Best Public Schools in Canton, NC

The five public schools in Canton, North Carolina—three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—are all part of Haywood County Schools, serving roughly 2,401 students. The district earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 74th percentile statewide. What makes these schools particularly noteworthy is that nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch (between 97.98% and 99.65% across all five schools), yet several schools still manage to outperform state averages—an important reminder that poverty does not predetermine achievement.

Pisgah High is the district's highest-ranked school, placing in the 76th percentile among North Carolina high schools with a 4-star rating. Its scores are consistently above state averages, with standout results in Math I (76.3% proficient vs. 42.1% statewide) and Math III (86.1% vs. 68.9%). Among elementary schools, North Canton Elementary ranks highest at the 74th percentile with strong third-grade math (81.1%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in Canton (12.7%). Bethel Elementary also shines in upper elementary subjects, especially fifth-grade science (87.4% vs. 67.7% statewide).

At the other end of the spectrum, Meadowbrook Elementary is the school of highest concern, ranking in just the 37th percentile with a 2-star rating. Its fifth-grade proficiency rates trail dramatically behind Bethel's—a 44-point gap in math (37.5% vs. 81.6%) and a 31-point gap in reading (31.3% vs. 62.1%)—despite both schools serving nearly identical poverty levels. Canton Middle also shows areas of concern, with the highest chronic absenteeism rate in Canton at 28.0% and below-state reading proficiency in sixth and eighth grades, though its math and science scores remain solid. Reading is the district's weakest subject overall, and the schools with the highest absenteeism tend to struggle more while those with the lowest absenteeism perform best.