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Hayesville High

Q: Is Hayesville High a good school?

Hayesville High ranks 362 nd of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

362^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 45% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Hayesville High is a small public high school in rural Hayesville, North Carolina, serving 366 students in grades 9–12 as part of Clay County Schools. The school's most notable recent trend is a steady decline in its statewide ranking: after sitting at the 70th percentile with a 4-star rating in 2015–2016, it has dropped over time and now sits at the 45th percentile with a 2-star rating in 2025–2026. Still, the school has several clear strengths, including a strong 93% graduation rate that beats the state average of 88.8%, and small class sizes reflected in a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.

Academically, Hayesville shows an unusual split in math performance. While only 22.7% of students scored proficient on Math I in 2025–2026 (compared with 42.1% statewide), a standout 74.4% scored proficient on Math III, outperforming the state rate of 68.9%. This means advanced math students fare quite well while entry-level math is a bottleneck. The school's gifted and talented students are a particular bright spot, ranking in the 92nd percentile statewide with a 5-star rating. That said, results are uneven across groups: female students score near the middle of the pack statewide, while male students have fallen well below average in the latest year.

Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern, with 36.6% of students chronically absent in 2024–2025, well above the state rate of 24.2%. When compared with nearby schools, Hayesville clearly outperforms Robbinsville High, which ranks in the bottom 15% statewide, and its overall rank is nearly identical to Murphy High, though the two schools have different subject strengths: Hayesville is stronger in Biology and Math III, while Murphy is stronger in English II and Math I. Given Hayesville's low absenteeism compared with Murphy's 47.3% and its strong results among engaged students, improving attendance may be the school's most promising lever for reversing its recent ranking decline.

366

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,651

Per pupil spending ?

99.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

205 Yellow Jacket Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904-9762

(828) 389-6532

District: Clay County Schools

Feeder schools for Hayesville High:

Elementary:	Hayesville Elementary
	Hayesville Primary School
Middle:	Hayesville Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

84.7%

Hispanic:

10.7%

Two or more races:

2.5%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Hayesville High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 70th percentile in 2016 → 45th in 2026

Strengths

✓93% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (89%)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (37% vs 24% North Carolina)

!Ranking has slipped — down 25 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg59%

North Carolina avg60%

362^nd of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 45%▼ down 25 pts since 2016

From top 30% (2016) to bottom 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

77^th of 246Clay County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.8	362 of 662	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	57.9	245 of 641	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.4	251 of 640	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.4	197 of 626	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.3	238 of 621	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.3	252 of 594	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.5	171 of 514	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.1	209 of 469	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	42.7	230 of 476	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	52.8	150 of 507	70.4%	★★★★☆
2015	49.1	187 of 531	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	45.9	181 of 451	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	57.6	90 of 505	82.2%	★★★★☆
2012	64.2	107 of 502	78.7%	★★★★☆
2011	76.8	38 of 506	92.5%	★★★★★
2010	74.4	43 of 499	91.4%	★★★★★
2009	74.5	43 of 490	91.2%	★★★★★
2008	74.7	46 of 477	90.4%	★★★★★
2007	72.2	62 of 453	86.3%	★★★★☆
2006	76.4	36 of 431	91.6%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	35.9	190 of 330	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.8	226 of 334	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.3	157 of 364	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	18.2	331 of 349	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.9	277 of 629	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.7	239 of 610	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.7	236 of 602	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.0	194 of 588	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.3	208 of 594	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.8	172 of 475	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.1	197 of 475	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.8	184 of 449	59.0%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.5	34 of 407	91.6%	★★★★★
2025	52.0	254 of 412	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	78.6	44 of 403	89.1%	★★★★☆
2023	80.8	55 of 403	86.4%	★★★★☆
2021	80.5	18 of 337	94.7%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.6	294 of 474	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.2	207 of 454	54.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	52.4	247 of 620	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.7	175 of 606	71.1%	★★★★☆
2024	49.7	251 of 613	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.9	131 of 597	78.1%	★★★★☆
2022	69.4	129 of 544	76.3%	★★★★☆
2021	50.6	114 of 432	73.6%	★★★★☆
2019	51.7	129 of 446	71.1%	★★★★☆
2018	52.1	144 of 424	66.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	34.4	416 of 624	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	55.8	240 of 601	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.1	248 of 607	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.0	203 of 602	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.7	224 of 585	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.5	174 of 481	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.2	157 of 488	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.2	236 of 463	49.0%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	40.9	180 of 349	48.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	34.6	386 of 551	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.6	298 of 542	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.7	301 of 553	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.0	269 of 537	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.6	270 of 534	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.6	231 of 439	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.2	241 of 444	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.1	306 of 427	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Gifted and Talented (2026)92nd percentile+46 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)60th percentile+15 vs school

Female (2026)56th percentile+11 vs school

Special Education (2024)48th percentile-12 vs school

Disabled (2022)42nd percentile-19 vs school

Hispanic (2026)38th percentile-7 vs school

Male (2026)33rd percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)30th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Math III74%+5 vs state

English II61%-4 vs state

Biology59%~ state avg

Math I23%-19 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, May 31, 2018

Hayesville High School only cares about their ratings. The school refuses to help students who are struggling, instead they send them to a night school in Georgia. They punish students for expressing themselves, especially when the student does not have straight A"s or a star athlete. The school officials are some of the biggest bullies in the school. Close Quote

Schools Near Hayesville High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hayesville High	Public	9-12	205 Yellow Jacket Drive	Hayesville	28904	Clay County	Clay County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 389-6532	366	28	13.0	99.2%	310 (84.7%)	2 (0.5%)	39 (10.7%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (2.5%)	45.8	362^nd of 662 public high schools	45.3%		57.9	245^th of 641 public high schools	61.8%	117	59.3	60.7	22.7	74.4	$14,651	$1,180	$13,471
Tri-County Early College High	Public	9-12	4700 East US 64 Alternate	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 837-6775	153	8	18.5	96.1%	112 (73.2%)	4 (2.6%)	24 (15.7%)	4 (2.6%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.2%)	70.5	186^th of 662 public high schools	71.9%		83.6	117^th of 641 public high schools	81.7%	69	90.5	85.0	50.0	60.0	$7,830	$280	$7,549
The Oaks Academy	Public	6-12	4700 East US 64 Alternate	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 837-6775	43	6	7.4	79.1%	39 (90.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.3%)								(n/a)	23.1		536.4		$16,426	$280	$16,146
Andrews High	Public	9-12	50 High School Drive	Andrews	28901	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 321-5415	229	10	24.0	97.8%	185 (80.8%)	2 (0.9%)	26 (11.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.6%)	34.3	444^th of 662 public high schools	32.9%		30.3	443^rd of 641 public high schools	30.9%	1	53.8	62.7	38.8	45.8	$14,037	$1,030	$13,007
Murphy High	Public	9-12	234 High School Circle	Murphy	28906	Cherokee County	Cherokee County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 837-2426	424	20	20.8	99.3%	340 (80.2%)	13 (3.1%)	36 (8.5%)	7 (1.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.9%)	44.6	371^st of 662 public high schools	44.0%		51.2	285^th of 641 public high schools	55.5%	86	47.1	66.0	45.7	68.2	$10,724	$1,248	$9,476
Robbinsville High	Public	9-12	301 Sweetwater Road	Robbinsville	28771	Graham County	Graham County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 479-9830	332	22	15.1	99.1%	244 (73.5%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (18.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.1%)	18.4	566^th of 662 public high schools	14.5%		38.4	388^th of 641 public high schools	39.5%	178	34.7	47.2	25.0	50.7	$14,741	$1,673	$13,068

Frequently Asked Questions about Hayesville High

What district is Hayesville High in?

Clay County Schools

Is Hayesville High a good school?

Hayesville High ranks 362^nd of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Hayesville High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 366 students attended Hayesville High.

What is the racial makeup of Hayesville High?

Students at Hayesville High are 85% White, 11% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Hayesville High?

Hayesville High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Hayesville Elementary
Elementary : Hayesville Primary School
Middle : Hayesville Middle

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Schools in Hayesville, NC

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.