Total enrollment
3,860
-112 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
Cherokee County
Alabama · Public K-12
Cherokee County in Alabama has 8 public K-12 schools in service today, collectively responsible for roughly 3,860 students with Cherokee County Public Schools the largest district. By level, that breaks down as 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Cherokee County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
7
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
88%
was 88%
% Hispanic
4%
was 2%
% Black
4%
was 5%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
8
1 districts
Enrollment
3,860
NCES CCD
Median income
$53,863
Below Alabama avg
Free/reduced lunch
52.4%
Below Alabama avg
Elementary
1
665 students
Middle
1
450 students
High
2
448 students
Combined / other
4
2,297 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Cherokee County Public Schools
3,860 students · 1 district in Cherokee County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Cherokee County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
16.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.9%
civilian labor
Median age
48
18.6% under 18
Test scores in Cherokee County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Alabama state average: 53.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Centre Elementary School· 67.4%
- Centre Middle School· 63.1%
- Cedar Bluff High School· 62.3%
- Gaylesville High School· 56.1%
- Sand Rock High School· 55.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Cherokee County High School· 36.5%
- Spring Garden High School· 46.1%
- Sand Rock High School· 55.8%
- Gaylesville High School· 56.1%
- Cedar Bluff High School· 62.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Rock High School | Sand Rock | Combined | PK-12 | 783 | · |
| Centre Elementary School | Centre | Elementary | PK-04 | 665 | · |
| Cedar Bluff High School | Cedar Bluff | Combined | PK-12 | 623 | · |
| Spring Garden High School | Spring Garden | Combined | PK-12 | 550 | · |
| Centre Middle School | Centre | Middle | 05-08 | 450 | · |
| Cherokee County High School | Centre | High | 09-12 | 448 | · |
| Gaylesville High School | Gaylesville | Combined | PK-12 | 341 | · |
| Cherokee County Career Technology Center | Centre | High | 07-12 | · | · |
Cities in Cherokee County
About Cherokee County
In Alabama, Cherokee County is a compact county of about 25,443 residents. 8 public schools across the county instructs about 3,860 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $53,863 a year, 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 11%.
For a sense of the school types, Cherokee County is made up of 1 elementary school (665 students), 1 middle school (450), 2 high schools (448), and 4 combined or other schools.
Cherokee County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,860 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 3%: 3,972 students in SY 2017-18 versus 3,860 in SY 2024-25.
On this page, the community for Cherokee County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Cherokee County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data