After years of determination, patience, and hard work, the Ravensford Tract, once again became Tribal property for the third time, having come full circle after 166 years. This site now houses the largest green building project in the region. The 473,000 square foot facility houses a 1500 seat performing arts center, a 1500 seat arena and three other gymnasiums, three state of the art media centers, Central Office, The Hope Center, Creative Learning Center, Pathseekers, IT department and Facilities Management. The campus includes a two story field house complete with a film room, contemporary weight equipment and a view of the new artificial turf Ray Kinsland Stadium football field.The Elementary, Middle, and High Schools are all SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accredited. Each school incorporates the Cherokee culture into all curriculum areas. The primary goal of each school is to empower our students, preserve our nation, and ensure our future.
The School Environment-Challenging Educational Environment-We approach the North Carolina Standard Course of Study through the use of an experiential learning model. Students are engaged in a hands-on course of study to build a solid foundation and life-long love of learning. Follow this link for the 2010-11 School Report Card.Communication between parents and teachers-Parents are encouraged and expected to be closely involved in their child's education. This is achieved through classroom volunteerism and communication with teachers.Close knit community-The students, teachers, staff, parents, and board of MDCS work together for special school events, exhibition nights, special work days at school, and community service. Small class sizes allow for personalized instruction.Nestled into the mountains of western North Carolina, Mountain Discovery Charter School is located in Bryson City. The school serves children in kindergarten through eighth grade from the counties of Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain, including the Qualla Boundary. Class sizes at MDCS are small, and there is equal emphasis on all subjects, including science, music, and art. Students not only learn by listening, counting, reading and writing, but also by building, drawing, singing and moving.The instructional approach at Mountain Discovery emphasizes hands-on learning, team teaching, and reinforcing school skills with real world experiences. Please visit each of our classroom pages to see how individual teachers apply this philosophy.
Located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, Swain County Schools offer teachers and students a "natural" learning environment that cannot be matched. If you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your children or if you are interested in becoming a member of our professional education team, we have all the information you'll need. Browse through the employment section to learn about job availability. Click on any of the school links to view individual school web sites or any of the other links to learn about our school system. We hope you enjoy your visit and we look forward to hearing from you