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Aerial of downtown Waynesville, North Carolina, in Haywood County 12Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0
A−
Schools in Waynesville · Haywood County Schools

Waynesville’s public schools outscore 78% of North Carolina districts

65% of students in Waynesville’s public schools are proficient in math, above the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Waynesville, 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.

#17of 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
58%
▲ 8 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
65%
▲ 14 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▲ 4 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.1K
▲ 0% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.8
NC 16.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
6
3,126 students on the public path
In brief

Waynesville’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 327 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Waynesville’s, its schools beat 96%, higher than their 78% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 58% and math 65% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,053 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Shining Rock Classical Academy, Haywood Christian Academy (private) and Academy at Soar, Soar Inc. (private) are in town. 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 Waynesville’s grade

A− Test scoresB+ Graduation

A−: better than 78% of North Carolina school districts, #17 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 78%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (327)Better than 96%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,295 test results and a graduating class of 550 could put Waynesville anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Waynesville’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,161 in math, 3,429 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Hazelwood ElementaryHaywood County SchoolsB+
6–8Waynesville MiddleHaywood County SchoolsB+
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A+

Waynesville’s public schools are run by Haywood County Schools, which also serves Canton, Clyde and Maggie Valley. 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.

Haywood County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 15 schools · 6,476 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 16.8 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$13,053NC $13,045 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading58%
State average 49.9% · 3429 students tested
Math65%
State average 50.8% · 3161 students tested

Waynesville vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WaynesvilleA−Haywood County Schools

Every school in Waynesville

9 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 Waynesvilleby address
Hazelwood Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
490 students17:1Rate it →
Waynesville Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
727 students16:1Rate it →
Also serving Waynesvillein other towns
Tuscola High
High · Grades 9–12
A−
873 students20:1Rate it →
Pisgah High
High · Grades 9–12 · Canton
A−
859 students21:1Rate it →
Haywood Early College
High · Grades 9–12 · Clyde
A+
177 studentsRate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Central Haywood High
High · Grades 9–12
D
Alternative Education
63 students9:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Shining Rock Classical Academy
Grades K–12
B+
Charter
616 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Haywood Christian Academy
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
125 students8:1Rate it →
Academy at Soar, Soar Inc.
High · Grades 7–12
Private · Nonsectarian
27 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Waynesville’s schools

Are Waynesville’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Waynesville children attend outscore 78% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #17 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 96%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Waynesville in?

Haywood County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 6,476 students in 15 schools (2024–25).

Where do Waynesville kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Tuscola High, Pisgah High and Haywood Early College.

What is Waynesville’s graduation rate?

91% of the class of 2023 in Haywood County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Waynesville spend per student?

$13,053 in Haywood County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Waynesville?

Yes: Haywood Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 125 students) and Academy at Soar, Soar Inc. (nonsectarian, grades 7–12, 27 students). Waynesville also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Waynesville families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Waynesville → 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.