Asheville Reporter

There were 2,099 students enrolled in Madison County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.7% more than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Mars Hill Elementary School registered the highest enrollment among Madison County's seven schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 476 students.

Despite steady enrollment, North Carolina schools continue to face significant funding challenges. The state's per-student spending remains nearly $5,000 below the national average, limiting resources for teachers, classrooms, and student support programs. In fact, North Carolina ranks 48th out of 50 states in per-student funding (after adjusting for regional costs).

Staffing shortages have also become a growing concern, with teacher turnover rising to 11.5% in the most recent school year. Low salaries and high workloads make it difficult to retain experienced educators, potentially increasing class sizes and affecting learning quality.

School name	Total Enrollment in 2022-23	Total Enrollment in 2023-24	% Change
Mars Hill Elementary School	496	476	-4%
Madison Middle School	451	454	0.7%
Madison High School	401	377	-6%
Brush Creek Elementary School	335	371	10.7%
Madison Early College High	240	271	12.9%
Hot Springs Elementary School	141	137	-2.8%
Madison Velocity Learning Center	-	13	-