Elementary Schools in Cherokee 01

The Cherokee 01 school district in South Carolina serves 9 elementary schools (PK-5), with a total enrollment of 3,622 students, and ranks in the bottom third of districts statewide, though individual school performance varies dramatically.

For parents, the standout choice is Corinth Elementary, which earns 4 stars and ranks in the 78th percentile statewide—far ahead of its peers. Its 4th grade ELA proficiency (78.5%) and 5th grade math proficiency (76.6%) are roughly 25-40 points higher than the district average. Grassy Pond Elementary and Northwest Elementary are solid mid-tier options, both earning 3 stars and ranking in the 54th-58th percentile, with Grassy Pond posting a strong 68.1% 4th grade math score. At the other end, Luther L. Vaughan Elementary (2nd percentile), B. D. Lee Elementary (4th percentile), and Limestone-Central Elementary (9th percentile) all rank in the bottom 10% of the state with 0-star ratings. Blacksburg Elementary and Draytonville Elementary sit in the middle-low range (26th-28th percentile).

Key takeaways: Spending does not predict success—Luther L. Vaughan spends the most per student ($5,850) yet performs worst, while Corinth spends less ($4,998) and excels. Chronic absenteeism is a strong indicator of outcomes; the top three schools all have rates below 20%, while the bottom three exceed 26%. The district struggles with 5th grade math (34.4% proficiency vs. 47.8% in 3rd grade) and science (34.1% vs. 51.6% statewide), even at Corinth. Year-to-year swings at Draytonville and B. D. Lee suggest instability, while the split-campus Blacksburg Primary/Blacksburg Elementary model shows some promise with lower absenteeism. Overall, parents should prioritize attendance and look closely at grade-level subject data, as the district's "two-tier" structure means school choice matters greatly.