Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Summary:

Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle is a public school in Murphy, North Carolina, serving 120 students in grades PK-8. The school is part of the Cherokee County Schools district, which is ranked 82 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle consistently performs above the Cherokee County Schools and North Carolina state averages in mathematics and reading proficiency, with particularly strong performance in 8th grade mathematics (75% proficient or better) and 5th/8th grade science (90% and 100% proficient or better, respectively). However, the school has a significantly higher percentage of white students (87.5%) compared to the state and nearby schools like Peachtree Elementary and Martins Creek Elementary/Mid.

Additionally, Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle has a very high percentage of students (over 97%) eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. Despite these challenges, the school maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 9.6 to 11.2 over the past three years, which may contribute to its academic success. Overall, Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle stands out as a strong-performing school within the Cherokee County Schools district, though its lack of racial diversity and high levels of economic disadvantage present unique opportunities for the school to address.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

 337 Blue Eagle Circle
       Murphy, NC  28906-9804


(828) 644-5115

District: Cherokee County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
437th of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,929 Help


Students who attend Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle usually attend:

High:    Hiwassee Dam High

Student/teacher ratio:  10.9 Help
Number of students:  120

Racial breakdown:

White:
87.5%
Hispanic:
5.8%
Two or more races:
5.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  97.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle ranks better than 71% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 2nd among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Cherokee County Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 68.48. (See more...)
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Compare Details Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle ranks better than 81.1% of middle schools in North Carolina. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 77.17. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle has the smallest elementary school student body size in the Cherokee County Schools District. Racial makeup is: White (87.5%), Hispanic (5.8%), two or more races (5.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 97.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Cherokee County Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle is 10.9, which is the lowest among 6 elementary schools in the Cherokee County Schools District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle employs 10.9 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle is $13,929, which is the 3rd highest among 6 elementary schools in the Cherokee County Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle 437th of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle 150th of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


White students:


Cherokee County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Cherokee County Schools 82nd of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle?

Rank History for Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

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Compare

Rank History for all elementary school students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 64.40 448th 1276 64.9%
2007 57.91 591st 1293 54.3%
2008 65.89 426th 1324 67.8%
2009 64.68 513th 1354 62.1%
2010 63.33 549th 1363 59.7%
2011 50.36 789th 1381 42.9%
2012 37.01 986th 1388 29.0%
2013 45.76 733rd 1403 47.8%
2014 53.90 632nd 1390 54.5%
2015 72.15 376th 1440 73.9%
2016 82.30 183rd 1425 87.2%
2017 74.58 332nd 1429 76.8%
2018 71.48 374th 1434 73.9%
2019 54.05 692nd 1473 53.0%
2021 71.97 370th 1489 75.2%
2022 68.19 433rd 1514 71.4%
2023 62.25 542nd 1502 63.9%
2024 68.48 437th 1505 71.0%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 59.18 511th 1437 64.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 89.21 90th 1405 93.6%
2022 49.83 717th 1458 50.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 60.69 553rd 1413 60.9%
2019 39.22 933rd 1430 34.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.69 513th 1178 56.5%
2019 33.96 872nd 1183 26.3%
2021 52.74 532nd 1172 54.6%
2022 37.01 805th 1194 32.6%
2023 35.47 836th 1183 29.3%
2024 35.23 818th 1166 29.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

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Rank History for all middle school students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 69.75 161st 598 73.1%
2007 73.41 131st 606 78.4%
2008 81.35 81st 620 86.9%
2009 68.99 198th 630 68.6%
2010 73.34 150th 640 76.6%
2011 52.89 368th 648 43.2%
2012 58.36 325th 662 50.9%
2013 38.02 420th 673 37.6%
2014 23.04 493rd 627 21.4%
2015 51.22 359th 705 49.1%
2016 67.06 211th 692 69.5%
2017 74.03 157th 694 77.4%
2018 83.41 81st 691 88.3%
2019 82.45 104th 737 85.9%
2021 73.62 176th 741 76.2%
2022 71.70 190th 786 75.8%
2023 82.86 113th 784 85.6%
2024 77.17 150th 793 81.1%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 89.70 38th 656 94.2%
2019 84.45 75th 684 89.0%
2021 93.69 36th 706 94.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.62 175th 665 73.7%
2021 74.04 167th 711 76.5%
2022 57.85 285th 748 61.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 67.67 186th 596 68.8%
2019 71.07 166th 624 73.4%
2021 60.75 222nd 632 64.9%
2022 50.28 321st 658 51.2%
2023 62.30 235th 656 64.2%
2024 54.35 288th 652 55.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 








Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 424 0 2 0 11 n/a n/a 0 437
1989 423 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 424
1990 405 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 405
1991 382 0 0 0 6 n/a n/a 1 389
1992 391 0 0 0 5 n/a n/a 3 399
1993 360 0 0 0 5 n/a n/a 7 372
1994 349 0 1 2 8 n/a n/a 6 366
1995 407 0 1 3 5 n/a n/a 0 416
1996 407 0 1 3 5 n/a n/a 0 416
1997 419 0 0 10 4 n/a n/a 0 433
1998 417 0 1 8 2 n/a n/a -17 411
1999 395 0 0 6 5 n/a n/a 0 406
2000 409 0 0 5 8 n/a n/a 0 422
2001 391 0 0 5 3 n/a n/a 0 399
2002 201 0 0 2 1 n/a n/a 0 204
2003 201 0 0 2 1 n/a n/a 0 204
2004 211 1 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 215
2005 219 1 0 5 0 n/a n/a 0 225
2006 205 1 0 2 1 n/a n/a 0 209
2007 200 0 0 1 0 n/a n/a 2 203
2008 200 0 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 202
2009 158 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 159
2010 180 0 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 181
2011 177 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 183
2012 178 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 185
2013 173 4 0 9 1 0 2 0 189
2014 152 4 0 7 0 0 0 0 163
2015 170 1 0 8 0 0 1 0 180
2016 155 0 0 7 1 0 6 0 169
2017 160 0 0 7 1 0 4 0 172
2018 155 0 0 7 1 0 3 0 166
2019 150 4 0 6 1 0 5 0 166
2020 108 2 0 6 1 0 33 0 150
2021 111 0 0 7 1 0 4 0 123
2022 99 0 0 7 1 0 5 0 112
2023 105 0 0 7 1 0 7 0 120

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 437 28.0 15.6 40.5
1989 424 28.0 15.1 65.8
1990 405 28.0 14.4 60.5
1991 389 28.0 13.8 63
1992 399 28.0 14.2 34.8
1993 372 32.0 11.6 54.2
1994 366 32.0 11.4 48.6
1995 416 33.0 12.6 42.1
1996 416 33.0 12.6 42.1
1997 433 35.0 12.4 42.3
1998 411 33.0 12.5 43.9
1999 406 33.0 12.3 62.6
2000 422 33.0 12.8 55.9
2001 399 33.0 12.1 57.6
2002 204 16.0 12.8 98.5
2003 204 16.0 12.8 98.5
2004 215 17.0 12.6 65.1
2005 225 20.0 11.3 60.4
2006 209 20.0 10.5 59.3
2007 203 n/a n/a 57.2
2008 202 17.7 11.4 62.9
2009 159 15.9 10.0 71.1
2010 181 17.8 10.1 60.2
2011 183 15.3 11.9 76.5
2012 185 14.0 13.2 72.4
2013 189 14.5 13.0 71.4
2014 163 14.5 11.2 71.2
2015 180 13.0 13.8 98.3
2016 169 14.0 12.0 98.2
2017 172 13.2 13.0 98.3
2018 166 13.2 12.5 98.2
2019 166 14.4 11.4 98.2
2020 150 11.7 12.8 98
2021 123 12.7 9.6 97.6
2022 112 10.0 11.2 97.3
2023 120 10.9 10.9 97.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 437 28.0 15.6 40.5
1989 424 28.0 15.1 65.8
1990 405 28.0 14.4 60.5
1991 389 28.0 13.8 63
1992 399 28.0 14.2 34.8
1993 372 32.0 11.6 54.2
1994 366 32.0 11.4 48.6
1995 416 33.0 12.6 42.1
1996 416 33.0 12.6 42.1
1997 433 35.0 12.4 42.3
1998 411 33.0 12.5 43.9
1999 406 33.0 12.3 62.6
2000 422 33.0 12.8 55.9
2001 399 33.0 12.1 57.6
2002 204 16.0 12.8 98.5
2003 204 16.0 12.8 98.5
2004 215 17.0 12.6 65.1
2005 225 20.0 11.3 60.4
2006 209 20.0 10.5 59.3
2007 203 n/a n/a 57.2
2008 202 17.7 11.4 62.9
2009 159 15.9 10.0 71.1
2010 181 17.8 10.1 60.2
2011 183 15.3 11.9 76.5
2012 185 14.0 13.2 72.4
2013 189 14.5 13.0 71.4
2014 163 14.5 11.2 71.2
2015 180 13.0 13.8 98.3
2016 169 14.0 12.0 98.2
2017 172 13.2 13.0 98.3
2018 166 13.2 12.5 98.2
2019 166 14.4 11.4 98.2
2020 150 11.7 12.8 98
2021 123 12.7 9.6 97.6
2022 112 10.0 11.2 97.3
2023 120 10.9 10.9 97.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,973 (14.2%) $11,956 (85.8%) $13,929

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 692nd of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 542nd of 1502 Elementary schools
 10.9%
Ranks 104th of 737 Middle schoolsRanks 113th of 784 Middle schools
 0.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)81.372.7
 8.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Cherokee County Schools)70.850.3
 20.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.357.3
 7%
3rd Grade Reading (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)58.863.6
 4.8%
   3rd Grade Reading (Cherokee County Schools)56.236.2
 20%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.846.5
 10.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)52.946.2
 6.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Cherokee County Schools)56.650
 6.6%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.349.9
 7.4%
4th Grade Reading (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)41.261.5
 20.3%
   4th Grade Reading (Cherokee County Schools)62.154.5
 7.6%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.351.4
 5.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)61.962.5
 0.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Cherokee County Schools)59.256.1
 3.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)47.643.8
 3.8%
   5th Grade Reading (Cherokee County Schools)64.457.5
 6.9%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)61.975
 13.1%
   5th Grade Science (Cherokee County Schools)77.574.7
 2.8%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)8058.8
 21.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Cherokee County Schools)6954
 15%
   6th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.852.3
 6.5%
6th Grade Reading (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)7052.9
 17.1%
   6th Grade Reading (Cherokee County Schools)63.246.9
 16.3%
   6th Grade Reading (North Carolina)6049.3
 10.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)84.672.2
 12.4%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Cherokee County Schools)61.259
 2.2%
   7th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.450.1
 8.3%
7th Grade Reading (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)84.672.2
 12.4%
   7th Grade Reading (Cherokee County Schools)64.357.6
 6.7%
   7th Grade Reading (North Carolina)58.850.2
 8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)5075
 25%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Cherokee County Schools)56.147.9
 8.2%
   8th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)52.644.8
 7.8%
8th Grade Reading (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)64.375
 10.7%
   8th Grade Reading (Cherokee County Schools)60.750.2
 10.5%
   8th Grade Reading (North Carolina)55.651
 4.6%
8th Grade Science (Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle)92.9100
 7.1%
   8th Grade Science (Cherokee County Schools)89.882.2
 7.6%
   8th Grade Science (North Carolina)78.670.3
 8.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students166120
 27.7%
African American40
 100%
American Indian11
Asian00
Hispanic67
 16.7%
Pacific Islander00
White150105
 30%
Two or More Races57
 40%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients98.2%97.5%
 0.7%


Schools Near Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle









Frequently Asked Questions about Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Students who attend Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle usually go on to attend:

High : Hiwassee Dam High

Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle ranks 437th of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle are 88% White, 6% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 120 students attended Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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