Top Rankings
Cherokee County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 9 public elementary schools serving 2,159 students in Cherokee County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Cherokee County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
13 Schools
2,174 Schools
# Students
3,104 Students
1,091,007 Students
# Teachers
236 Teachers
73,903 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
District Rank
Cherokee County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 91% has decreased from 93% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#164 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
68%
63%
Graduation Rate
91%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.30
0.72
# American Indian Students
24 Students
12,383 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
22 Students
47,310 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
238 Students
227,576 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
21%
# Black Students
61 Students
268,051 Students
% Black Students
2%
25%
# White Students
2,583 Students
465,086 Students
% White Students
83%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
1,488 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
180 Students
69,126 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
108
23,192
# Students in K Grade:
228
109,971
# Students in 1st Grade:
246
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
232
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
197
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
210
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
215
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
225
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
211
113,393
# Students in 8th Grade:
247
115,504
# Students in 9th Grade:
243
11,612
# Students in 10th Grade:
280
10,182
# Students in 11th Grade:
235
8,704
# Students in 12th Grade:
227
7,975
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,951 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,565 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$40 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$39 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,951
$11,187
Spending / Student
$12,565
$11,612
Best Cherokee County Schools School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Peachtree Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
30 Upper Peachtree Road
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-2479
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-2479
Grades: PK-5
| 168 students
Rank: #22.
Hiwassee Dam Elementary Middle School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
337 Blue Eagle Circle
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 644-5115
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 644-5115
Grades: PK-8
| 121 students
Rank: #33.
Murphy Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
65 Middle School Drive
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-0160
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-0160
Grades: 6-8
| 297 students
Rank: #44.
Andrews Middle School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2750 Business Hwy 19
Andrews, NC 28901
(828) 321-5762
Andrews, NC 28901
(828) 321-5762
Grades: 6-8
| 190 students
Rank: #55.
Murphy Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
315 Valley River Avenue
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-2424
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-2424
Grades: PK-5
| 516 students
Rank: #66.
Ranger Elementary Middle School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
101 Hardy Truett Road
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 644-5111
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 644-5111
Grades: PK-8
| 277 students
Rank: #77.
Martins Creek Elementary/mid
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1459 Tobe Stalcup Road
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-2831
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-2831
Grades: PK-8
| 190 students
Rank: #88.
Andrews Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
205 Jean Christy Ave.
Andrews, NC 28901
(828) 321-4415
Andrews, NC 28901
(828) 321-4415
Grades: PK-5
| 348 students
Rank: #99.
The Oaks Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
The Oaks Academy, 4700 East Us
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-6775
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-6775
Grades: 6-12
| 52 students
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