Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 106

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 115

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 130

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 48

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 56

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 80

Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Drivers\Memcached\Item::jsonSerialize() should either be compatible with JsonSerializable::jsonSerialize(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Core/Item/ItemExtendedTrait.php on line 438
Cherokee 01 School District (2026) - Gaffney, SC

Cherokee 01 School District

141 Twin Lakes Road
Gaffney, SC 29341
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 12 public elementary schools serving 5,216 students in Cherokee 01 School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in South Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Cherokee 01 School District have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the South Carolina public elementary school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 36% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the South Carolina public elementary school average of 54% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (SC)
# Schools
15 Schools
974 Schools
# Students
7,525 Students
557,404 Students
# Teachers
559 Teachers
40,571 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Cherokee 01 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 74 school districts in South Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has decreased from 83% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (SC)
#54 out of 74 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
28%
43%
42%
52%
37%
50%
80%
84%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.60
0.68
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
11%
15%
% Black
28%
30%
% White
56%
46%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
7%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,544 is higher than the state median of $15,175. The school district revenue/student has grown by 18% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,444 is less than the state median of $14,773. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
This School District
This State (SC)
Total Revenue
$117 MM
$12,084 MM
Spending
$109 MM
$11,764 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,544
$15,175
Spending / Student
$14,444
$14,773

Best Cherokee 01 School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Corinth Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
128 Corinth Road
Gaffney, SC 29340
(864) 206-6600
Gr: PK-5 | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #22.
Northwest Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
840 Green River Road
Gaffney, SC 29341
(864) 206-6727
Gr: PK-5 | 423 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #33.
Grassy Pond Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1146 Boiling Springs Highway
Gaffney, SC 29341
(864) 206-6671
Gr: PK-5 | 519 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #44.
Draytonville Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2373 Wilkinsville Highway
Gaffney, SC 29340
(864) 206-6783
Gr: PK-5 | 264 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #55.
Blacksburg Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
402 Hardin Street
Blacksburg, SC 29702
(864) 206-6518
Gr: 3-5 | 323 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #66.
Gaffney Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
805 East Frederick Street
Gaffney, SC 29340
(864) 206-6129
Gr: 6-8 | 851 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #77.
Blacksburg Middle School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
101 London Street
Blacksburg, SC 29702
(864) 206-6829
Gr: 6-8 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #88.
Limestone-central Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
727 Pacolet Highway
Gaffney, SC 29341
(864) 206-6620
Gr: PK-5 | 436 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #99.
John E. Ewing Middle School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
171 East Junior High Road
Gaffney, SC 29340
(864) 206-2449
Gr: 6-8 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1010.
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
192 Vaughan Road
Gaffney, SC 29341
(864) 206-6054
Gr: PK-5 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #1111.
B. D. Lee Elementary School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
401 Overbrook Drive
Gaffney, SC 29341
(864) 206-6432
Gr: PK-5 | 603 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: n/an/a
Blacksburg Primary
1010 East Cherokee Street
Blacksburg, SC 29702
(864) 206-6936
Gr: PK-2 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 25%

Recent Articles

Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 15 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 7,525 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 44%
  • : 80% (Btm 50% in SC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 28% (Btm 50%)
  • : 42% (Btm 50%)
  • : 37% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SC Dept. of Education

Quick Links