The Mitchell county public school system has eight schools in the system: one high school, two middle schools, four elementary schools, and one primary school. The system serves 2,200 students and is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Greenlee Primary (K-2) 2206 Carters Ridge, Spruce Pine NC 28777 Buladean Elementary (K-8) 12190 N. Hwy 226, Bakersville, NC 28705 Gouge Elementary (K-5) 134 Laurel Street, Bakersville, NC 28705 Deyton Elementary 308 Harris Street, Spruce Pine, NC 28777 Tipton Hill (K-8) 4256 NC 197, Green Mountain, NC 28740

Bowman Middle School (6-8)
410 S. Mitchell Avenue, Bakersville, NC 28705

Harris Middle School (6-8)
121 Harris Street, Spruce Pine, 28777

Mitchell High School (9-12) 416 Ledger Road, Bakersville, NC 28705

The Mitchell County school system is a participant in the Early College, which is a non-traditional high school experience for students in a smaller, nurturing, yet academically challenging environment. At the end of the five-year experience students have the opportunity to graduate with a high-school diploma and an associate’s degree or credits that transfer to a four-year institution. The school is located on the Mayland Community College Campus. It was initiated in 2009 with an enrollment of 36 students from Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery Counties.

Spruce Pine Montessori School serves 59 students in grades Pre K – 6. Founded in 1972, the school focuses on the Montessori approach to child-centered learning through an active learning environment.
Location: 67 Walnut Street, Spruce Pine, NC

Tri- County Christian School serves students in grades K-6.
Location: Bainbridge Center - Summit Avenue, Spruce Pine, NC 28777

Penland School of Craft located in central Mitchell County is a national center for craft education. Penland offers one, two, and eight-week workshops in books and paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking, textiles, and wood. The school sponsors artists’ residencies, community education programs, and a craft gallery. Begun in 1920 as a cottage industry for weaving, the school now as approximately 1,200 students annually and another 14,000 pass through as visitors. The school is a focal point for a lively community of artists in its programming, which has encouraged many artists to settle in the area

Mayland Community College serves a tri-county region – Mitchell, Yancey, and Avery Counties. The Mitchell County campus is located on the Avery/Mitchell County line approximately 3-miles northeast of Spruce Pine. Mayland offers 29 curriculum programs including college transfer options; continuing education courses; Basic Skills and GED Programs with distance learning opportunities. The College serves approximately 7,000 persons, representing more than 16% of the adult population within its service area.

Mitchell County is located within an hour’s drive of six institutions of higher learning including:

Located in Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State University has four colleges and a School of Music, offering more than 140-degree programs and 1,500 courses. With an enrollment of 17,000 students, the school averages a student/teacher ratio of 17:1 with an average class size of 25. In 2008-09, a total of 3,603 degrees were awarded.

Located in Banner Elk, North Carolina, Lees McCrae College offers a four-year liberal arts education with 25 majors in Arts and Sciences and a Professional Studies Program. The college enrollment is 700 full-time students from 39 states and 19 foreign countries. The student/teacher ratio is 13:1 with an average class size of 15. The college is SACA accredited.

Located in Asheville, North Carolina The University, has more than 3,400 students and 341 full and part-time faculty. Offering over 30 majors, it is the only designated liberal arts institution in the 16 campus University of North Carolina system. UNC-A is a member of The Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.

Located in the Town of Montreat, The College has an enrollment of 1,145 students and is a Christian liberal arts college affiliated with The Presbyterian Church. It offers undergraduate programs in The School of Arts and Sciences; accredited programs for masters degrees in The School of Professional and Adult Studies; and a Professional Development Institute for groups and corporate training.

Located near Asheville in The Swannanoa Valley, Warren Wilson is a liberal arts college with an enrollment of 946 students and an average class size of 17 students. It offers 40 majors and concentrations and 27 minors with dual degree programs. All resident students are required to work 15 hours a week in the daily operation of the campus that is applied in credit toward the cost of attendance. Community service in the amount of 100 hours over four years is required of each student offering service learning opportunities locally and internationally.

Address: 26 Chrimson Laurel Circle, Bakersville, NC 28705   |   Phone: (828) 688-2139 ext. 314   |  
Cell: (828) 712-2605   |   Email: Becky@MitchellEDC.com