Education Key IndicatorsThe Workforce & Education category will include (but is not limited to) the following areas:
Educational Attainment
SAT Scores
Per-Pupil Expenditures
High School Graduation Rates
Overview
Jackson County has maintained per-pupil expenditures at or above the North Carolina average consistently throughout this decade. SAT scores are, however, slightly below both state and national averages. Of interest are the discrepancies between state averages and Jackson county results for those who have attained either graduate or bachelor's degrees. The surplus of those with graduate degrees in Jackson County can be readily attributed to the presence of Western Carolina University, while the relative dearth of those with only bachelor's degrees indicates a "brain drain" - Jackson County seems to have a problem retaining WCU graduates.
Jackson County Education
Untitled Document
Educational Attainment
Level
Jackson 2000
Jackson 2006
NC 2000
NC 2006
U.S. 2000
U.S. 2006
Less than 9th
8.60%
N
7.80%
6.60%
7.50%
6.50%
9th to 12th
12.6%
N
14.00%
11.40%
12.10%
9.40%
High School Grad
25.70%
N
28.40%
29.70%
28.60%
30.20%
Some College
20.6%
N
20.50%
19.30%
21.10%
19.50%
Associate's Degree
7.00%
N
6.80%
8.10%
6.30%
7.40%
Bachelor's Degree
13.90%
N
15.30%
16.50%
15.50%
17.10%
Graduate or Professional Degree
11.60%
N
7.20%
8.30%
8.90%
9.90%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey.
Note:"N" = no American Community Survey data available.
Note:"High School" includes equivalency.
Schools and Enrollments - NC Public Schools (2006-07 School Year)
Jackson County
Number
Number of Elementary Schools
4
Number of Secondary Schools
1
Number of Combined Schools
2
Public School Enrollment
3,521
Charter School Enrollment
171
Non-Public School Enrollment
0
SAT Scores - NC Public Schools (2008)
Area
Math
Verbal
Total
Jackson County
486
488
984
North Carolina
511
496
1007
United States
515
502
1017
Expenditure by Source of Funds - NC Public Schools (2006-07 School Year)
Jackson County has maintained per-pupil expenditures at or above the North Carolina average consistently throughout this decade.