Is Swain County High School a good school?

Swain County High School ranks in the bottom 24.1% of North Carolina high schools.

How many students attend Swain County High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 560 students attended Swain County High School.

What is the racial makeup of Swain County High School?

Students at Swain County High School are 69% White, 18% American Indian, 7% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Swain County High School?

Swain County High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Swain County East Elementary Elementary : Swain County West Elementary Middle : Swain County Middle School

Swain County High School

Summary:

Swain County High School is a public high school located in Bryson City, North Carolina, serving approximately 560 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Swain County Schools district, which is ranked 175 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

One of the key distinguishing factors of Swain County High School is its significantly higher percentage of Native American students (18-19%) compared to the surrounding schools, which have much lower percentages (5-16%). However, the school's academic performance, as measured by end-of-course (EOC) test scores, is generally lower than the state averages and the nearby schools, such as Franklin High and Smoky Mountain High School. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, Swain County High School's proficiency rates were 37.2% in Biology, 49.7% in English II, 18.9% in Math I, and 46.3% in Math III, all of which are below the state averages.

Another interesting finding is that Swain County High School's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups. While the school ranks highly (top 4 out of 15 schools) for its Native American students, it ranks much lower for other subgroups, such as Hispanic students (450 out of 454 schools) and White students (503 out of 553 schools). Additionally, the school has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 26.93% to 51.43% over the past few years, suggesting a higher proportion of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds compared to the surrounding schools.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1415 Fontana Road
Bryson City, NC 28713

(828) 488-2152

District: Swain County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
486^th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,889

Feeder schools for Swain County High School:

Elementary:	Swain County East Elementary
	Swain County West Elementary
Middle:	Swain County Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.1

Number of students: 560

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.5%

American Indian:

18.0%

Two or more races:

6.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 51.4%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Swain County High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Swain County High School ranks worse than 75.9% of high schools in North Carolina. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 24.94. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (69.5%), American Indian (18%), two or more races (6.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 51.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Swain County High School is 14.1. (See more...)

Compare Swain County High School employs 39.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Swain County High School is $12,889.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Swain County High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Swain County High School 486^th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Swain County High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

Native American students:

White students:

Swain County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Swain County Schools 175^th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

What do you think?

Your rating for Swain County High School?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Swain County High School

Compare

Rank History for all students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2006	56.80	172^nd	431	60.1%
2007	52.35	207^th	453	54.3%
2008	58.47	167^th	477	65.0%
2009	51.19	246^th	490	49.8%
2010	53.75	252^nd	499	49.5%
2011	58.35	204^th	506	59.7%
2012	31.51	363^rd	502	27.7%
2013	21.24	373^rd	505	26.1%
2014	23.20	325^th	451	27.9%
2015	33.50	315^th	531	40.7%
2016	25.07	350^th	507	31.0%
2017	25.78	335^th	476	29.6%
2018	44.14	247^th	469	47.3%
2019	37.13	296^th	514	42.4%
2021	36.58	355^th	594	40.2%
2022	45.99	314^th	621	49.4%
2023	35.75	391^st	626	37.5%
2024	24.94	486^th	640	24.1%

See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	45.52	112^th	226	50.4%
2024	11.47	251^st	261	3.8%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	61.69	86^th	349	75.4%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	49.64	157^th	424	63.0%
2019	42.85	188^th	446	57.8%
2021	29.88	272^nd	432	37.0%
2022	43.03	263^rd	544	51.7%
2023	39.11	325^th	597	45.6%
2024	23.69	475^th	613	22.5%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	47.23	237^th	449	47.2%
2019	38.68	281^st	475	40.8%
2021	41.85	239^th	475	49.7%
2022	51.02	277^th	594	53.4%
2023	36.06	372^nd	588	36.7%
2024	23.37	469^th	602	22.1%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	35.64	211^th	349	39.5%
2019	56.45	107^th	364	70.6%
2021	24.11	283^rd	334	15.3%
2022	49.37	121^st	330	63.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2019	46.82	203^rd	325	37.5%
2021	61.16	146^th	337	56.7%
2022	56.04	214^th	398	46.2%
2023	39.83	308^th	403	23.6%
2024	27.88	349^th	403	13.4%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	39.70	272^nd	463	41.3%
2019	34.00	300^th	488	38.5%
2021	30.87	296^th	481	38.5%
2022	40.23	333^rd	585	43.1%
2023	33.68	391^st	602	35.0%
2024	25.53	460^th	607	24.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	19.30	393^rd	449	12.5%
2024	7.38	450^th	454	0.9%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	56.69	6^th	16	62.5%
2019	35.66	14^th	17	17.6%
2021	71.32	1^st	13	92.3%
2022	56.04	3^rd	15	80.0%
2023	57.48	3^rd	16	81.3%
2024	56.70	4^th	15	73.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for White students at Swain County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	27.89	333^rd	427	22.0%
2019	29.50	318^th	444	28.4%
2021	23.18	333^rd	439	24.1%
2022	33.45	367^th	534	31.3%
2023	22.90	443^rd	537	17.5%
2024	13.31	503^rd	553	9.0%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Swain County High School.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Swain County High School, submit a rating!

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Swain County High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	524	4	1	0	115	n/a	n/a	0	644
1989	472	4	1	0	116	n/a	n/a	0	593
1990	444	2	0	0	124	n/a	n/a	0	570
1991	448	2	0	0	140	n/a	n/a	0	590
1992	383	2	0	3	108	n/a	n/a	2	498
1993	387	2	0	0	132	n/a	n/a	0	521
1994	380	2	0	0	123	n/a	n/a	0	505
1995	365	1	1	4	111	n/a	n/a	0	482
1996	365	1	1	4	111	n/a	n/a	0	482
1997	350	1	1	5	96	n/a	n/a	0	453
1998	356	2	2	6	120	n/a	n/a	0	486
1999	364	9	1	5	118	n/a	n/a	0	497
2000	374	6	1	5	107	n/a	n/a	0	493
2001	390	4	1	3	99	n/a	n/a	0	497
2002	389	5	2	5	103	n/a	n/a	0	504
2003	389	5	2	5	103	n/a	n/a	0	504
2004	421	5	1	10	106	n/a	n/a	0	543
2005	413	5	1	14	115	n/a	n/a	0	548
2006	427	6	1	14	124	n/a	n/a	0	572
2007	445	3	1	14	128	n/a	n/a	3	594
2008	416	1	4	15	123	n/a	n/a	3	562
2009	327	6	4	12	96	n/a	n/a	0	445
2010	422	3	5	16	172	n/a	n/a	0	618
2011	399	1	3	17	186	0	7	0	613
2012	384	0	1	18	176	0	14	0	593
2013	385	0	0	19	168	0	15	0	587
2014	382	1	0	16	150	0	42	0	591
2015	375	4	1	23	157	0	30	0	590
2016	375	4	2	21	146	0	23	0	571
2017	383	4	2	17	131	1	23	0	561
2018	389	3	4	23	118	1	22	0	560
2019	382	3	4	23	117	1	25	0	555
2020	374	4	4	27	115	1	30	0	555
2021	380	3	5	25	108	1	35	0	557
2022	383	4	5	28	104	0	33	0	557
2023	389	5	3	25	101	0	37	0	560

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Swain County High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	644	49.0	13.1	30.4
1989	593	49.0	12.1	46.4
1990	570	48.0	11.8	50.2
1991	590	48.0	12.2	48.5
1992	498	37.0	13.4	24.9
1993	521	37.0	14.1	25.3
1994	505	42.0	12.0	30.5
1995	482	43.0	11.2	24.1
1996	482	43.0	11.2	24.1
1997	453	32.0	14.2	22.7
1998	486	46.0	10.6	28.4
1999	497	46.0	10.8	38.4
2000	493	46.0	10.7	43.8
2001	497	46.0	10.8	46.5
2002	504	46.0	11.0	43.3
2003	504	46.0	11.0	43.3
2004	543	46.0	11.8	47.3
2005	548	49.0	11.2	n/a
2006	572	49.0	11.7	43
2007	594	44.0	13.5	44.2
2008	562	46.0	12.2	45.6
2009	445	46.5	9.6	n/a
2010	618	48.6	12.7	53.7
2011	613	46.4	13.1	55.1
2012	593	44.8	13.2	57.5
2013	587	45.9	12.7	61.8
2014	591	43.8	13.4	57.5
2015	590	44.0	13.4	51.7
2016	571	46.0	12.4	47.3
2017	561	41.5	13.5	51.7
2018	560	40.0	14.0	43.4
2019	555	40.2	13.7	47.6
2020	555	36.4	15.2	42.5
2021	557	40.4	13.7	39
2022	557	39.0	14.2	26.9
2023	560	39.5	14.1	51.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Swain County High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	644	49.0	13.1	30.4
1989	593	49.0	12.1	46.4
1990	570	48.0	11.8	50.2
1991	590	48.0	12.2	48.5
1992	498	37.0	13.4	24.9
1993	521	37.0	14.1	25.3
1994	505	42.0	12.0	30.5
1995	482	43.0	11.2	24.1
1996	482	43.0	11.2	24.1
1997	453	32.0	14.2	22.7
1998	486	46.0	10.6	28.4
1999	497	46.0	10.8	38.4
2000	493	46.0	10.7	43.8
2001	497	46.0	10.8	46.5
2002	504	46.0	11.0	43.3
2003	504	46.0	11.0	43.3
2004	543	46.0	11.8	47.3
2005	548	49.0	11.2	n/a
2006	572	49.0	11.7	43
2007	594	44.0	13.5	44.2
2008	562	46.0	12.2	45.6
2009	445	46.5	9.6	n/a
2010	618	48.6	12.7	53.7
2011	613	46.4	13.1	55.1
2012	593	44.8	13.2	57.5
2013	587	45.9	12.7	61.8
2014	591	43.8	13.4	57.5
2015	590	44.0	13.4	51.7
2016	571	46.0	12.4	47.3
2017	561	41.5	13.5	51.7
2018	560	40.0	14.0	43.4
2019	555	40.2	13.7	47.6
2020	555	36.4	15.2	42.5
2021	557	40.4	13.7	39
2022	557	39.0	14.2	26.9
2023	560	39.5	14.1	51.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Swain County High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,251 (9.7%)	$11,638 (90.3%)	$12,889

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Swain County High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 296^th of 514 High schools	Ranks 391^st of 626 High schools	4.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Swain County High School)	47.2	40.7	6.5%
End of Course Biology (Swain County Schools)	47.2	40.7	6.5%
End of Course Biology (North Carolina)	59.6	54.1	5.5%
End of Course English II (Swain County High School)	56.6	59.6	3%
End of Course English II (Swain County Schools)	56.6	59.6	3%
End of Course English II (North Carolina)	59.7	58.5	1.2%
End of Course Math I (Swain County High School)	34.1	20.3	13.8%
End of Course Math I (Swain County Schools)	34.1	20.3	13.8%
End of Course Math I (North Carolina)	41.2	35.9	5.3%
End of Course Math III (Swain County High School)	43.4	60.5	17.1%
End of Course Math III (Swain County Schools)	43.4	60.5	17.1%
End of Course Math III (North Carolina)	46.8	58.3	11.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	555	560	0.9%
African American	3	5	66.7%
American Indian	117	101	13.7%
Asian	4	3	25%
Hispanic	23	25	8.7%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	382	389	1.8%
Two or More Races	25	37	48%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	47.6%	51.4%	3.9%

Schools Near Swain County High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOC Biology (2024)	EOC English II (2024)	EOC Math I (2024)	EOC Math III (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Swain County High School	Public	9-12	1415 Fontana Road	Bryson City	28713	Swain County	Swain County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 488-2152	560	40	14.1	51.4%	389 (69.5%)	5 (0.9%)	25 (4.5%)	3 (0.5%)	101 (18.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.6%)	24.9	486^th of 640 public high schools	24.1%		35.7	391^st of 626 public high schools	37.5%	95	37.2	49.7	18.9	46.3	$12,889	$1,251	$11,638
Cherokee Central High School	Public	6-12	200 Ravensford Drive	Cherokee	28719	Swain County	Cherokee Central High School	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(828) 554-5030	709	35	20.2	99.6%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	709 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Jackson County Early College	Public	9-12	404 College Drive	Sylva	28779	Jackson County	Jackson County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 339-4499	101	4	25.2	41.6%	67 (66.3%)	1 (1.0%)	14 (13.9%)	5 (5.0%)	6 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (7.9%)	87	103^rd of 640 public high schools	83.9%		90.3	64^th of 626 public high schools	89.8%	39	89.7	100.0	41.2	96.8	$7,254	$111	$7,144
Smoky Mountain High School	Public	9-12	100 Smoky Mountain Drive	Sylva	28779	Jackson County	Jackson County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 586-2177	899	54	16.5	54.2%	633 (70.4%)	11 (1.2%)	161 (17.9%)	11 (1.2%)	48 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (3.9%)	39.8	372^nd of 640 public high schools	41.9%		37.2	378^th of 626 public high schools	39.6%	6	48.4	53.8	40.6	51.1	$11,017	$880	$10,137
Jackson Community School	Public	5-12	3770 Skyland Drive	Sylva	28779	Jackson County	Jackson County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 586-4328	75	11	7.1	92.0%	46 (61.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (13.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (16.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (9.3%)	4.3	623^rd of 640 public high schools	2.7%					(n/a)	11.8	25.0			$26,010	$1,858	$24,152
Franklin High	Public	9-12	100 Panther Drive	Franklin	28734	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 524-6467	1,005	60	16.6	51.4%	733 (72.9%)	7 (0.7%)	223 (22.2%)	9 (0.9%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	30 (3.0%)	52.7	283^rd of 640 public high schools	55.8%		53	271^st of 626 public high schools	56.7%	12	49.6	53.0	47.0	77.0	$9,457	$662	$8,795

Swain County High School

Swain County High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Swain County Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Swain County High School

Rank History for all students at Swain County High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Swain County High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Swain County High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Swain County High School

Rank History for Female students at Swain County High School

Rank History for Disabled students at Swain County High School

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Swain County High School

Rank History for Male students at Swain County High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Swain County High School

Rank History for Native American students at Swain County High School

Rank History for White students at Swain County High School

Enrollment information for Swain County High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Swain County High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Swain County High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Swain County High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Swain County High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Swain County High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Swain County High School

Rate Swain County High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Sign up for updates!