Summary:
Zip code 28717 is served by a single high school — Blue Ridge Early College in Cashiers, North Carolina — a small, rural school covering grades 7 through 12 with just 127 students spread across six grade levels. Because of this tiny enrollment, every tested grade or course likely contains only 10 to 25 students, so year-to-year percentages can shift dramatically based on the strengths of one cohort. The school is part of Jackson County Public Schools, and nearly 98% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a deeply economically disadvantaged population. Per-student spending is about $11,670, and the student-teacher ratio is 16.3.
Academically, Blue Ridge Early College is a mixed picture. In recent testing, it posted strong results in math: Math III EOC proficiency reached 85%, well above the state average of 68.9%, and Math I EOC (48%) and 7th grade math (60%) also topped state averages. However, English II EOC proficiency was just 23.5%, far below the state's 64.6% and the district's 54.1%. Middle school performance is uneven, with 7th grade scores near state norms but 8th grade math, reading, and science all well below state averages. The graduation rate stands at 84.2%, below the district's 86.6% and the state's 88.8%, while chronic absenteeism of 27.8% exceeds the state average of 24.2%.
The school shows an encouraging overall trend despite subject-level volatility. Its statewide rank has improved each year, from #489 out of 640 in 2023-2024 to #403 out of 662 in 2025-2026, lifting its rating from one star to two stars. Still, caution is needed when interpreting single-year results. Math III proficiency swung from 17.6% to 85% in just one year, and English II dropped from 55% to 23.5%, swings that reflect very small class sizes more than genuine program changes. For parents, the key takeaway is that Blue Ridge Early College excels in certain math pathways and is trending upward overall, but weak literacy outcomes, 8th grade struggles, and attendance issues remain important concerns to watch.
Thank you for your feedback!