Best High Schools in Zip Code 35616

Zip code 35616 is home to just one high school, Cherokee High School, a small rural school in Cherokee, Alabama, serving grades 7 through 12 with a total enrollment of 206 students. This school is part of the Colbert County district, which ranks in the 48th percentile statewide. With an average of about 34 students per grade and a favorable 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio, Cherokee offers a close-knit learning environment. The school also benefits from substantial per-student spending of $13,870, though 63.59% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a predominantly low-income population.

Academically, Cherokee High School shows a mixed picture. The most encouraging news is the dramatic improvement in 11th-grade proficiency from the 2024-2025 to 2025-2026 school year: math jumped from 3.57% to 18.75%, science from 10.71% to 28.13%, and English from 17.86% to 25%. However, 8th-grade math remains a persistent concern at just 10.71% proficiency, well below the state average of 26.36%. On a positive note, 8th-grade science proficiency (46.43%) exceeds the district average and approaches the state average, while 7th and 8th-grade English scores (47.62% and 50%) are relative strengths. The school's graduation rate of 92.1% slightly exceeds the state average, which is notable given the economic challenges many students face.

One of the biggest red flags is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 23.7%—nearly double the state rate of 12.0%. This is especially concerning given the school's high per-student spending and small class sizes, suggesting resources may not be fully overcoming attendance barriers common in rural, low-income areas. The school's ranking has also been volatile, swinging from the 34th percentile (2023-2024) to the 20th (2024-2025) and back to the 41st (2025-2026). This fluctuation is typical for small schools where a single cohort of about 30 students can significantly skew results. Overall, Cherokee High School shows promising recent gains in upper-grade performance and maintains a strong graduation rate, but families should be aware of the attendance challenges and the need for continued focus on middle school math.