in Jackson County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.2% less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Smoky Mountain High School registered the highest enrollment among Jackson County’s 11 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 857 students.
North Carolina’s student-teacher ratio is roughly 15.4 students per teacher, aligning with the national average. However, rising teacher turnover threatens to push class sizes higher, making it harder for students to get individualized attention.
If vacancies continue to grow, schools may struggle to maintain this ratio, impacting the quality of instruction. Districts in lower-funded areas face the biggest challenges, as limited budgets make it harder to attract and retain teachers.
| School name | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoky Mountain High School | 866 | 857 | -1% |
| Fairview Elementary School | 740 | 751 | 1.5% |
| Cullowhee Valley School | 598 | 588 | -1.7% |
| Scotts Creek Elementary School | 441 | 413 | -6.3% |
| Smokey Mountain Elementary School | 326 | 316 | -3.1% |
| Summit Charter | 286 | 296 | 3.5% |
| Blue Ridge School | 147 | 133 | -9.5% |
| Blue Ridge Early College | 128 | 132 | 3.1% |
| Jackson County Early College | 99 | 104 | 5.1% |
| Jackson Community School | 70 | 63 | -10% |
| Catamount School | 55 | 57 | 3.6% |
