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South Macon Elementary

Q: Is South Macon Elementary a good school?

South Macon Elementary ranks 939 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

939^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 37% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

South Macon Elementary serves 465 students in pre-K through grade 4 in Franklin, a rural mountain community in western North Carolina, and is part of Macon County Schools; nearly all students (99.35%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school historically performed well, ranking in the 74th-85th percentile statewide between 2015-16 and 2020-21 with four-star ratings in most years. More recently, it has slipped from the 69th percentile in 2023-24 to the 64th in 2024-25, then dropped to the 37th percentile in 2025-26, a two-star rating. That is the lowest point in over a decade and a notable reversal for a school once among the region's strongest elementary performers.

The most recent EOG results show proficiency rates below state averages in every tested subject and grade: 4th grade math is 52.9% proficient versus 61.4% statewide, and 4th grade reading is 52.9% versus 57.7% statewide. That is a broad reversal from 2024-25, when South Macon was above the state average in all four tested categories. Subgroup data shows relative strength with English language learners (61st percentile) and Hispanic students (39th percentile), while special education results fell from the 77th to the 8th percentile in a single year — a change worth reviewing internally. Nearby schools with very similar demographics are posting stronger results: Cartoogechaye Elementary reaches 65.7% proficiency in 4th grade reading versus South Macon's 52.9%.

Attendance and funding do not explain the decline. Chronic absenteeism improved to 17.7% in 2024-25, better than the district's 19.0% and the state's 24.2%, although South Macon leads its four Macon County elementary peers in chronic absenteeism: Iotla Valley Elementary reports 15.0%, East Franklin Elementary 16.0%, and Cartoogechaye Elementary 17.2%. The school also spent $11,730 per student in the most recent available data, more than any of its same-district elementary peers. South Macon ranks third among seven nearby schools this year by state percentile — behind Cartoogechaye Elementary (55th) and Iotla Valley Elementary (51st), but ahead of Cullowhee Valley School, Swain County West Elementary, East Franklin Elementary, and Blue Ridge School.

465

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

96%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (any vaccine)

855 Addington Bridge Road
Franklin, NC 28734

(828) 369-0796

District: Macon County Schools

Students who attend South Macon Elementary usually attend:

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

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.9%

Hispanic:

26.7%

Two or more races:

3.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare South Macon Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 80th percentile in 2016 → 37th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (53% vs 60% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 43 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg56%

North Carolina avg60%

939^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 37%▼ down 43 pts since 2016

From top 20% (2016) to bottom 37% (2026)

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	38.3	939 of 1492	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	61.2	543 of 1490	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.1	472 of 1505	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.1	543 of 1502	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.3	542 of 1514	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	76.2	298 of 1489	80.0%	★★★★☆
2019	81.1	218 of 1473	85.2%	★★★★☆
2018	80.1	227 of 1434	84.2%	★★★★☆
2017	72.2	369 of 1429	74.2%	★★★★☆
2016	76.6	286 of 1425	79.9%	★★★★☆
2015	71.6	385 of 1440	73.3%	★★★★☆
2014	64.4	474 of 1390	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	75.0	299 of 1403	78.7%	★★★★☆
2012	72.5	357 of 1388	74.3%	★★★★☆
2011	71.9	368 of 1381	73.4%	★★★★☆
2010	71.0	378 of 1363	72.3%	★★★★☆
2009	67.9	437 of 1354	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	49.3	727 of 1324	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	55.2	647 of 1293	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	54.4	636 of 1276	50.2%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	32.4	429 of 634	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.8	261 of 646	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.4	122 of 878	86.1%	★★★★☆
2018	69.5	164 of 897	81.7%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.3	200 of 519	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.3	313 of 563	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.3	144 of 533	73.0%	★★★★☆
2022	68.5	72 of 485	85.2%	★★★★☆
2019	89.9	21 of 497	95.8%	★★★★★
2018	90.5	21 of 421	95.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	44.9	813 of 1447	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	64.0	469 of 1451	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.0	544 of 1455	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.2	602 of 1459	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.7	445 of 1458	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.0	358 of 1440	75.1%	★★★★☆
2019	86.5	117 of 1424	91.8%	★★★★★
2018	79.4	234 of 1405	83.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.5	603 of 981	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.5	714 of 961	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	60.7	317 of 951	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	76.0	138 of 915	84.9%	★★★★☆
2022	55.0	338 of 893	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	91.5	47 of 843	94.4%	★★★★★
2019	81.0	92 of 865	89.4%	★★★★☆
2018	88.1	43 of 851	94.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.1	609 of 1434	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	87.9	68 of 1437	95.3%	★★★★★
2024	81.1	143 of 1450	90.1%	★★★★★
2023	78.1	190 of 1437	86.8%	★★★★☆
2022	72.5	245 of 1366	82.1%	★★★★☆
2021	93.7	26 of 1329	98.0%	★★★★★
2019	92.4	32 of 1361	97.6%	★★★★★
2018	92.7	30 of 1332	97.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.3	1011 of 1451	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	56.9	601 of 1450	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.9	388 of 1464	73.5%	★★★★☆
2023	63.7	496 of 1461	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.4	607 of 1464	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	76.8	282 of 1444	80.5%	★★★★☆
2019	71.5	352 of 1430	75.4%	★★★★☆
2018	78.3	240 of 1413	83.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	18.2	752 of 815	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	63.2	191 of 821	76.7%	★★★★☆
2024	53.9	280 of 801	65.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	26.1	938 of 1146	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	54.0	536 of 1172	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.3	568 of 1166	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	36.9	817 of 1183	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.3	645 of 1194	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.9	516 of 1172	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.6	337 of 1183	71.5%	★★★★☆
2018	61.5	461 of 1178	60.9%	★★★☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)61st percentile+24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)58th percentile+20 vs school

Female (2026)44th percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)39th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)32nd percentile-32 vs school

Male (2026)30th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)18th percentile-19 vs school

Special Education (2026)8th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics55%-9 vs state

Reading52%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Macon 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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	—	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							96%	0%	$11,730	$1,457	$10,273
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	—	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							93.2%	2.3%	$10,078	$941	$9,137
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	—	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							93.2%	3.4%	$10,178	$875	$9,304
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	—	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							87.7%	2.7%	$10,664	$1,364	$9,300
Blue Ridge School	Public	PK, KG-6	95 Bobcat Drive	Cashiers	28717	Jackson County	Jackson County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 743-2646	144	10	14.5	90.3%	78 (54.2%)	2 (1.4%)	58 (40.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.1%)	20.4	1274^th of 1492 public elementary schools	14.6%		47	801^st of 1490 public elementary schools	46.2%	473	36.4	50.0		53.8			27.3	38.9		38.5							$13,938	$1,846	$12,092
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	—	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	97%	0%	$10,392	$1,261	$9,131
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	—	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		94.5%	3.6%	$10,938	$1,448	$9,491

Frequently Asked Questions about South Macon Elementary

What is the racial makeup of South Macon Elementary?

Students at South Macon Elementary are 70% White, 27% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

How many students attend South Macon Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 465 students attended South Macon Elementary.

Is South Macon Elementary a good school?

South Macon Elementary ranks 939^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of South Macon Elementary attend?

Students who attend South Macon Elementary usually go on to attend:

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

What district is South Macon Elementary in?

Macon County Schools

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

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

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

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.