- Enrollment
- 881
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Whittier, NC
Smokey Mountain Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Smokey Mountain Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370234002067
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Smokey Mountain Elementary earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 70.3%
- free-lunch eligible
- 340
- students enrolled
Smokey Mountain Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Jackson County Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370234002067 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+3 students YoY
Smokey Mountain Elementary held near 356 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 25.0 → 23.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+3 students YoY 370234002067 · Whittier, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
340 enr · 14.2:1 · 70.3% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Smoky Mountain High School (881 students)
Smokey Mountain Elementary held near 356 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 25.0 → 23.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Smokey Mountain Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Smoky Mountain
Smoky Mountain High School
881 students
- Fairview Eleme
Fairview Elementary
797 students
- Cullowhee Vall
Cullowhee Valley School
570 students
- Scotts Creek E
Scotts Creek Elementary
422 students
- This school 340
Smokey Mountain Elementary
340 students
- Blue Ridge Sch 144
Blue Ridge School
144 students
What this shows Smokey Mountain Elementary reports 340 students on the CCD universe file.
How Smokey Mountain Elementary compares
Smokey Mountain Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▼ 10% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.3% | ▲ 7% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 340 | top 72% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
340
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 37% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
51.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,568
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 340 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 36.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 32.6%
Hispanic or Latino 15.6%
Two or More 12.6%
Asian 1.5%
African American 0.9%
Largest group: White at 36.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.8, Smokey Mountain Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Jackson County Public Schools reports $13,568 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Smokey Mountain Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoky Mountain High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fairview Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cullowhee Valley School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Scotts Creek Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Blue Ridge School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Smokey Mountain Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 797
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 570
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 422
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 144
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~340 students)
Frequently asked questions about Smokey Mountain Elementary
How many students attend Smokey Mountain Elementary?
Smokey Mountain Elementary has 340 students enrolled. It is a public school in Whittier, NC. CCD year-over-year: 353 (2022-23) → 356 (2023-24), nearly flat (+3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Smokey Mountain Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Smokey Mountain Elementary is 14.2:1, which is 10% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Smokey Mountain Elementary?
70.3% of students at Smokey Mountain Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Smokey Mountain Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Smokey Mountain Elementary is White at 36.8% of enrollment, in Whittier, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Smokey Mountain Elementary?
Smokey Mountain Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Jackson County Public Schools?
Besides Smokey Mountain Elementary, Jackson County Public Schools also operates Smoky Mountain High School (881 students), Fairview Elementary (797 students), and Cullowhee Valley School (570 students). See the Jackson County Public Schools district page for the complete list.