Cherokee County Schools & Education
Cherokee County, Alabama
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
90.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,542
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,270
School Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#39
of 67 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Cherokee County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 39/100, Cherokee County maintains a strong graduation rate of 90.0%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $6,542 per pupil, Cherokee County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 2% below the Alabama average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Cherokee County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
8 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
39/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #39 of 67 Alabama counties with school score data.
Completion
90.0%
0.7 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,542
$272 above the state average
School coverage
8
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Cherokee County has 8 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Cherokee County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Small-system county
Cherokee County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#39
of 67 Alabama counties with school score data. The county score is 1 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Cherokee County
Elementary to high school visible
3,886 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Cherokee County is the largest listed district slice, with 8 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Cherokee County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Cherokee County, Alabama
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Consolidated Learning Across Cherokee County
A single school district manages all 3,886 students in Cherokee County across eight public schools. The landscape features a unique structure with four 'other' schools that often combine multiple grade levels into single campuses.
Unified District Serving Every Community
The Cherokee County district operates as the sole educational provider for the region's 3,886 students. There are currently no charter schools in the county, ensuring a unified traditional public school experience for all residents.
Rural Roots and All-Grade Campuses
Education here feels personal, with five of the eight schools located in rural settings and an average size of 555 students. Sand Rock High School is the county's largest hub with 773 students, serving a broad PK–12 population.
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Cherokee County
Reported Enrollment
3,886
8 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Cherokee County
8 Public Schools in Cherokee County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 8 of 8 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Rock High School | Record | Cherokee County | Sand Rock, 35983Rural: Distant | PK–12 | Other | 773 |
| Centre Elementary School | Record | Cherokee County | Centre, 35960Rural: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 647 |
| Cedar Bluff High School | Record | Cherokee County | Cedar Bluff, 35959Town: Distant | PK–12 | Other | 607 |
| Spring Garden High School | Record | Cherokee County | Spring Garden, 36275Rural: Distant | PK–12 | Other | 561 |
| Cherokee County High School | Record | Cherokee County | Centre, 35960Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 465 |
| Centre Middle School | Record | Cherokee County | Centre, 35960Rural: Fringe | 5–8 | Middle | 457 |
| Gaylesville High School | Record | Cherokee County | Gaylesville, 35973Rural: Distant | PK–12 | Other | 376 |
| Cherokee County Career Technology Center | Record | Cherokee County | Centre, 35960Town: Distant | 7–12 | Alternative | 0 |
Cedar Bluff High School
Cherokee County
Cedar Bluff, 35959 / Town: Distant
Spring Garden High School
Cherokee County
Spring Garden, 36275 / Rural: Distant
Gaylesville High School
Cherokee County
Gaylesville, 35973 / Rural: Distant
Cherokee County Career Technology Center
Cherokee County
Centre, 35960 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,542
State avg $6,270
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Cherokee County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Alabama counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Alabama?
How should I read the school score in Cherokee County?
What is the graduation rate in Cherokee County?
How much does Cherokee County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Cherokee County, Alabama — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Cherokee County, Alabama?
A single school district manages all 3,886 students in Cherokee County across eight public schools. The landscape features a unique structure with four 'other' schools that often combine multiple grade levels into single campuses.
What are the major school districts in Cherokee County, Alabama?
The Cherokee County district operates as the sole educational provider for the region's 3,886 students. There are currently no charter schools in the county, ensuring a unified traditional public school experience for all residents.
What is the school experience like in Cherokee County?
Education here feels personal, with five of the eight schools located in rural settings and an average size of 555 students. Sand Rock High School is the county's largest hub with 773 students, serving a broad PK–12 population.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.