Summary:
The two schools in zip code 35616 - Cherokee Elementary School and Cherokee High School - are facing significant academic challenges, with consistently low student performance compared to state and Colbert County averages. Both schools have experienced declining statewide rankings over the past three years, indicating a relative decline in performance compared to other schools in Alabama.
Cherokee Elementary School has relatively low student proficiency rates, below 50% in most subject areas, and a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (45.61%). The school's student population is predominantly white (83.33%) and lacks diversity compared to state averages. Similarly, Cherokee High School has consistently low proficiency rates in math, science, and English, with well below average performance compared to the county and state. The high school also has a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (48.42%) and a predominantly white student population (85.52%).
Despite the relatively high per-student spending at both schools ($11,764 for Cherokee Elementary and $13,870 for Cherokee High), the academic outcomes do not reflect the investment, suggesting that factors beyond just funding may be contributing to the schools' challenges. The similar student-teacher ratios (around 11:1) also indicate that class size is not a major factor in the performance differences between the schools and the state/county averages. Further investigation into the underlying factors, such as student demographics, resource allocation, and instructional practices, may be necessary to identify ways to improve the educational outcomes for these schools.
Thank you for your feedback!