Summary:
In zip code 35616, there is one elementary school, Cherokee Elementary School, serving grades PK-6 in the Colbert County district, with 226 students in a rural Alabama area.
Cherokee Elementary School is a standout performer in mathematics, particularly in 5th grade where 70.59% of students are proficient, far exceeding the state average of 39.06%. The school also shows strong 5th-grade English proficiency at 76.47%, beating both district and state averages. However, science is a clear weakness, with 4th-grade proficiency at 43.33%, below the state's 50.23%. The school's overall state ranking has improved from the 55th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 62nd percentile in 2025-2026, indicating positive momentum. With a student-teacher ratio of 15.1:1 and a free/reduced lunch rate of 65.93%, the school serves a high-poverty population yet still manages to outperform state averages in math, suggesting effective instructional strategies.
Parents should note the "5th grade spike" where proficiency jumps dramatically in both math and English, but this success does not appear to carry into 6th grade, as the same cohort scored only 44.19% in 6th-grade math the following year. Chronic absenteeism at 12.7% is lower than the district average of 17.8% but slightly above the state's 12.0%. Per-student spending is $11,764, though this data is from 2018-2019. While 3rd-grade English proficiency was exceptional at 85.71% in 2024-2025, it dropped to 58.82% in 2025-2026, showing inconsistency year-over-year. Overall, Cherokee Elementary School is a solid choice for families prioritizing math achievement, though science instruction and consistency across grade levels may be areas of concern.
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