Cherokee 01

Cherokee 01 is a South Carolina school district serving approximately 7,145 students in Pre-K through 12th grade across 14 schools, including 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools, and it currently ranks in the bottom quarter of the state with a 1-star rating.

For parents, the standout choice in the district is Corinth Elementary, which earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 78th percentile statewide—far ahead of every other school in the district. Its 5th grade math proficiency (76.6%) is more than double the district average, and its 4th grade ELA scores beat the state average by 13 points. If you're looking for improvement, Blacksburg High jumped 27 percentile points in one year and now boasts a 91% graduation rate, well above the district's 82.2%. Northwest Elementary is also steadily climbing and has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at 16.2%. On the other end, Luther L. Vaughan Elementary is a serious concern—it ranks in the 2nd percentile with a 0-star rating, and its 5th grade ELA proficiency (20.8%) is roughly a third of the state average, despite receiving the highest per-student funding in the district.

Across the district, math proficiency lags state averages by 15–25 points, and chronic absenteeism (26.2%) is a district-wide issue, especially at John E. Ewing Middle and Blacksburg Middle (both 35.3%). However, there's a bright spot: all three middle schools—Gaffney Middle, Blacksburg Middle, and John E. Ewing Middle—post Algebra 1 proficiency rates of 81–100%, dramatically exceeding the state average of 73.95%. There's also a clear geographic divide, with Blacksburg schools generally outperforming Gaffney schools, and significant year-to-year swings at several schools suggest small cohorts and inconsistent instruction. While the district faces real challenges, the strong middle school math pathway and a few rising stars offer genuine reasons for optimism.