Catherine Truitt North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction | https://x.com/ctruittnc?lang=en
Catherine Truitt North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction | https://x.com/ctruittnc?lang=en
Polk County High School registered the highest enrollment among Polk County's seven schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 571 students.
North Carolina’s student-teacher ratio is roughly 15.4 students per teacher, aligning with the national average. However, rising teacher turnover threatens to push class sizes higher, making it harder for students to get individualized attention.
If vacancies continue to grow, schools may struggle to maintain this ratio, impacting the quality of instruction. Districts in lower-funded areas face the biggest challenges, as limited budgets make it harder to attract and retain teachers.
| School name | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County High School | 556 | 571 | 2.7% |
| Polk County Middle School | 476 | 472 | -0.8% |
| Polk Central Elementary School | 315 | 340 | 7.9% |
| Tryon Elementary School | 353 | 336 | -4.8% |
| Saluda Elementary School | 139 | 128 | -7.9% |
| Sunny View Elementary School | - | 111 | - |
| Polk County Early College | 74 | 54 | -27% |
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