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Public School Review - Established 2003

Macon County Schools

1202 Old Murphy Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
6/
10
Top 50%
Tel: (828) 524-3314
www.macon.k12.nc.us

Top Rankings

Macon County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 8 public elementary schools serving 2,641 students in Macon County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Macon County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 27% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
12 Schools
2,151 Schools
# Students
4,455 Students
1,095,784 Students
# Teachers
281 Teachers
71,767 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
Pre-K9375
Kind307315
1310325
2339331
3340341
4337325
5338333
6346333
746325
828327
92735
104431
114728
123924
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District Rank

Macon County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 93% has increased from 91% over five school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (NC)
#155 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearMacon County Schools
2023#155
2022#155
2021#128
2019#143
2018#126
2017#133
2016#127
2015#141
2014#119
2013#104
2012#101
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(21-22)
50%
51%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
202250%51%
202147%42%
201940%42%
201843%48%
201749%47%
201647%47%
201541%44%
201440%43%
201338%42%
201284%82%
201183%82%
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51%
50%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
202251%50%
202150%47%
201947%46%
201843%47%
201747%46%
201648%47%
201546%46%
201447%46%
201347%45%
201275%73%
201171%70%
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63%
63%

Science Proficiency Trends

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
202263%63%
202165%61%
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(21-22)
89%
86%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
202289%86%
202182%85%
202095%86%
201994%85%
201891%86%
201792%88%
201693%88%
201588%87%
201488%86%
201386%85%
201285%83%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.44
0.72

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
20240.410.71
20230.410.71
20220.410.70
20210.390.69
20200.370.68
20190.370.68
20180.360.67
20170.360.67
20160.350.66
20150.380.66
20140.330.65
20130.310.65
20120.310.64
20110.290.64
20100.250.61
20090.250.61
20080.220.61
20070.190.60
20060.170.58
20050.150.58
20040.130.57
20030.120.56
20020.100.55
20010.070.53
20000.060.53
19990.070.52
19980.060.52
19970.060.50
19960.060.50
19950.050.49
19940.050.48
19930.050.48
19920.050.48
19910.050.48
19900.050.48
19890.040.48
19880.040.47
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% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
5%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2024)

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
20241%4%
20232%4%
20221%4%
20211%4%
20201%3%
20191%3%
20161%3%
20141%3%
20131%3%
20121%3%
20112%2%
20102%3%
20091%2%
20082%3%
20071%3%
20061%2%
20052%2%
20041%2%
20031%2%
20021%2%
20012%2%
20001%2%
19991%2%
19981%2%
19971%1%
19961%1%
19951%1%
19941%1%
19931%1%
19921%1%
19911%1%
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% Hispanic
24%
22%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2024)

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
202423%21%
202322%20%
202221%20%
202120%19%
202019%18%
201919%18%
201820%17%
201720%17%
201618%16%
201514%16%
201415%15%
201314%14%
201213%13%
201112%13%
201010%11%
200911%11%
20089%11%
20078%10%
20066%8%
20054%8%
20044%7%
20033%6%
20022%5%
20011%4%
20001%4%
19991%3%
19981%3%
19971%2%
19961%2%
19941%1%
19921%1%
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% Black
1%
24%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1990-2024)

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
20241%25%
20231%25%
20221%25%
20211%25%
20201%25%
20191%25%
20141%26%
20131%26%
20121%26%
20111%26%
20102%31%
20092%31%
20081%29%
20071%29%
20062%32%
20052%31%
20042%31%
20032%31%
20022%31%
20011%31%
20002%31%
19991%31%
19981%30%
19971%31%
19961%31%
19951%30%
19941%30%
19931%30%
19921%30%
19911%30%
19901%30%
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% White
71%
42%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
202473%43%
202373%44%
202274%45%
202176%46%
202077%48%
201977%48%
201878%49%
201778%49%
201679%50%
201550%50%
201481%51%
201382%52%
201282%53%
201183%53%
201086%54%
200986%54%
200888%55%
200790%56%
200691%56%
200592%57%
200493%58%
200394%59%
200295%60%
200196%61%
200096%61%
199997%62%
199897%63%
199797%64%
199697%64%
199598%65%
199497%66%
199398%66%
199297%66%
199197%66%
199097%66%
198998%66%
198898%67%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2024)

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
20242%6%
20232%6%
20223%5%
20212%5%
20202%5%
20192%5%
20182%4%
20172%4%
20162%4%
20154%4%
20142%4%
20132%4%
20123%4%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $11,629 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,826 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$52 MM
$17,307 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
2023$52 MM$8 MM
2022$49 MM$8 MM
2021$52 MM$8 MM
2020$49 MM$8 MM
2019$47 MM$8 MM
2018$44 MM$8 MM
2017$44 MM$8 MM
2016$44 MM$8 MM
2015$46 MM$18 MM
2014$40 MM$10 MM
2012$40 MM$17 MM
2011$46 MM$19 MM
2010$46 MM$18 MM
2009$43 MM$19 MM
2008$39 MM$18 MM
2007$40 MM$18 MM
2006$38 MM$15 MM
2005$37 MM$15 MM
2004$48 MM$17 MM
2003$29 MM$17 MM
2002$37 MM$16 MM
2001$41 MM$17 MM
2000$35 MM$20 MM
1999$25 MM$23 MM
1998$24 MM$26 MM
1997$23 MM$34 MM
1996$21 MM$34 MM
1995$22 MM$32 MM
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Spending
$53 MM
$17,964 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
2023$53 MM$8 MM
2022$51 MM$8 MM
2021$53 MM$8 MM
2020$51 MM$8 MM
2019$49 MM$7 MM
2018$45 MM$8 MM
2017$45 MM$9 MM
2016$47 MM$8 MM
2015$56 MM$18 MM
2014$44 MM$11 MM
2012$52 MM$16 MM
2011$50 MM$17 MM
2010$56 MM$18 MM
2009$42 MM$18 MM
2008$42 MM$17 MM
2007$37 MM$18 MM
2006$36 MM$15 MM
2005$35 MM$15 MM
2004$32 MM$16 MM
2003$31 MM$17 MM
2002$35 MM$15 MM
2001$39 MM$17 MM
2000$34 MM$20 MM
1999$25 MM$24 MM
1998$24 MM$26 MM
1997$21 MM$36 MM
1996$20 MM$33 MM
1995$21 MM$32 MM
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Revenue / Student
$11,629
$11,168

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
2023$11,668$10,093
2022$10,922$9,918
2021$11,888$10,282
2020$10,922$9,918
2019$10,394$9,125
2018$10,081$9,419
2017$10,037$10,522
2016$9,844$9,128
2015$10,361$10,864
2014$9,274$9,046
2012$8,960$10,562
2011$10,688$12,703
2010$10,465$10,864
2009$9,789$11,105
2008$8,994$11,767
2007$9,423$9,479
2006$8,960$9,335
2005$8,886$8,913
2004$11,702$8,734
2003$6,971$8,577
2002$9,170$8,130
2001$10,259$7,294
2000$8,714$7,636
1999$6,270$7,252
1998$6,018$5,688
1997$5,827$5,690
1995$6,169$5,545
1992$4,884$4,737
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Spending / Student
$11,826
$11,592

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearMacon County SchoolsNorth Carolina
2023$11,866$9,807
2022$11,276$9,654
2021$12,089$9,990
2020$11,276$9,654
2019$11,014$8,949
2018$10,264$9,637
2017$10,352$11,583
2016$10,602$9,753
2015$12,533$10,591
2014$10,110$9,388
2012$11,607$10,336
2011$11,508$11,927
2010$12,658$10,591
2009$9,409$10,880
2008$9,682$11,136
2007$8,641$9,418
2006$8,383$8,813
2005$8,345$8,647
2004$7,829$8,413
2003$7,476$8,886
2002$8,685$7,903
2001$9,669$7,301
2000$8,451$7,650
1999$6,393$7,340
1998$5,958$5,663
1997$5,485$6,040
1995$5,927$5,570
1992$4,901$4,725
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Best Macon County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Highlands School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
545 Pierson Dr
Highlands, NC 28741
(828) 526-2147
Gr: K-12 | 344 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #22.
Cartoogechaye Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3295 Old Murphy Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 524-2845
Gr: PK-4 | 354 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #33.
South Macon Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
855 Addington Bridge Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 369-0796
Gr: PK-4 | 465 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #44.
East Franklin Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
100 Watauga St
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 524-3216
Gr: K-4 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #55.
Nantahala School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
213 Windingstairs Rd
Topton, NC 28781
(828) 321-4388
Gr: K-12 | 97 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #66.
Mountain View Intermediate
(Math: 49% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
161 Clarks Chapel Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 349-1325
Gr: 5-6 | 614 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #77.
Iotla Valley Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1166 Iotla Church Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 524-2938
Gr: PK-4 | 408 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #88.
Macon Virtual Academy
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1202 Old Murphy Rd
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 524-3314
Gr: K-12 | 44 students Minority enrollment: 14%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 12 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 4,455 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 29%
  • : 89% (Top 5% in NC)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 50% (Top 50%)
  • : 51% (Top 50%)
  • : 63% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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