Cherokee County Schools

The Cherokee County Schools district in North Carolina consists of 13 schools, including 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 5 high schools. The district serves a mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities, leading to significant disparities in academic performance across the schools.

Some standout schools in the district include Peachtree Elementary, which consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, and Tri-County Early College High, which performs exceptionally well and ranks in the top 25% of North Carolina high schools. In contrast, schools like Andrews Elementary and Hiwassee Dam High struggle with proficiency rates well below the state and district averages.

The data also reveals a strong correlation between poverty and academic performance, with schools having the highest free/reduced lunch rates, such as Murphy Elementary and Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle, tending to have the lowest academic performance. Additionally, smaller, more rural schools like The Oaks Academy face unique challenges and generally underperform compared to larger, more urban/suburban schools.