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 2025-26 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
Student By Grade
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 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
0.30
0.72
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
7%
21%
% Black
2%
25%
% White
83%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
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 (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: PK-5 | 168 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
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
Gr: PK-8 | 121 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 297 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 190 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 516 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
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
Gr: PK-8 | 277 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
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
Gr: PK-8 | 190 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 348 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
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
Gr: 6-12 | 52 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
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