Cherokee Charter Academy

Q: Is Cherokee Charter Academy a good school?

Cherokee Charter Academy ranks 340 th of 638 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Cherokee Charter Academy is a public charter elementary and middle school serving grades PK-8 in Gaffney, South Carolina, part of the Cherokee 01 district. The school has seen a steady increase in racial diversity, with the percentage of white students decreasing from 70.82% in 2020-2021 to 75% in 2022-2023, while the percentage of African American students has increased from 26.59% to 16.04% over the same period.

Academically, Cherokee Charter Academy has shown mixed performance compared to the state and district averages. While the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics were generally higher than the district average, they were lower than the state average in some grades. However, the school's female students ranked 158 out of 580 South Carolina elementary schools, earning a 4-star rating, while its low socioeconomic status students ranked 176 out of 608, also earning a 4-star rating. Notably, the school has seen a significant increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 40.24% in 2020-2021 to 87.71% in 2022-2023, indicating it serves a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students.

When compared to the nearby public schools in the Cherokee 01 district, Cherokee Charter Academy generally outperforms them in academic proficiency, particularly in ELA. This suggests the charter school may be providing a more effective educational experience for its students. However, the school faces challenges in addressing potential achievement gaps among its diverse student groups, and continued monitoring and targeted interventions will be crucial to ensuring the school's long-term success and the academic growth of all its students.

Detail:

Public, Charter PK, KG-8

3206 Cherokee Avenue
Gaffney, SC 29340

(864) 489-7198

District: Charter Institute at Erskine

SchoolDigger Rank:
340^th of 638 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 11.5

Number of students: 516

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.1%

African American:

16.3%

Hispanic:

8.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 99.4%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Cherokee Charter Academy ranks worse than 53.3% of elementary schools in South Carolina. It also ranks last among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Charter Institute at Erskine School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 47.41. (See more...)

Compare Details Cherokee Charter Academy ranks better than 56.3% of middle schools in South Carolina. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 52.02. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (71.1%), African American (16.3%), Hispanic (8.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 99.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Charter Institute at Erskine School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Cherokee Charter Academy is 11.5, which is the 3^rd best among 4 elementary schools in the Charter Institute at Erskine School District. (See more...)

Compare Cherokee Charter Academy employs 44.5 full-time teachers.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Cherokee Charter Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Cherokee Charter Academy 340^th of 638 South Carolina public elementary schools. (See Cherokee Charter Academy in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Cherokee Charter Academy 142^nd of 325 South Carolina public middle schools. (See Cherokee Charter Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Charter Institute at Erskine:

SchoolDigger ranks Charter Institute at Erskine 34^th of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Cherokee Charter Academy

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Cherokee Charter Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SC State Percentile
2021	42.69	357^th	622	42.6%
2022	50.55	305^th	625	51.2%
2023	61.23	236^th	644	63.4%
2024	47.41	340^th	638	46.7%

See the entire list of South Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Cherokee Charter Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SC State Percentile
2021	41.62	350^th	580	39.7%
2022	56.40	258^th	600	57.0%
2023	67.57	176^th	608	71.1%
2024	53.49	276^th	599	53.9%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Cherokee Charter Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SC State Percentile
2021	39.94	337^th	554	39.2%
2022	39.42	351^st	573	38.7%
2023	71.61	158^th	580	72.8%
2024	44.46	324^th	565	42.7%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Cherokee Charter Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SC State Percentile
2021	42.52	323^rd	561	42.4%
2022	55.91	256^th	579	55.8%
2023	58.66	232^nd	582	60.1%
2024	48.25	292^nd	568	48.6%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Cherokee Charter Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SC State Percentile
2021	29.42	328^th	439	25.3%
2022	31.30	327^th	455	28.1%
2023	40.94	289^th	463	37.6%
2024	29.95	338^th	441	23.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: South Carolina Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Cherokee Charter Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at Cherokee Charter Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	67.42	90^th	325	72.3%
2024	52.02	142^nd	325	56.3%

See the entire list of South Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Cherokee Charter Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	81.17	45^th	313	85.6%
2024	62.84	86^th	307	72.0%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Cherokee Charter Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	61.86	96^th	299	67.9%
2024	59.44	106^th	294	63.9%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Cherokee Charter Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	69.13	81^st	303	73.3%
2024	49.02	138^th	294	53.1%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Cherokee Charter Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	44.10	135^th	260	48.1%
2024	32.64	175^th	255	31.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: South Carolina Department of Education, 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.

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Cherokee Charter Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2021	301	113	1	6	1	1	2	425
2022	380	103	3	15	0	2	4	507
2023	360	77	4	29	1	2	7	480
2024	367	84	5	45	1	2	12	516

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 Cherokee Charter Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2021	425	29.0	14.6	40.2
2022	507	41.0	12.3	64.1
2023	480	49.5	9.6	87.7
2024	516	44.5	11.5	99.4

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 Cherokee Charter Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2021	425	29.0	14.6	40.2
2022	507	41.0	12.3	64.1
2023	480	49.5	9.6	87.7
2024	516	44.5	11.5	99.4

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.

Schools Near Cherokee Charter Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SC READY English Language Arts (2024)						SC READY Mathematics (2024)						Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 4th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 5th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Cherokee Charter Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	3206 Cherokee Avenue	Gaffney	29340	Cherokee County	Charter Institute at Erskine	Yes	No	No	No	(864) 489-7198	516	45	11.5	99.4%	367 (71.1%)	84 (16.3%)	45 (8.7%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	12 (2.3%)	47.4	340^th of 638 public elementary schools	46.7%		61.2	236^th of 644 public elementary schools	63.4%	104	51.3	51.9	58.9	49.3	45.1	52.5	56.5	40.4	23.2	39.7	29.4	32.5
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	192 Vaughan Road	Gaffney	29341	Cherokee County	Cherokee 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 206-6054	397	34	11.8	100.0%	110 (27.7%)	171 (43.1%)	103 (25.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.3%)	3.9	636^th of 638 public elementary schools	0.3%		6.6	629^th of 644 public elementary schools	2.3%	7	27.9	29.5	20.9				16.7	8.2	0.0				$15,392	$1,193	$2,057	$3,249	$10,912	$1,231	$12,143
Draytonville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2373 Wilkinsville Highway	Gaffney	29340	Cherokee County	Cherokee 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 206-6783	265	21	12.6	100.0%	168 (63.4%)	56 (21.1%)	11 (4.2%)	3 (1.1%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (9.4%)	39.2	387^th of 638 public elementary schools	39.3%		28.1	458^th of 644 public elementary schools	28.9%	71	69.4	26.4	38.8				69.5	20.6	33.3				$15,666	$1,192	$1,985	$3,178	$11,003	$1,485	$12,488
B. D. Lee Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	401 Overbrook Drive	Gaffney	29341	Cherokee County	Cherokee 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 206-6432	617	43	14.4	100.0%	116 (18.8%)	409 (66.3%)	42 (6.8%)	10 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (6.5%)	4.8	633^rd of 638 public elementary schools	0.8%		5.2	638^th of 644 public elementary schools	0.9%	5	17.1	24.6	25.9				18.0	23.1	11.1				$16,181	$1,463	$1,812	$3,276	$11,540	$1,365	$12,905
Limestone-Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	727 Pacolet Highway	Gaffney	29340	Cherokee County	Cherokee 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 206-6620	475	37	12.9	100.0%	234 (49.3%)	177 (37.3%)	46 (9.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (3.2%)	10	599^th of 638 public elementary schools	6.1%		13	574^th of 644 public elementary schools	10.9%	25	23.1	32.4	40.0				28.9	18.3	12.9				$13,995	$1,521	$1,860	$3,381	$9,478	$1,135	$10,613
Grassy Pond Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1146 Boiling Springs Highway	Gaffney	29341	Cherokee County	Cherokee 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 206-6671	504	34	14.6	68.8%	322 (63.9%)	104 (20.6%)	65 (12.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.0%)	56	278^th of 638 public elementary schools	56.4%		57.9	265^th of 644 public elementary schools	58.9%	13	46.5	66.6	62.3				49.3	60.0	33.3				$12,837	$889	$1,826	$2,714	$8,907	$1,216	$10,123
Corinth Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	128 Corinth Road	Gaffney	29340	Cherokee County	Cherokee 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 206-6600	305	26	11.7	83.9%	271 (88.9%)	13 (4.3%)	11 (3.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.0%)	79.7	125^th of 638 public elementary schools	80.4%		55.5	276^th of 644 public elementary schools	57.1%	151	61.4	59.1	65.9				79.5	68.2	68.3				$15,219	$1,130	$1,853	$2,982	$11,084	$1,153	$12,237
Blacksburg Elementary	Public	3-5	402 Hardin Street	Blacksburg	29702	Cherokee County	Cherokee 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 206-6518	321	23	13.8	100.0%	246 (76.6%)	43 (13.4%)	15 (4.7%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.4%)	33.7	423^rd of 638 public elementary schools	33.7%		27.4	466^th of 644 public elementary schools	27.6%	43	47.1	44.9	35.8				42.2	53.0	30.2				$12,674	$1,318	$1,760	$3,078	$8,264	$1,332	$9,596
Blacksburg Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	1010 East Cherokee Street	Blacksburg	29702	Cherokee County	Cherokee 01	No	No	No	Yes	(864) 206-6936	372	24	15.6	100.0%	290 (78.0%)	37 (9.9%)	18 (4.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (7.0%)								(n/a)													$13,745	$1,545	$1,651	$3,196	$9,188	$1,361	$10,549
Goucher Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-6	604 Goucher School	Gaffney	29304	Spartanburg County	Limestone Charters Association	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(864) 300-2787	130	13	10.0	63.8%	107 (82.3%)	4 (3.1%)	7 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.9%)								(n/a)	30.0	55.0	36.3	41.6			35.0	60.0	9.1	20.8

Frequently Asked Questions about Cherokee Charter Academy

How many students attend Cherokee Charter Academy?

In the 2023-24 school year, 516 students attended Cherokee Charter Academy.

What district is Cherokee Charter Academy in?

Charter Institute at Erskine

What is the racial makeup of Cherokee Charter Academy?

Students at Cherokee Charter Academy are 71% White, 16% African American, 9% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Is Cherokee Charter Academy a good school?

Cherokee Charter Academy ranks 340^th of 638 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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

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.