Nantahala News

There were 1,218 students enrolled in Clay County only district in the 2022-23 school year, 3.4% more than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Clay County Schools was the only district in Clay County in the 2022-23 school year.

North Carolina's public schools are facing a significant funding gap, with a per-student expenditure of $10,519 - well below the national average of $14,295.

This financial strain is further compounded by a significant challenge in staffing with a staggering 58.4% surge in vacant teaching positions in the 2021-22 school year, leaving over 5,000 classrooms without qualified instructors.