The only school district in Macon County had rising enrollment in the 2023-24 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
There were 4,357 students in Macon County Schools, 0.2% higher than the year before.
The enrollment numbers in Macon County was steady with the state’s trend of increasing enrollment.
Macon County Schools has a main office in Franklin and is the only school district within Macon County.
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 | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin High School | 990 | 951 | 4.1% |
| Mountain View Intermediate School | 600 | 571 | 5.1% |
| Macon Middle School | 574 | 597 | -3.9% |
| South Macon Elementary School | 457 | 469 | -2.6% |
| Iotla Valley Elementary School | 392 | 380 | 3.2% |
| East Franklin Elementary School | 335 | 358 | -6.4% |
| Cartoogechaye Elementary School | 325 | 347 | -6.3% |
| Highlands School | 322 | 339 | -5% |
| Macon Early College High School | 135 | 116 | 16.4% |
| Union Academy | 106 | 107 | -0.9% |
| Nantahala School | 87 | 84 | 3.6% |
| Macon Virtual Academy | 34 | 28 | 21.4% |
