It also closed during the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic at the order of Governor Roy Cooper, but was re-opened in August 2020 to commence the start of the 2020–2021 school year.

In 2004–2006, the high school added a new cafeteria, lobby, science building, vocational building, front office, and greenhouse, which resolved the problems associated with the growth of the student body since 1960.

Smoky Mountain High School achieved the Guinness World Record for "Most people hugging soft toys simultaneously," with 835 people simultaneously hugging stuffed animals.

The larger one, Sylva High School, opened in 1915 in a two-story frame building and moved to a larger, 8th–11th Grade Building in 1924 at the present location of Mark Watson Park, which was formerly a fairground.

All that remains is the old vocational shop building, which once served as the Jackson County Recreation Department, but is now condemned.

This building lasted until 1936, when the old Rock Webster School opened next door, and it was demolished in 1937.

The building stood where Brown Cafeteria now stands, and was purchased in 1927 by the university, at which time it became Cullowhee Training School.

The other major elementary schools were Johns Creek (Caney Fork Community, 1925–1965), East LaPorte (East LaPorte, 1925–1947), Tuckaseigee (Tuckasegee, 1948–1958), and Cowarts (1928–1951).