Catamount School

Catamount School
100 Smoky Mountain Dr
Sylva, NC 28779
59 Students
Middle School 6th - 8th
School Overview
The Catamount School, located on the campus of Western Carolina University in Sylva, North Carolina, is a laboratory middle school serving students in grades 6 through 8. Operating as a partnership between the Jackson County Public School System and WCU’s College of Education and Allied Professions, the school is designed to function as a hub for innovative teaching, pedagogical research, and clinical preparation for future educators. By utilizing a "lab school" model, it offers a unique learning environment where best practices in middle school education are developed and tested in real-time.

Academically, the school emphasizes a student-centered approach, focusing on personalized learning, hands-on projects, and the social-emotional development essential for early adolescents. Because it is closely integrated with the university, students benefit from increased access to resources, faculty expertise, and unique educational opportunities that bridge the gap between K-12 schooling and higher education. The Catamount School strives to foster a supportive, community-focused atmosphere that prepares students for high school success while simultaneously serving as a model for excellence in public education throughout the region.
59
Total Students
7.7
Full-Time Teachers
7.7
Student/Teacher Ratio
40.7%
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics
  • White
    53 (89.8 %)
  • Two or More
    3 (5.1 %)
  • Hispanic
    1 (1.7 %)
  • Asian
    1 (1.7 %)
  • American Indian
    1 (1.7 %)
School Location
School Details
Status: Open
School Level: Middle School
School Type: Regular School
Charter Status:* Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction: No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status: No
District: Catamount School
Phone: (828)331-1775
Website: http://ccnt3.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/ceap/catamount-school/
Grade Range: 6th - 8th
Total Students: 59
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 7.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 7.7
NSLP Participation:1 Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch: 24
Qualified Reduced Lunch: 0

* 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
Grade 6 12
Grade 7 23
Grade 8 24
Gender Ratio