For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public high schools serving 983 students in Cherokee County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Cherokee County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Cherokee County School have a Graduation Rate of 81%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Murphy High School, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 19% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
13 Schools
760 Schools
# Students
2,989 Students
568,877 Students
# Teachers
203 Teachers
31,559 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
0.71
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
8%
21%
% Black
2%
25%
% White
83%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
5%
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 High 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.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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%
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