Murphy Elementary School had the highest enrollment among Cherokee County schools, welcoming 477 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Among the 13 schools in Cherokee County, Murphy High School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 415 students, while Andrews Elementary School welcomed 333 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.
Murphy Elementary School is part of Cherokee County Schools district, which roughly covers institutions within Cherokee County and has a main office in Murphy.
In the previous school year, Murphy Elementary School also had the highest number of students among Cherokee County schools.
North Carolina’s student-teacher ratio is roughly 15.4 students per teacher, aligning with the national average. However, rising teacher turnover threatens to push class sizes higher, making it harder for students to get individualized attention.
If vacancies continue to grow, schools may struggle to maintain this ratio, impacting the quality of instruction. Districts in lower-funded areas face the biggest challenges, as limited budgets make it harder to attract and retain teachers.
| School name | City | Total School Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Murphy Elementary School | Murphy | 477 |
| Murphy High School | Murphy | 415 |
| Andrews Elementary School | Andrews | 333 |
| Murphy Middle School | Murphy | 296 |
| Ranger Elementary/Middle School | Murphy | 257 |
| Andrews High School | Andrews | 214 |
| Andrews Middle School | Andrews | 190 |
| Martins Creek Elementary/Mid | Murphy | 174 |
| Peachtree Elementary School | Murphy | 150 |
| Tri-County Early College High | Murphy | 147 |
| Hiwassee Dam High School | Murphy | 131 |
| Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle School | Murphy | 118 |
| The Oaks Academy | Marble | 53 |
