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 school year, there are 5 public high schools serving 997 students in Cherokee County Schools School District. 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 School District 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 School District have a Graduation Rate of 77%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 85%.
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 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
13 Schools
761 Schools
# Students
3,104 Students
565,764 Students
# Teachers
236 Teachers
33,453 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
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 91% has decreased from 93% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#164 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
68%
63%
Graduation Rate
91%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.30
0.70
# American Indian Students
24 Students
5,772 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
22 Students
21,293 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
238 Students
115,235 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
20%
# Black Students
61 Students
138,700 Students
% Black Students
2%
24%
# White Students
2,583 Students
254,801 Students
% White Students
83%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
765 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
180 Students
30,969 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
108
491
# Students in K Grade:
228
6,922
# Students in 1st Grade:
246
6,949
# Students in 2nd Grade:
232
7,207
# Students in 3rd Grade:
197
7,125
# Students in 4th Grade:
210
7,196
# Students in 5th Grade:
215
7,763
# Students in 6th Grade:
225
11,146
# Students in 7th Grade:
211
12,024
# Students in 8th Grade:
247
12,284
# Students in 9th Grade:
243
137,976
# Students in 10th Grade:
280
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
235
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
227
104,750
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
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 High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 433 students
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
Grades: 9-13
| 149 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 222 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 141 students
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
Grades: 6-12
| 52 students
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