For the 2026 school year, there are 13 public schools serving 2,989 students in Cherokee County Schools. This district's average testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Cherokee County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
13 Schools
2,734 Schools
# Students
2,989 Students
1,549,621 Students
# Teachers
203 Teachers
96,132 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Cherokee County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 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 47% has decreased from 92% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#164 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)50%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
68%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)91%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.31
0.72
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
8%
22%
% Black
2%
24%
% White
83%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,450 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,049 is higher than the state median of $11,592. 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
$13,450
$11,168
Spending / Student
$13,049
$11,592
Best Cherokee County Schools Public Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Murphy High School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
234 High School Circle
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-2426
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-2426
Gr: 9-12 | 424 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #22.
Tri-county Early College High School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Tri-county Early College High,
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-6775
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-6775
Gr: 9-13 | 150 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #33.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 166 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #44.
Hiwassee Dam 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
Gr: 6-8 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #55.
Andrews High School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
50 High School Drive
Andrews, NC 28901
(828) 321-5415
Andrews, NC 28901
(828) 321-5415
Gr: 9-12 | 229 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #66.
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
Gr: 6-8 | 353 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #77.
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
Gr: 6-8 | 167 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #88.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 467 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #99.
Ranger Elementary 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
Gr: PK-5 | 264 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1010.
Martins Creek Elementary School
(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
Gr: PK-5 | 137 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1111.
Hiwassee Dam High School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
267 Blue Eagle Circle
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 644-5115
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 644-5115
Gr: 9-12 | 137 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #1212.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 330 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1313.
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
Gr: 6-12 | 43 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Cherokee County Schools?
Cherokee County Schools manages 13 public schools serving 2,989 students.
What is the rank of Cherokee County Schools?
Cherokee County Schools is ranked #160 out of 314 school districts in North Carolina (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year.
What is the racial composition of students in Cherokee County Schools?
83% of Cherokee County Schools students are White, 8% of students are Hispanic, 5% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Black, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Cherokee County Schools?
Cherokee County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Cherokee County Schools's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $13,049 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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