Mountain Discovery

890 Jenkins Branch Rd N
Bryson City, NC 28713

www.mountaindiscovery.org

Charter School 174 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Mountain Discovery Charter School (MDCS), located in Bryson City, North Carolina, is a K-8 public charter school that emphasizes a hands-on, experiential approach to learning. Nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, the school integrates its unique natural environment into its curriculum, encouraging students to connect classroom concepts with the outdoors. By fostering small class sizes and a supportive, tight-knit community, MDCS aims to cultivate both academic excellence and strong character development in its students.

The school’s philosophy is deeply rooted in project-based learning and environmental stewardship, often utilizing the surrounding wilderness as a "living laboratory." In addition to core academics, Mountain Discovery places a significant focus on holistic education, encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and a sense of responsibility toward the local community. By providing an alternative to traditional district schools, MDCS seeks to empower students to become engaged, lifelong learners who are well-prepared for high school and beyond.

174

Total Students

10.8

Full-Time Teachers

16.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Mountain Discovery
Demographic	Student Count
White	134
Hispanic	1
Black	3
Asian	1
Two or More	14
American Indian	21

White
134 (77.0 %)
American Indian
21 (12.1 %)
Two or More
14 (8.0 %)
Black
3 (1.7 %)
Hispanic
1 (0.6 %)
Asian
1 (0.6 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Mountain Discovery Charter School
Phone:	(828)488-1222
Website:	http://www.mountaindiscovery.org
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	174
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	10.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.1
NSLP Participation:¹	No
Qualified Free Lunch:	N/A
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	N/A

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 22

Grade 1 18

Grade 2 22

Grade 3 14

Grade 4 22

Grade 5 19

Grade 6 19

Grade 7 19

Grade 8 19