Cherokee Elementary School

Public PK, KG-5

 8801 N 56th St
       Paradise Valley, AZ  85253-2246


(480) 484-8700

District: Scottsdale Unified District

SchoolDigger Rank:
13th of 1,245 Arizona Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $7,449 Help


Students who attend Cherokee Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Cocopah Middle School
High:    Chaparral High School

Student/teacher ratio:  18.5 Help
Number of students:  659

Racial breakdown:

White:
73.1%
Hispanic:
13.8%
Asian:
6.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  5.9% Help


 See top rated Arizona elementary schools

 Compare Cherokee Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Cherokee Elementary School ranks better than 99% of elementary schools in Arizona. It also ranks first among 18 ranked elementary schools in the Scottsdale Unified District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 97.8. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (73.1%), Hispanic (13.8%), Asian (6.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 5.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Cherokee Elementary School is 18.5. 15 elementary schools in the Scottsdale Unified District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Cherokee Elementary School employs 35.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Cherokee Elementary School is $7,449. 13 elementary schools in the Scottsdale Unified District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Cherokee Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Cherokee Elementary School 13th of 1245 Arizona public elementary schools. (See Cherokee Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Scottsdale Unified District:

SchoolDigger ranks Scottsdale Unified District 92nd of 540 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Cherokee Elementary School?

Rank History for Cherokee Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 91.35 31st 1062 97.1%
2010 95.20 7th 1090 99.4%
2011 91.89 32nd 1075 97.0%
2012 88.67 48th 1141 95.8%
2013 90.28 33rd 1158 97.2%
2014 93.15 25th 1079 97.7%
2015 91.68 56th 955 94.1%
2016 95.73 24th 1079 97.8%
2017 94.04 48th 1106 95.7%
2018 94.18 41st 1109 96.3%
2019 91.35 67th 1039 93.6%
2021 98.52 6th 1226 99.5%
2022 94.93 19th 1000 98.1%
2023 97.80 13th 1245 99.0%
See the entire list of Arizona Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 71.19 188th 1027 81.7%
2022 51.88 211th 444 52.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 72.44 92nd 451 79.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 99.59 2nd 417 99.5%
2021 99.63 3rd 1201 99.8%
2023 87.06 45th 820 94.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 93.19 15th 618 97.6%
2023 86.51 83rd 1116 92.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 94.09 35th 1023 96.6%
2019 86.30 79th 862 90.8%
2021 97.83 6th 1219 99.5%
2022 94.13 11th 824 98.7%
2023 97.71 11th 1219 99.1%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Foster Care students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 29.03 293rd 306 4.2%
2022 55.91 3rd 25 88.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Foster Care Students!

Rank History for Male students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 93.48 51st 1032 95.1%
2019 90.39 52nd 850 93.9%
2021 98.08 9th 1220 99.3%
2022 90.32 29th 830 96.5%
2023 96.86 21st 1216 98.3%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 81.56 36th 620 94.2%
2022 56.56 109th 270 59.6%
2023 90.62 10th 316 96.8%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 91.89 13th 895 98.5%
2022 71.08 59th 289 79.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 96.57 15th 1198 98.7%
2022 95.83 14th 716 98.0%
2023 98.80 4th 1170 99.7%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 98.67 8th 654 98.8%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for White students at Cherokee Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.37 47th 720 93.5%
2019 80.15 77th 595 87.1%
2021 94.24 9th 1161 99.2%
2022 90.83 18th 800 97.8%
2023 92.97 16th 1024 98.4%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Arizona Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Cherokee Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Arizona Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

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by a parent
Sunday, November 19, 2017

Open Quote excellent public school great and dedicated teachers. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, March 16, 2017

Open Quote Excellent public school, catering to the different needs of all students. Excellent and dedicated teachers and staff. Very involved parent group! Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, March 3, 2017

Open Quote Great school and great community . Teachers, staff, parents, and APT all work hard to make this a real success. Couldn't be happier with the choice we made for our two kids. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Open Quote Cherokee Elementary is more than just a top rated, excelling school. This school is a welcoming community that makes each child feel loved and safe while at the same time meeting their individual academic needs. Year after year they show growth even though they are already excelling. The faculty is warm and inviting, the students are kind and inclusive, and the scores are off the charts in regards to state and district averages. This school is a well oiled unit that uses all of its resources for the sole benefit of its students. They consistently do whats best for the child and their scores and climate reflect that. As a parent there is no other school in the valley I would rather send my child to. I am a proud parent who is fortunate to have my children at a school that is focused on the career readiness of an ever changing world. Thank you Cherokee faculty, staff, and APT for creating the very BEST elementary experience for our family. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, February 20, 2015

Open Quote LOVE it! We've had kids here since 2008. Our 4th & 1st graders have had tremendous success after starts in the Early Learning program there and and are challenged appropriately and supported where they need extra help. Our 4th grader's math scores are almost off the charts on state testing and both kids are at or above their target goals in all other areas. Our 3rd child started in the Early Learning Center this year. She's not quite 2 yet, but is learning numbers, knows her animals and is learning colors too. Cherokee has a tremendous community of highly-credentialed teachers and staff. But hands down, the families make this school what it is! I highly recommend it- regardless of what your child's needs are. Cherokee has solid programs for every kid! Really- come see it for yourself!! I think you'll be quite pleased. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Open Quote Great school full of great teachers, students and staff. Out of this world principal and vice principal. Has active and involved PTO and parents who care about education and it shows. Cherokee has many extras like pre-k program, full time PACT, lots of volunteers and aids - which all help bring standard class sizes down. Could not be happier, highly recommend this school! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Cherokee Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1046 7 16 33 2 n/a n/a -41 1063
1989 1047 8 14 36 2 n/a n/a -473 634
1990 630 8 12 24 n/a n/a n/a -21 653
1991 659 6 14 14 0 n/a n/a -6 687
1992 653 14 21 16 2 n/a n/a 1 707
1993 741 7 22 16 2 n/a n/a 0 788
1994 790 11 20 21 1 n/a n/a 0 843
1995 766 13 19 22 0 n/a n/a 0 820
1996 766 13 19 22 0 n/a n/a 0 820
1997 775 10 19 28 1 n/a n/a 0 833
1998 780 7 18 24 0 n/a n/a 0 829
1999 777 9 15 16 0 n/a n/a 0 817
2000 728 8 19 13 0 n/a n/a 0 768
2001 689 7 21 13 0 n/a n/a 0 730
2002 670 11 23 9 4 n/a n/a 0 717
2003 670 11 23 9 4 n/a n/a 0 717
2004 606 7 15 7 3 n/a n/a 0 638
2005 559 6 14 10 2 n/a n/a 0 591
2006 558 11 21 9 2 n/a n/a 0 601
2007 478 11 17 13 2 n/a n/a 0 521
2008 494 10 23 17 2 n/a n/a 0 546
2009 504 10 25 21 2 n/a n/a 0 562
2010 516 21 23 26 2 n/a n/a 0 588
2011 512 15 30 27 1 0 0 0 585
2012 487 9 27 45 2 0 9 0 579
2013 465 10 27 47 2 0 13 0 564
2014 444 11 33 42 1 1 19 0 551
2015 391 6 31 53 5 0 14 0 500
2016 428 6 40 62 3 0 8 0 547
2017 478 9 41 67 5 1 8 0 609
2018 486 22 51 59 7 2 9 0 636
2019 518 24 53 71 6 3 7 0 682
2020 536 19 54 75 5 0 7 0 696
2021 424 20 40 54 4 0 5 0 547
2022 480 21 40 74 3 0 13 0 631
2023 482 20 41 91 2 0 23 0 659

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Cherokee Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1063 58.0 18.3 n/a
1989 634 37.3 16.9 n/a
1990 653 36.3 17.9 n/a
1991 687 31.9 21.5 n/a
1992 707 34.7 20.3 n/a
1993 788 36.2 21.8 n/a
1994 843 41.2 20.5 n/a
1995 820 41.3 19.9 n/a
1996 820 41.3 19.9 n/a
1997 833 41.4 20.1 n/a
1998 829 42.8 19.4 n/a
1999 817 41.6 19.6 n/a
2000 768 42.5 18.1 n/a
2001 730 40.3 18.1 n/a
2002 717 37.0 19.4 4.5
2003 717 37.0 19.4 4.5
2004 638 34.4 18.5 2.5
2005 591 34.1 17.3 3.2
2006 601 34.5 17.4 2.3
2007 521 36.7 14.2 3.3
2008 546 44.5 12.3 4.4
2009 562 37.9 14.8 5.3
2010 588 39.3 14.9 2.7
2011 585 38.0 15.3 7
2012 579 44.5 13.0 6
2013 564 37.2 15.1 7.8
2014 551 37.5 14.6 8.3
2015 500 32.0 15.6 7
2016 547 39.0 14.0 8.2
2017 609 38.4 15.8 11.5
2018 636 39.8 15.9 6.9
2019 682 43.1 15.8 6.7
2020 696 42.4 16.4 6.8
2021 547 37.5 14.5 n/a
2022 631 35.5 17.7 3.3
2023 659 35.5 18.5 5.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Cherokee Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1063 58.0 18.3 n/a
1989 634 37.3 16.9 n/a
1990 653 36.3 17.9 n/a
1991 687 31.9 21.5 n/a
1992 707 34.7 20.3 n/a
1993 788 36.2 21.8 n/a
1994 843 41.2 20.5 n/a
1995 820 41.3 19.9 n/a
1996 820 41.3 19.9 n/a
1997 833 41.4 20.1 n/a
1998 829 42.8 19.4 n/a
1999 817 41.6 19.6 n/a
2000 768 42.5 18.1 n/a
2001 730 40.3 18.1 n/a
2002 717 37.0 19.4 4.5
2003 717 37.0 19.4 4.5
2004 638 34.4 18.5 2.5
2005 591 34.1 17.3 3.2
2006 601 34.5 17.4 2.3
2007 521 36.7 14.2 3.3
2008 546 44.5 12.3 4.4
2009 562 37.9 14.8 5.3
2010 588 39.3 14.9 2.7
2011 585 38.0 15.3 7
2012 579 44.5 13.0 6
2013 564 37.2 15.1 7.8
2014 551 37.5 14.6 8.3
2015 500 32.0 15.6 7
2016 547 39.0 14.0 8.2
2017 609 38.4 15.8 11.5
2018 636 39.8 15.9 6.9
2019 682 43.1 15.8 6.7
2020 696 42.4 16.4 6.8
2021 547 37.5 14.5 n/a
2022 631 35.5 17.7 3.3
2023 659 35.5 18.5 5.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Cherokee Elementary School

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $163 (56.0%) $54 (18.6%) $380 (130.6%) $29 (10.0%) $46 (15.8%) $74 (25.4%) $291
2020 $42 (0.6%) $127 (1.8%) $210 (3.0%) $6,399 (90.1%) $537 (7.6%) $6,936 (97.6%) $7,105
2021 $79 (0.9%) $418 (4.8%) $576 (6.6%) $6,939 (79.8%) $1,256 (14.5%) $8,195 (94.3%) $8,692
2022 $96 (1.3%) $553 (7.4%) $746 (10.0%) $6,598 (88.6%) $202 (2.7%) $6,800 (91.3%) $7,449

Data source: Arizona Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Cherokee Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 67th of 1039 Elementary schoolsRanks 13th of 1245 Elementary schools
 5.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students682659
 3.4%
African American2420
 16.7%
American Indian62
 66.7%
Asian5341
 22.6%
Hispanic7191
 28.2%
Pacific Islander30
 100%
White518482
 6.9%
Two or More Races723
 228.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients6.7%5.9%
 0.8%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Cherokee Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 659 students attended Cherokee Elementary School.

Students at Cherokee Elementary School are 73% White, 14% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 3% Two or more races, 3% African American.

Yes! Cherokee Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 13th of 1245 Arizona elementary schools.

Students who attend Cherokee Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cocopah Middle School
High : Chaparral High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arizona Department of Education. Attendance Areas provided by ATTOM.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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