The only school district in Cherokee County had declining enrollment in the 2023-24 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
There were 2,955 students in Cherokee County Schools, 2.2% lower than the year before.
The enrollment numbers in Cherokee County fell short of the state’s trend, which shows an overall increase in enrollment across North Carolina.
Cherokee County Schools has a main office in Murphy and is the only school district within Cherokee County.
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 | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy Elementary School | 477 | 496 | -3.8% |
| Murphy High School | 415 | 475 | -12.6% |
| Andrews Elementary School | 333 | 333 | 0% |
| Murphy Middle School | 296 | 312 | -5.1% |
| Ranger Elementary/Middle School | 257 | 239 | 7.5% |
| Andrews High School | 214 | 224 | -4.5% |
| Andrews Middle School | 190 | 188 | 1.1% |
| Martins Creek Elementary/Mid | 174 | 164 | 6.1% |
| Peachtree Elementary School | 150 | 145 | 3.4% |
| Tri-County Early College High | 147 | 126 | 16.7% |
| Hiwassee Dam High School | 131 | 153 | -14.4% |
| Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle School | 118 | 116 | 1.7% |
| The Oaks Academy | 53 | 51 | 3.9% |
