Summary:
Cherokee, Alabama is home to a single elementary school, Cherokee Elementary School, which serves students in grades PK through 6 within the Colbert County district.
For parents considering Cherokee Elementary School, the standout finding is its remarkable strength in mathematics. The school consistently outperforms both district and state averages in this subject, with 5th grade math proficiency reaching 70.59% in 2025-2026—nearly double the state average of 39.06%. This is particularly impressive given that 65.93% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, a demographic factor that often correlates with lower test scores. The school's overall state ranking has also improved significantly, jumping from the 55th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 62nd percentile in 2025-2026, with a peak at the 71st percentile in between. English performance is more variable, with a notable 27-point drop in 3rd grade proficiency from 85.71% to 58.82% between school years, though 5th grade English remains strong at 76.47%.
Science is the clearest area for improvement, with proficiency at 43.33% in 2025-2026, trailing both the district (48.02%) and state (50.23%). The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 12.7% is significantly better than the district average of 17.8% and nearly matches the state average of 12.0%, which is encouraging given the school's economic challenges. With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 15.1:1 and per-student spending of $11,764, the school provides a supportive learning environment. The data also reveals a "5th grade peak" pattern, where students in that grade perform exceptionally well across subjects, suggesting either a particularly strong cohort or effective instruction at that level. Overall, Cherokee Elementary School demonstrates that high-poverty schools can achieve strong academic results, particularly in math, while maintaining attendance rates near state averages.
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