Top Rankings
Cherokee County Schools 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 13 public schools serving 3,104 students in Cherokee County Schools. This district's average testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 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 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
13 Schools
2,761 Schools
# Students
3,104 Students
1,546,447 Students
# Teachers
236 Teachers
100,041 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Cherokee County Schools, 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
0.71
% 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 $11,191. 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 $11,616. 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
$11,191
Spending / Student
$12,565
$11,616
Best Cherokee County Schools Public Schools (2025-26)
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 | 433 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
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 | 149 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
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 | 168 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #44.
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: #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 | 222 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
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 | 297 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
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 | 190 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
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 | 516 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #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 | 141 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
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 | 348 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
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 | 52 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Cherokee County Schools?
Cherokee County Schools manages 13 public schools serving 3,104 students.
What is the rank of Cherokee County Schools?
Cherokee County Schools is ranked #160 out of 320 school districts in North Carolina (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Cherokee County Schools?
83% of Cherokee County Schools students are White, 7% of students are Hispanic, 6% 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 13:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Cherokee County Schools's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $12,565 is higher than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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