Is Swain County Middle School a good school?

Swain County Middle School ranks 368 th of 793 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Swain County Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 485 students attended Swain County Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Swain County Middle School?

Students at Swain County Middle School are 64% White, 23% American Indian, 6% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic.

What high school do graduates of Swain County Middle School attend?

Students who attend Swain County Middle School usually go on to attend Swain County High School

Swain County Middle School

Summary:

Swain County Middle School is a public middle school located in Bryson City, North Carolina, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 485 students. The school is part of the Swain County Schools district, which is ranked 175 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

One of the unique aspects of Swain County Middle School is its high percentage of Native American students, around 23%, which is significantly higher than the state average. Interestingly, these Native American students consistently perform very well, ranking among the top 5-20 middle schools in the state for this subgroup. However, the school's white students perform relatively poorly, ranking in the bottom half of middle schools in the state. Additionally, the school's 8th-grade students excel in science, with proficiency rates above the state average and reaching as high as 79.3% in 2020-2021.

Despite these strengths, Swain County Middle School's overall statewide ranking has declined over the years, from a high of 310 out of 741 middle schools in 2020-2021 to 368 out of 793 in 2023-2024. This suggests a need to address the school's academic performance across all grades and subjects. Compared to the nearby Mountain View Intermediate and Macon Middle School, Swain County Middle School generally performs worse in mathematics and reading proficiency, despite having a lower student-teacher ratio. However, the school's performance in special education and gifted and talented programs is relatively strong, indicating its ability to effectively serve these student subgroups.

Detail:

Public 6-8

135 Arlington Ave
Bryson City, NC 28713

(828) 488-3480

District: Swain County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
368^th of 793 North Carolina Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,023

Students who attend Swain County Middle School usually attend:

High:

Swain County High School

Feeder schools for Swain County Middle School:

Elementary:	Swain County East Elementary
	Swain County West Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 16.4

Number of students: 485

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.9%

American Indian:

23.3%

Two or more races:

6.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 64.7%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare Swain County Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Swain County Middle School ranks better than 53.6% of middle schools in North Carolina. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 52.44. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (63.9%), American Indian (23.3%), two or more races (6.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 64.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Swain County Middle School is 16.4. (See more...)

Compare Swain County Middle School employs 29.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Swain County Middle School is $12,023.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Swain County Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Swain County Middle School 368^th of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See Swain County Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle 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:

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 Middle School?

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Rank History for Swain County Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Swain County Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2006	61.78	239^th	598	60.0%
2007	61.87	253^rd	606	58.3%
2008	58.29	281^st	620	54.7%
2009	63.88	247^th	630	60.8%
2010	60.60	301^st	640	53.0%
2011	57.92	320^th	648	50.6%
2012	63.24	275^th	662	58.5%
2013	47.56	345^th	673	48.7%
2014	35.67	398^th	627	36.5%
2015	49.43	376^th	705	46.7%
2016	49.85	357^th	692	48.4%
2017	52.62	344^th	694	50.4%
2018	49.05	375^th	691	45.7%
2019	55.41	335^th	737	54.5%
2021	54.89	310^th	741	58.2%
2022	43.30	439^th	786	44.1%
2023	49.66	387^th	784	50.6%
2024	52.44	368^th	793	53.6%

See the entire list of North Carolina Middle School Rankings!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	19.33	255^th	283	9.9%
2023	30.96	229^th	302	24.2%
2024	35.92	201^st	306	34.3%

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

Rank History for Special Education students at Swain County Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	42.56	228^th	473	51.8%

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

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	55.80	245^th	604	59.4%
2019	59.75	211^th	639	67.0%
2021	68.41	131^st	633	79.3%
2022	42.71	383^rd	689	44.4%
2023	54.83	293^rd	735	60.1%
2024	58.69	271^st	743	63.5%

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

Rank History for Female students at Swain County Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	54.93	313^th	656	52.3%
2019	59.55	279^th	684	59.2%
2021	52.13	321^st	706	54.5%
2022	40.90	433^rd	733	40.9%
2023	50.60	357^th	731	51.2%
2024	51.86	343^rd	738	53.5%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Swain County Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	39.65	266^th	475	44.0%
2019	49.60	211^th	504	58.1%
2021	65.82	75^th	478	84.3%
2022	35.78	268^th	449	40.3%

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

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2019	66.87	113^th	416	72.8%
2021	54.79	247^th	448	44.9%
2022	54.84	252^nd	450	44.0%
2023	43.16	335^th	452	25.9%
2024	58.38	224^th	461	51.4%

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

Rank History for Male students at Swain County Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	41.20	421^st	665	36.7%
2019	49.06	368^th	697	47.2%
2021	56.19	281^st	711	60.5%
2022	42.99	425^th	748	43.2%
2023	45.49	399^th	747	46.6%
2024	49.94	365^th	751	51.4%

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

Rank History for Native American students at Swain County Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	58.55	9^th	23	60.9%
2019	67.54	7^th	24	70.8%
2021	84.03	1^st	23	95.7%
2022	77.64	2^nd	20	90.0%
2023	68.75	5^th	18	72.2%
2024	71.92	4^th	21	81.0%

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

Rank History for White students at Swain County Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	31.80	455^th	596	23.7%
2019	39.37	402^nd	624	35.6%
2021	44.26	341^st	632	46.0%
2022	26.99	522^nd	658	20.7%
2023	35.40	447^th	656	31.9%
2024	32.63	470^th	652	27.9%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle 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

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Enrollment information for Swain County Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1992	191	1	0	0	64	n/a	n/a	0	256
1993	191	1	0	0	50	n/a	n/a	0	242
1994	196	1	0	0	52	n/a	n/a	0	249
1995	199	1	0	1	54	n/a	n/a	0	255
1996	199	1	0	1	54	n/a	n/a	0	255
1997	209	2	0	1	55	n/a	n/a	0	267
1998	200	1	1	3	51	n/a	n/a	0	256
1999	290	2	1	1	68	n/a	n/a	0	362
2000	301	3	0	3	89	n/a	n/a	0	396
2001	311	6	0	5	90	n/a	n/a	0	412
2002	378	5	1	7	97	n/a	n/a	0	488
2003	378	5	1	7	97	n/a	n/a	0	488
2004	388	7	1	17	91	n/a	n/a	0	504
2005	314	5	1	9	97	n/a	n/a	0	426
2006	352	8	2	12	111	n/a	n/a	0	485
2007	372	2	3	7	124	n/a	n/a	4	512
2008	369	2	1	7	143	n/a	n/a	12	534
2009	282	6	2	10	123	n/a	n/a	0	423
2010	348	8	3	13	146	n/a	n/a	0	518
2011	378	2	1	15	130	0	26	0	552
2012	375	0	2	20	116	0	27	0	540
2013	370	1	1	20	142	0	21	0	555
2015	363	5	3	22	116	1	19	0	529
2016	331	3	4	21	119	1	22	0	501
2017	367	1	2	25	116	0	29	0	540
2018	352	2	3	26	136	0	30	0	549
2019	369	6	3	31	104	0	28	0	541
2020	292	6	4	20	94	1	27	0	444
2021	325	2	2	27	104	0	27	0	487
2022	301	1	1	24	99	0	46	0	472
2023	310	1	2	28	113	0	31	0	485

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 Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1992	256	22.0	11.6	39.5
1993	242	20.0	12.1	43.8
1994	249	22.0	11.3	41
1995	255	24.0	10.6	44.7
1996	255	24.0	10.6	44.7
1997	267	20.0	13.4	43.8
1998	256	27.0	9.5	45.3
1999	362	27.0	13.4	43.6
2000	396	27.0	14.7	53.8
2001	412	27.0	15.3	51.9
2002	488	31.0	15.7	58
2003	488	31.0	15.7	58
2004	504	31.0	16.3	60.7
2005	426	42.0	10.1	68.1
2006	485	42.0	11.5	56.7
2007	512	35.8	14.3	52.8
2008	534	33.7	15.8	44.3
2009	423	32.8	12.9	n/a
2010	518	32.4	15.9	61.2
2011	552	33.1	16.6	60.9
2012	540	34.5	15.6	64.3
2013	555	36.5	15.2	64.3
2015	529	38.0	13.9	59.7
2016	501	36.0	13.9	57.5
2017	540	34.9	15.4	59.8
2018	549	33.7	16.2	55.9
2019	541	36.9	14.6	57.9
2020	444	29.9	14.8	51.6
2021	487	31.2	15.5	43.9
2022	472	29.4	16.0	36.9
2023	485	29.5	16.4	64.7

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 Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1992	256	22.0	11.6	39.5
1993	242	20.0	12.1	43.8
1994	249	22.0	11.3	41
1995	255	24.0	10.6	44.7
1996	255	24.0	10.6	44.7
1997	267	20.0	13.4	43.8
1998	256	27.0	9.5	45.3
1999	362	27.0	13.4	43.6
2000	396	27.0	14.7	53.8
2001	412	27.0	15.3	51.9
2002	488	31.0	15.7	58
2003	488	31.0	15.7	58
2004	504	31.0	16.3	60.7
2005	426	42.0	10.1	68.1
2006	485	42.0	11.5	56.7
2007	512	35.8	14.3	52.8
2008	534	33.7	15.8	44.3
2009	423	32.8	12.9	n/a
2010	518	32.4	15.9	61.2
2011	552	33.1	16.6	60.9
2012	540	34.5	15.6	64.3
2013	555	36.5	15.2	64.3
2015	529	38.0	13.9	59.7
2016	501	36.0	13.9	57.5
2017	540	34.9	15.4	59.8
2018	549	33.7	16.2	55.9
2019	541	36.9	14.6	57.9
2020	444	29.9	14.8	51.6
2021	487	31.2	15.5	43.9
2022	472	29.4	16.0	36.9
2023	485	29.5	16.4	64.7

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 Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,993 (16.6%)	$10,030 (83.4%)	$12,023

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Swain County Middle 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 335^th of 737 Middle schools	Ranks 387^th of 784 Middle schools	3.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade Mathematics (Swain County Middle School)	76.9	49.6	27.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Swain County Schools)	76.9	49.6	27.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)	58.8	52.3	6.5%
6th Grade Reading (Swain County Middle School)	63.3	52.9	10.4%
6th Grade Reading (Swain County Schools)	63.3	52.9	10.4%
6th Grade Reading (North Carolina)	60	49.3	10.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (Swain County Middle School)	58.3	60.7	2.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Swain County Schools)	58.3	60.7	2.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)	58.4	50.1	8.3%
7th Grade Reading (Swain County Middle School)	53.2	53.3	0.1%
7th Grade Reading (Swain County Schools)	53.2	53.3	0.1%
7th Grade Reading (North Carolina)	58.8	50.2	8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Swain County Middle School)	50.3	29.8	20.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Swain County Schools)	50.3	29.8	20.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)	52.6	44.8	7.8%
8th Grade Reading (Swain County Middle School)	52.2	48.5	3.7%
8th Grade Reading (Swain County Schools)	52.2	48.5	3.7%
8th Grade Reading (North Carolina)	55.6	51	4.6%
8th Grade Science (Swain County Middle School)	74.8	59.2	15.6%
8th Grade Science (Swain County Schools)	74.8	59.2	15.6%
8th Grade Science (North Carolina)	78.6	70.3	8.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	541	485	10.4%
African American	6	1	83.3%
American Indian	104	113	8.7%
Asian	3	2	33.3%
Hispanic	31	28	9.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	369	310	16%
Two or More Races	28	31	10.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	57.9%	64.7%	6.9%

Schools Near Swain County Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOG Mathematics (2024)				EOG Reading (2024)				EOG Science (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	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Swain County Middle School	Public	6-8	135 Arlington Ave	Bryson City	28713	Swain County	Swain County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 488-3480	485	30	16.4	64.7%	310 (63.9%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (5.8%)	2 (0.4%)	113 (23.3%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.4%)	52.4	368^th of 793 public middle schools	53.6%		49.7	387^th of 784 public middle schools	50.6%	19		49.5	52.3	41.9		48.6	45.7	57.4		70.5	$12,023	$1,993	$10,030
Catamount School	Public	6-8	100 Smoky Mountain Dr	Sylva	28779	Jackson County	Catamount School	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 331-1775	59	8	7.6	50.8%	53 (89.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.7%)	1 (1.7%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.1%)	45.7	431^st of 793 public middle schools	45.6%		55.1	331^st of 784 public middle schools	57.8%	100		42.1	71.4	34.8		42.1	71.4	34.8		69.6
Mountain View Intermediate	Public	5-6	161 Clarks Chapel Road	Franklin	28734	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 349-1325	567	40	14.3	69.3%	398 (70.2%)	8 (1.4%)	141 (24.9%)	3 (0.5%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.3%)								(n/a)	49.2	47.2			43.0	44.9			60.0		$8,190	$1,131	$7,059
Macon Middle School	Public	7-8	1345 Wells Grove Rd	Franklin	28734	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 524-3766	599	41	14.6	59.3%	428 (71.5%)	3 (0.5%)	149 (24.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.8%)	47.4	420^th of 793 public middle schools	47.0%		55.2	330^th of 784 public middle schools	57.9%	90			51.1	40.2			39.5	49.3		72.5	$9,141	$985	$8,156

Swain County Middle School

Swain County Middle School:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Swain County Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Swain County Middle School

Rank History for all students at Swain County Middle School

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

Rank History for Special Education students at Swain County Middle School

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

Rank History for Female students at Swain County Middle School

Rank History for Disabled students at Swain County Middle School

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

Rank History for Male students at Swain County Middle School

Rank History for Native American students at Swain County Middle School

Rank History for White students at Swain County Middle School

Enrollment information for Swain County Middle School

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

Student/Teacher Ratio Swain County Middle School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Swain County Middle School

Impact of COVID-19 on Swain County Middle School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Swain County Middle School