We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

The Jackson County Genealogical Society recently awarded its 2023 scholarships to seven local students. The scholarships are funded through donations and named in honor of members of the genealogical society, local families and organizations.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Approximately 34 high school students from across Western and Central North Carolina gathered at Western Carolina University last Thursday to test their knowledge of French and Spanish in the university’s 40th annual Language Contest hosted by the Department of World Languages.

Wednesday, April 19, 2023
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Smoky Mountain High School Students, clockwise from the top left, Madelyn Tracy (senior), Josh Mitchell (sophomore), Abby Fisher (freshman) and Braden Teeters (junior) were selected as Mustangs of the Month for April.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Smoky Mountain High School students, clockwise from top left, Aimee Curtis (junior), Tatum Griffin (sophomore), Kavan Wilson (freshman) and Dylan Farmer (senior) were selected as Mustangs of the Month for March. The award is presented to students who best exemplify the spirit of Smoky Mounta…

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Believe it or not, spring break is just two and a half weeks away! We are eager, busy and weary but focused as we approach this much-needed period of rest for families, students and staff. More than anything, the return from spring break marks the final push to finish our year strong, prepar…

Wednesday, March 01, 2023

Hohverg Palacios-Poxtan from Smoky Mountain High School placed second, winning a $5,000 grant, in an Auto Tech Challenge allowing academic students without a traditional vocational education to compete for grants. The event was hosted by the NASCAR Technical Institute, and featured hands-on …

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Valentine’s week brings much anticipation to our youngest learners. There’s Valentine boxes, candy, celebrations and learning about the history of Valentine’s Day.

Wednesday, February 01, 2023

On Jan. 21, 12 students from Smokey Mountain Elementary traveled to N.C. State University to participate in the Future City competition.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023
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Welcome to 2023! It has been a good start to the second semester in Jackson County Public Schools. We began on Jan. 9 with a short week due to the snow. I am thankful for fresh starts and new beginnings and know our students are excited to lean into the last half of the school year 

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Smoky Mountain High School students, clockwise from top left, Macie Bryson (senior), Gracie Ensley (junior), Jaden Johnson (sophomore), and Mihin De Silva (freshman) were selected as Mustangs of the Month for December.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Wednesday, November 09, 2022

Smoky Mountain High School students, clockwise from top left, Ella Ledford (junior), Dawson Gunter (freshman), Makalyn Shuler (sophomore) and Caleb Phillips (senior) were selected as Mustangs of the Month for November. The award is presented to students who best exemplify the spirit of Smoky…

Wednesday, November 02, 2022
Wednesday, October 26, 2022

The first quarter of school for the 2022-23 school year is complete and it has been a great success. Students are doing well, our student-athletes are thriving and our extracurricular activities are going strong. It feels good to have the schools operating “normally” for the first time since 2019.

On Oct. 11, 14 new members were inducted into Jackson County Early College’s chapter of The National Honor Society. Members are inducted upon their ability to uphold the high standards of Service, Scholarship, Leadership and Character. The newly inducted members are from left (back): Ruth Os…

Local and national dignitaries joined students and staff at Cullowhee Valley School on Oct. 10 to celebrate the opening of a new “Think Big Reading Room.”

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Cathy Sutton of Sylva was one of 24 North Carolina teachers selected as a finalist for the first N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching 2022 Career Technical Education Teacher of the Year Award, presented Oct. 6 at the Bardo Center on the Western Carolina University campus.

Smoky Mountain High School students, clockwise from top left, James Blakely (sophomore), Dani Allen (junior), Anna Buenting (freshman), and Antonio Lorenzo (senior) were selected as Mustangs of the Month for October.

Smoky Mountain High School senior Mabry Bumgarner was named the Sylva Rotary Club Student of the Month.

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

It’s hard to believe that we are in the sixth week of school in Jackson County Public Schools after a very successful start. Students and staff have begun well and are thriving in classrooms. Outside of the classrooms, students are full throttle in band competitions, athletics and other extr…

Wednesday, September 07, 2022

Smoky Mountain High School students, clockwise from top left, Clark Doda (senior), Arlen Sebastian Rodriguez Hernandez (junior), Caydem Kibel (freshman), and Laylah Barker (sophomore) were selected as Mustangs of the Month for September. The award is presented to students who best exemplify …

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The Carolina Smokies Realtors Foundation, Inc. has been awarding scholarships to deserving and talented students for over 25 years, and another round starts soon.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Wednesday, June 08, 2022

Scotts Creek eighth-grader Xyla Seagle (left) was presented the inaugural Karla Allred Pride-Intensity-Toughness Award.

Wednesday, June 01, 2022

The graduation ceremony for the Smoky Mountain High School Class of 2022 is set for 7 p.m. today (Thursday) in Carr Hooper Stadium. The rain date is 7 p.m. Friday.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

The Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District will be holding Camp WILD (Wilderness, Investigating, Learning, Discovery) for students who will be entering ninth grade this fall in public, private, charter or home schools. The camp is offered to children who enjoy being outdoors, hiking, s…