Cherokee County Schools

911 Andrews Road
Murphy, NC 28906-3501
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 685 students in Cherokee County Schools. This district's average middle testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Cherokee County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
13 Schools
875 Schools
# Students
2,989 Students
497,279 Students
# Teachers
203 Teachers
31,075 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Cherokee County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 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 47% has decreased from 92% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#164 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(21-22)
50%
51%
50%
50%
68%
63%
(21-22)
91%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.31
0.71
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
8%
21%
% Black
2%
25%
% White
83%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,450 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,049 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$40 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$39 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,450
$11,168
Spending / Student
$13,049
$11,592

Best Cherokee County Schools Public Middle Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hiwassee Dam Middle School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
337 Blue Eagle Circle
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 644-5115
Gr: 6-8 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #22.
Murphy Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
65 Middle School Drive
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-0160
Gr: 6-8 | 353 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #33.
Andrews Middle School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2750 Business Hwy 19
Andrews, NC 28901
(828) 321-5762
Gr: 6-8 | 167 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #44.
The Oaks Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
The Oaks Academy, 4700 East Us
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-6775
Gr: 6-12 | 43 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 9%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 13 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 2,989 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 17%
  • : 91% (Btm 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 50% (Top 50%)
  • : 50% (Btm 50%)
  • : 68% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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