High Country Times

Mitchell High School had the highest enrollment among Mitchell County schools, welcoming 484 students during the 2022-23 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Among the five schools in Mitchell County, Harris Middle School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 235 students, while Gouge Elementary School welcomed 228 students and ranked third in the 2022-23 school year.

Mitchell High School is part of Mitchell County Schools district, which roughly covers institutions within Mitchell County and has a main office in Bakersville.

In the previous school year, Mitchell High School also had the highest number of students among Mitchell County schools.

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	City	Total School Enrollment
Mitchell High School	Bakersville	484
Harris Middle School	Spruce Pine	235
Gouge Elementary School	Bakersville	228
Deyton Elementary School	Spruce Pine	220
Bowman Middle School	Bakersville	205