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Downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 05Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0
B
Schools in Franklin · Macon County Schools

Franklin’s public schools outscore 62% of North Carolina districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Franklin, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

#101of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
51%
▲ 1 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
50%
▼ 1 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
93%
▲ 6 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.3K
▲ 2% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.1
NC 16.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
2,328 students on the public path
In brief

Franklin’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 294 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Franklin’s, its schools beat 79%, higher than their 62% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 50% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,324 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then three middle schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Macon Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Franklin’s grade

B− Test scoresA Graduation

B: better than 62% of North Carolina school districts, #101 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 62%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (294)Better than 79%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,210 test results and a graduating class of 351 could put Franklin anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Franklin’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,111 in math, 2,308 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Franklin, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–4East Franklin ElementaryMacon County SchoolsB−
5–123 schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A−

Franklin’s public schools are run by Macon County Schools, which also serves Highlands. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Macon County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 12 schools · 4,469 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 15.1 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$13,324NC $13,045 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading51%
State average 49.9% · 2308 students tested
Math50%
State average 50.8% · 2111 students tested

Franklin vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Franklin’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
FranklinBMacon County Schools

Every school in Franklin

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Franklinby address
East Franklin Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–4
B−
315 students13:1Rate it →
Franklin High
High · Grades 9–12
A
996 students21:1Rate it →
Also serving Franklinin other towns
Highlands School
Grades K–12 · Highlands
A−
344 students13:1Rate it →
Nantahala School
Grades K–12 · Topton
B
97 students12:1Rate it →
Macon Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
B−
576 students14:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Franklinnot counted as local schools
Macon Virtual Academy
Grades K–12
Online
44 studentsRate it →

Questions about Franklin’s schools

Are Franklin’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of North Carolina: the public schools Franklin children attend outscore 62% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #101 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 79%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Franklin in?

Macon County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,469 students in 12 schools (2024–25).

What is Franklin’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in Macon County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Franklin spend per student?

$13,324 in Macon County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Franklin families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Franklin → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.