Foothills Review

There were 1,913 students enrolled in Polk County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 4.8% less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Polk County High School registered the highest enrollment among Polk County's six schools in the 2022-23 school year, welcoming 556 students.

North Carolina's public schools are facing a significant funding gap, with a per-student expenditure of $10,519 - well below the national average of $14,295.

This financial strain is further compounded by a significant challenge in staffing with a staggering 58.4% surge in vacant teaching positions in the 2021-22 school year, leaving over 5,000 classrooms without qualified instructors.

School name	Total Enrollment in 2021-22	Total Enrollment in 2022-23	% Change
Polk County High School	556	556	0%
Polk County Middle School	499	476	-4.6%
Tryon Elementary School	344	353	2.6%
Polk Central Elementary School	306	315	2.9%
Saluda Elementary School	135	139	3%
Polk County Early College	58	74	27.6%