Our School

Smokey Mountain Elementary is a PreK-8 school nestled in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.  We are located in Whittier near Sylva, Bryson City, and Cherokee.  We serve a diverse population of students, and we consider our staff, students, and school community to be family... the Tarheel family. 

We promote a school climate that is supportive, inclusive, and celebrates diversity.  Our Positive Behavior Intervention and Support program (PBIS) equips students to build sustaining relationships with one another while developing their own best self.

We believe our students are future musicians, artists, athletes, coaches, teachers, doctors, electricians, mechanics, and more.  They are individuals with unique interests who make our local and global communities better places to live! 

We offer many opportunities for students to engage and be involved including athletic teams, STEM, Battle of the Books, National Beta Club, New Century Scholars, SME Singers, and more.

The community of parents, extended family, and community sponsors join our students throughout the school year at events such as Service to Others projects, Curriculum Night, Cherokee Culture Day, Indian Education Parent Committee, and Open House events.  This year, we also plan to host a student talent show and a spring pow-wow.

Our PTO supports our teachers and campus by funding materials for playgrounds and classrooms.  PTO meets monthly to plan events for our school.  All parents are encouraged to join and are welcome to attend any and all meetings. This is a great way to learn more about our school and connect with other Tarheel parents.

Through the years our students have come and gone, but we have a saying that "Once a Tarheel, Always a Tarheel!"  We truly mean this with our whole hearts.