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B−

Swain County Schools

Public school districtGrades K–12

Serves Bryson City.

Bryson City’s School Grade B− better than 47% of North Carolina school districts

Students
1,872
Schools
6
Spent per student
$14,840
NC $13,045
Students per teacher
17:1
Free or reduced lunch
93%
Debt
$3.3M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Swain County Schools

  • Its letter, B−: results better than 47% of North Carolina districts
  • Spends 14% more per student than the NC average
  • 17 students per teacher
  • Debt of $3.3M, about $1,739 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B−: better than 47% of the 325 North Carolina school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math below the state, 2021–22
C+
GraduationFour-year graduation close to the state, class of 2023
C+
The town it serves, and its School Grade
B−Bryson City 1,525

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Bryson City. Grade by grade →

K–12Cherokee Extension SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. NC

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency47%
State average 50.8% · 822 students tested
Reading / language arts46%
State average 49.9% · 876 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)85–89%
State average 86.5% · 155 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$14,840 per student · 14% above NC
Spending
Classroom instruction 60%Support & administration 34%Other 6%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 10%State 62%Federal 29%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
1,931’20
1,919’21
1,910’22
1,897’23
1,872’24

Down 3.1% since 2020–21.

Students
White 63%American Indian/Alaska Native 17%Two or more races 11%Hispanic 7%Asian <1%Black <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

6 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools.

Swain County West Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6 · Bryson City
B
403 students16:1
Swain County East Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Bryson City
C+
338 students16:1
Cherokee Extension School
Other · Grades K–12 · Bryson City
110 students
Swain County Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bryson City
B−
453 students17:1
Swain County High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Bryson City
B+
536 students19:1
Swain Academy
High · Grades 9–12 · Bryson City
32 students10:1

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within North Carolina.