Highlands, NC School Guide
Jackson County Public Schools and Macon County Schools, both of which serve Highlands area students, work hard to achieve their goal of ensuring that each child receives the best possible education available. In order to help you find the school that is the right fit for your child, we have provided a list of public and private schools in the area, as well as their contact information and websites where available. Additionally, we have included local and nearby colleges and universities to provide a picture of the range of educational opportunity available in Highlands. Please take a moment to review these listings, and welcome to Jackson County Public Schools and Macon County Schools!
Official Websites
Jackson County Public Schools
398 Hospital Rd
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 227-7100
http://www.jcps.k12.nc.us
Macon County Schools
1202 Old Murphy Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 524-3314
http://www.mcsk-12.org/
North Carolina Public Schools
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/
North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education
http://www.ncdnpe.org/
North Carolina Department of Education
http://www.educationdepartment.org/department/NC
North Carolina Education Alliance
http://www.nceducationalliance.org/
Nearby County School Systems
Haywood County Schools
1230 North Main Street
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 456-2400
http://www.haywood.k12.nc.us/
Transylvania County Schools
225 Rosenwald Lane
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 884-6173
http://www.transylvania.k12.nc.us/
School District of Oconee County
414 South Pine Street
Walhalla, SC 29691
(864) 886-4400
http://www.oconee.k12.sc.us/
Swain County School District
1415 Fontana Road
Bryson City, NC 28713-6951
(828) 488-2152
http://www.swain.k12.nc.us/
Public Schools
Jackson County’s public school system is unique in that our schools maintain a K-8 system, combining elementary and middle schools. Additionally, Jackson County schools support one central high school and one combined K-12 school, where elementary, intermediate and high school level students come together to learn. There are eight public Jackson County schools in total, each with a unique history and approach to academics. Additionally, there are eleven schools in the Macon County Schools system, serving over 4,400 regional students.
Jackson County Exceptional Education
http://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/departments/ECP/Pages/default2.aspx
Macon County Schools District Accomplishments
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/superintendent/Pages%20Library/District%20Accomplishments.aspx
Macon County Schools Academically Gifted Program
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/Departments/AG/default.aspx
Macon County Schools Career and Technical Education
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/Departments/CTE/default.aspx
Macon County Schools Exceptional Education
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/Departments/EC/default.aspx
Macon County Schools Public School Choice
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/parents/Lists/Announcements/DispForm.aspx?ID=7
Elementary/Intermediate Schools
Jackson County’s public school system is unique in that our schools maintain a K-8 system, combining elementary and middle schools. Additionally, Jackson County schools support one central high school and one combined K-12 school, where elementary, intermediate and high school level students come together to learn. Smokey Mountain Elementary School, serving over 450 area students from the nearby communities of Indian Hills, Barkers Creek, Qualla, Whittier, Wilmont, Dicks Creek and Dillsboro. Smokey Mountain Elementary School also serves as a local alterative to the Cherokee Indian Reservation Elementary School and Middle School, and as such, provides specialized arts programs and a Cherokee language program. Blue Ridge School combines students from all levels of study and provides quality education for levels K-12 in the Jackson County region. The School Of Alternatives (the HUB) is another K-12 level public school, providing alternative education for disabled students and students with social/behavioral issues who require individual attention. Macon County Schools provide 4 additional elementary schools, two K-12 schools, one early college school, one charter school, two dedicated intermediate schools and one high school to meet the needs of the regional student body.
Fairview School (K-8)
1355 Charlotte Hwy.
Fairview, NC 28730.
(828) 628-2732
http://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/FES/Pages/default.aspx
Cullowhee Valley School (K-8)
240 Wisdom Drive
Cullowhee, NC 28723-8500
(828) 293-5667
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/CVS/Pages/default.aspx
Scotts Creek School (K-8)
516 Parris Branch Road
Sylva, NC 28779-8825
(828) 631-2740
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/SCE/Pages/default.aspx
Smokey Mountain Elementary School (K-8)
884 US Hwy 441n
Whittier, NC 28789
(828) 497-5535
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/SME/Pages/default.aspx
Blue Ridge School (K-12)
95 Bobcat Drive
Cashiers, NC 28717-8523
(828) 743-2646
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/BRS/Pages/default.aspx
The School Of Alternatives (K-12)
3770 Skyland Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4328
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/HUB/Pages/default.aspx
Cartoogechaye Elementary School (MCS)
3295 Old Murphy Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 524-2845
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/cartoogechaye/default.aspx
East Franklin Elementary School (MCS)
100 Watauga Street
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 524-3216
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/EFES/default.aspx
Iotla Valley Elementary School (MCS)
51 Cowee School Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 524-2938
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/iotla/default.aspx
South Macon Elementary School (MCS)
855 Addington Bridge Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 369-0796
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/southmacon/default.aspx
Intermediate/High Schools
Smoky Mountain High School
100 Smoky Mountain Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2177
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/SMH/Pages/default.aspx
Jackson County Early College
447 College Dr
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 339-4000
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/JCEC/Pages/default.aspx
Blue Ridge Early College
95 Bobcat Drive
Cashiers, NC 28717-8523
(828) 743-2646
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/BREC/Pages/default.aspx
Blue Ridge School (K-12)
95 Bobcat Drive
Cashiers, NC 28717-8523
(828) 743-2646
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/BRS/Pages/default.aspx
The School Of Alternatives (K-12)
3770 Skyland Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4328
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/HUB/Pages/default.aspx
Macon Middle School (6-8, MCS)
1345 Wells Grove Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 524-3766
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/mms/default.aspx
Mountain View Intermediate (6-8, MCS)
161 Clarks Chapel Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 349-1325
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/mvi/default.aspx
Highlands School (K-12, MCS)
545 Pierson Drive
Highlands, NC 28741
(828) 526-2147
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/Highlands/default.aspx
Nantahala School (K-12, MCS)
213 Windingstairs Road
Topton, NC 28781
(828) 321-4388
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/Nantahala/default.aspx
Franklin High School (9-12, MCS)
100 Panther Drive
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 524-6467
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/FHS/default.aspx
Macon Early College (MCS)
815 Siler Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 369-7331
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/MEC/default.aspx
Home School & Virtual School
Homeschooling and virtual assisted education are alternatives offered in Highlands. To explore these educational options and how they might benefit your student, please visit:
Home School
North Carolinians for Home Education
http://nche.com/
North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education
http://www.ncdnpe.org/
Home School Legal Defense Association- Home Schooling in North Carolina
http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/nc/
Homeschool Alliance of North Carolina
http://www.ha-nc.org/
Homeschooling In North Carolina
http://www.homeschoolinginnorthcarolina.com/
Virtual School
Distance Learning - Public Schools of North Carolina
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/distancelearning/
North Carolina Virtual Public School
http://www.ncvps.org/
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
http://www.dlt.ncssm.edu/ivc/courses.htm
Charter Schools
Union Academy (MCS)
158 Union School Road
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 369-1277
http://www.macon.k12.nc.us/schools/union/default.aspx
Blue Ridge Early College
95 Bobcat Drive
Cashiers, NC 28717-8523
(828) 743-2646
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/BREC/Pages/default.aspx
Blue Ridge School (K-12)
95 Bobcat Drive
Cashiers, NC 28717-8523
(828) 743-2646
https://www.jcps.k12.nc.us/SCHOOLS/BRS/Pages/default.aspx
Summit Charter School
370 Mitten Lane
Cashiers, NC 28717
(828) 743-5755
http://summitschool.org/
Private Schools
St Joseph Academy
175 Rich Cove Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 926-5385
http://www.napcis.org/NorthCarolina.html
Victory Christian School
278 Victory Church Road
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2120
http://mountainvictory.org/
Waynesville SDA School
119 Hampshire Drive
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 926-3316
http://www.waynesvillesda.org/
Smoky Mountain Learning Center
414 Whittier School Road
Whittier, NC 28789
(828) 736-8450
http://www.mountainlearning.com
Nearby Colleges and Universities
College Foundation of North Carolina
http://www.cfnc.org/
Southwestern Community College
447 College Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4091
http://www.southwesterncc.edu
Western Carolina University
501 HFR Admin Building
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(828) 227-7100
http://www.wcu.edu
Other Schools of Interest
Oconaluftee Job Corps Center
502 Oconaluftee Job Corps Rd
Cherokee, NC 28719
(828) 497-5411
http://oconaluftee.jobcorps.gov
Haywood Community College Electronics Engineering
112 Industrial Drive
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 627-4569
http://www.jimfalbo.com