Jackson County Public Schools, located in the mountains of western North Carolina, just 20 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, serves 3317 students across nine schools in one of the most scenic yet economically challenging regions of the state. With 49.2% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch and tourism driving much of the local economy, the district has crafted an educational philosophy that recognizes a fundamental truth: not every graduate is destined for a four-year university. 276 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
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