Asheville Reporter

Mars Hill Elementary School had the highest enrollment among Madison County schools, welcoming 496 students during the 2022-23 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Among the six schools in Madison County, Madison Middle School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 451 students, while Madison High School welcomed 401 students and ranked third in the 2022-23 school year.

Mars Hill Elementary School is part of Madison County Schools district, which roughly covers institutions within Madison County and has a main office in Marshall.

In the previous school year, Mars Hill Elementary School also had the highest number of students among Madison 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
Mars Hill Elementary School	Mars Hill	496
Madison Middle School	Marshall	451
Madison High School	Marshall	401
Brush Creek Elementary School	Marshall	335
Madison Early College High	Marshall	240
Hot Springs Elementary School	Hot Springs	141