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Iotla Valley Elementary

Q: Is Iotla Valley Elementary a good school?

Iotla Valley Elementary ranks 726 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

726^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 51% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Iotla Valley Elementary in Franklin, NC, serves about 408 students in grades PK-4 in a high-poverty area where 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. One of four elementary schools in Macon County Schools, it holds a 3-star rating, ranking 726th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools (51st percentile) in the 2025-2026 school year — a solid rebound from the prior year, when it ranked 900th and earned 2 stars. The school performs around the district average and, in several recent subjects, near the state average — notable given its high-poverty enrollment.

One of Iotla Valley's biggest strengths is attendance. Its chronic absenteeism rate was 15.0% in 2024-2025 — the lowest among all nearby schools and well below the district average of 19.0% and the state average of 24.2%, an improvement of 12 points in one year. By comparison, Fairview School reported 26.9%, Cullowhee Valley School 24.0%, and Blue Ridge School 30.1%. Recent test scores are encouraging: 4th-grade math proficiency (62%) edged past the state average (61.4%), and 4th-grade reading (57.7%) matched the state average exactly. Within Macon County, Iotla Valley outranks East Franklin Elementary and South Macon Elementary in most subjects, and it trails only Cartoogechaye Elementary among district peers. Parents may appreciate the relatively small class sizes, with a student-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

The school has a track record of success with students facing economic challenges: its low-income students have ranked between the 63rd and 85th percentiles statewide in recent years — a strong signal given that nearly all students are low-income. The clearest area of concern is special education, where students' performance has ranked in the low 20th percentile or below compared with statewide peers. Overall rankings have bounced around from year to year, and 3rd-grade reading scores in particular have been volatile, dropping sharply in 2024-2025 before recovering in 2025-2026. Still, with attendance now a clear strength and math and reading scores near or above state averages, Iotla Valley has a realistic path to becoming one of the stronger elementary schools in the region.

408

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1166 Iotla Church Road
Franklin, NC 28734-6542

(828) 524-2938

District: Macon County Schools

Students who attend Iotla Valley Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Macon Middle School
	Mountain View Intermediate
High:	Franklin High
	Macon Early College High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.4%

Hispanic:

15.7%

Two or more races:

2.9%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Iotla Valley Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 50th percentile in 2016 → 51st in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg56%

North Carolina avg60%

726^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 49%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

131^st of 246Macon 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	50.1	726 of 1492	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.0	900 of 1490	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.1	729 of 1505	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	35.7	993 of 1502	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.5	1019 of 1514	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.9	807 of 1489	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.9	845 of 1473	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.4	718 of 1434	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	54.2	681 of 1429	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	51.0	711 of 1425	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	61.7	545 of 1440	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	53.2	643 of 1390	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	29.4	1044 of 1403	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	41.2	923 of 1388	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	68.8	441 of 1381	68.1%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	20.2	591 of 634	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	37.9	379 of 646	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.4	406 of 897	54.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.3	546 of 1447	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	39.9	898 of 1451	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.9	1075 of 1455	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.9	1164 of 1459	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.9	1032 of 1458	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	45.7	740 of 1440	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.9	955 of 1424	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.0	853 of 1405	39.3%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.4	461 of 981	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.0	442 of 951	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.2	238 of 843	71.8%	★★★★☆
2018	41.7	524 of 851	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	57.9	526 of 1434	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.8	451 of 1437	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	75.5	224 of 1450	84.6%	★★★★☆
2023	48.8	743 of 1437	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.2	845 of 1366	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	72.1	230 of 1329	82.7%	★★★★☆
2019	49.0	701 of 1361	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.3	468 of 1332	64.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	40.7	861 of 1451	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.0	843 of 1450	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.5	465 of 1464	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.8	792 of 1461	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.0	933 of 1464	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.1	839 of 1444	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.4	702 of 1430	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.1	544 of 1413	61.5%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	26.6	663 of 815	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.8	609 of 821	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.1	744 of 801	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	25.5	948 of 1146	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.8	1058 of 1172	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	29.5	899 of 1166	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.7	1091 of 1183	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.8	1096 of 1194	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.5	1065 of 1172	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	22.7	1027 of 1183	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.0	924 of 1178	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)63rd percentile+12 vs school

Female (2026)62nd percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2026)53rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)41st percentile-11 vs school

Special Education (2026)19th percentile-33 vs school

White (2026)17th percentile-34 vs school

Disabled (2022)7th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics62%~ state avg

Reading56%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Iotla Valley Elementary

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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)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (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	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Iotla Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1166 Iotla Church Road	Franklin	28734	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 524-2938	408	32	12.9	99.3%	328 (80.4%)	2 (0.5%)	64 (15.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.9%)	50.1	726^th of 1492 public elementary schools	51.3%		41	900^th of 1490 public elementary schools	39.6%	174	61.2	62.0					54.1	57.7							$10,664	$1,364	$9,300
East Franklin Elementary	Public	K-4	100 Watauga St	Franklin	28734	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 524-3216	315	25	12.5	99.0%	200 (63.5%)	0 (0.0%)	109 (34.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	23.2	1222^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	18.1%		31.1	1072^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	28.1%	150	56.1	44.4					40.9	42.9							$10,178	$875	$9,304
Cartoogechaye Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	3295 Old Murphy Road	Franklin	28734	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 524-2845	354	25	14.3	99.2%	256 (72.3%)	5 (1.4%)	76 (21.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.5%)	53.4	676^th of 1492 public elementary schools	54.7%		61.1	545^th of 1490 public elementary schools	63.4%	131	61.5	61.4					50.8	65.7							$10,078	$941	$9,137
South Macon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	855 Addington Bridge Road	Franklin	28734	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 369-0796	465	34	13.8	99.4%	325 (69.9%)	0 (0.0%)	124 (26.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.2%)	38.3	939^th of 1492 public elementary schools	37.1%		61.2	543^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	63.6%	396	56.4	52.9					51.3	52.9							$11,730	$1,457	$10,273
Swain County West Elementary	Public	K-5	4142 Hwy 19 West	Bryson City	28713	Swain County	Swain County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 488-2119	403	26	15.7	99.3%	293 (72.7%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.5%)	5 (1.2%)	32 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (11.7%)	27.4	1153^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	22.7%		40.9	902^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	39.5%	251	45.5	62.3	47.6				33.3	62.3	33.3				54.8		$10,938	$1,448	$9,491
Mountain Discovery	Public, Charter	K-8	890 Jenkins Branch Rd N	Bryson City	28713	Swain County	Mountain Discovery Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(828) 488-1222	221	14	16.2		174 (78.7%)	4 (1.8%)	3 (1.4%)	3 (1.4%)	17 (7.7%)	1 (0.5%)	19 (8.6%)	42.8	861^st of 1492 public elementary schools	42.3%		43.5	860^th of 1490 public elementary schools	42.3%	1	38.7	68.2	36.4	47.4	61.9	46.7	61.3	72.7	59.1	50.0	71.4	86.7	50.0	100.0
Cullowhee Valley School	Public	PK, KG-8	240 Wisdom Drive	Cullowhee	28723	Jackson County	Jackson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 293-5667	570	35	16.3	99.5%	341 (59.8%)	5 (0.9%)	171 (30.0%)	3 (0.5%)	22 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.9%)	30.2	1089^th of 1492 public elementary schools	27.0%		25.4	1172^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	21.3%	83	52.9	50.7	59.2	35.6	45.7	27.3	39.7	57.7	46.5	33.3	47.2	45.5	54.9	52.7	$10,392	$1,261	$9,131
Smokey Mountain Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	884 US Hwy 441N	Whittier	28789	Jackson County	Jackson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 497-5535	340	22	15.7	96.2%	125 (36.8%)	3 (0.9%)	53 (15.6%)	5 (1.5%)	111 (32.6%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (12.6%)	5.5	1460^th of 1492 public elementary schools	2.1%		9.1	1434^th of 1490 public elementary schools	3.8%	26	27.6	31.0	17.5	28.6	20.9	11.4	27.6	24.1	27.5	42.9	34.9	31.4	22.5	42.9	$11,755	$1,735	$10,021
Fairview School	Public	PK, KG-8	251 Big Orange Way	Sylva	28779	Jackson County	Jackson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 586-2819	797	48	16.5	98.0%	550 (69.0%)	11 (1.4%)	144 (18.1%)	10 (1.3%)	32 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (6.3%)	36.2	977^th of 1492 public elementary schools	34.5%		49.6	749^th of 1490 public elementary schools	49.7%	228	62.5	43.6	63.5	55.2	62.3	80.2	55.6	41.5	42.7	47.9	64.9	65.1	57.3	83.7	$8,533	$860	$7,673
Swain County East Elementary	Public	K-5	4747 Ela Rd	Bryson City	28713	Swain County	Swain County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 488-0939	338	20	16.4	99.1%	160 (47.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.6%)	3 (0.9%)	88 (26.0%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (17.2%)	20	1275^th of 1492 public elementary schools	14.5%		22.7	1226^th of 1490 public elementary schools	17.7%	49	51.9	36.2	43.5				47.3	42.6	28.3				56.5		$12,145	$1,906	$10,238

Frequently Asked Questions about Iotla Valley Elementary

How many students attend Iotla Valley Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 408 students attended Iotla Valley Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Iotla Valley Elementary attend?

Students who attend Iotla Valley Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Macon Middle School
Middle : Mountain View Intermediate
High : Franklin High
High : Macon Early College High School

What is the racial makeup of Iotla Valley Elementary?

Students at Iotla Valley Elementary are 80% White, 16% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Iotla Valley Elementary in?

Macon County Schools

Is Iotla Valley Elementary a good school?

Iotla Valley Elementary ranks 726^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Iotla Valley Elementary!

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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.