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Cherokee County

Oklahoma · Public K-12

For a Oklahoma county, Cherokee County operates a compact public-school system: 21 schools and 7,401 students, broken out as 15 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high.

7-year change in Cherokee County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
7,401
-172 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
21
+1 (+5%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
21
13 districts
Enrollment
7,401
NCES CCD
Median income
$53,218
Below Oklahoma avg
Free/reduced lunch
73.5%
Above Oklahoma avg
Elementary
15
4,446 students
Middle
2
838 students
High
4
2,117 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
TAHLEQUAH
3,712 students · 13 districts 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
White
46%
Hispanic
8%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
17%
Native American
33%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
19%
Hispanic
14%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
22%
Native American
44%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
29.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.1%
civilian labor
Median age
37
21.2% under 18

Test scores in Cherokee County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Oklahoma state average: 30.6%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)
  1. WOODALL PUBLIC SCHOOL· 36.9%
  2. HERITAGE ES· 34.0%
  3. PEGGS PUBLIC SCHOOL· 30.9%
  4. TAHLEQUAH MS· 28.3%
  5. GREENWOOD ES· 24.0%

See all 5 schools in Cherokee County ranked by score →

All schools (21)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
TAHLEQUAH HSTahlequahHigh09-121,358·
TAHLEQUAH MSTahlequahMiddle06-08730·
GRAND VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLTahlequahElementaryPK-08521·
KEYS ESPark HillElementaryPK-08511·
HERITAGE ESTahlequahElementaryKG-05501·
GREENWOOD ESTahlequahElementaryKG-05500·
CHEROKEE ESTahlequahElementaryKG-05441·
BRIGGS PUBLIC SCHOOLTahlequahElementaryPK-08390·
WOODALL PUBLIC SCHOOLTahlequahElementaryPK-08373·
Sequoyah High SchoolTahlequahHigh09-12318·
KEYS HSPark HillHigh09-12258·
HULBERT ESHulbertElementaryPK-05243·
HULBERT JR-SR HS (SR)HulbertHigh09-12183·
SEQUOYAH ESTahlequahElementaryPK-PK182·
PEGGS PUBLIC SCHOOLPeggsElementaryPK-08163·
TENKILLER PUBLIC SCHOOLWellingElementaryPK-08157·
SHADY GROVE PUBLIC SCHOOLHulbertElementaryPK-08134·
NORWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLHulbertElementaryPK-08118·
CHEROKEE IMMERSION ES-TAHLEQUAHTahlequahElementaryPK-08112·
HULBERT MSHulbertMiddle06-08108·
LOWREY PUBLIC SCHOOLTahlequahElementaryPK-08100·

Cities in Cherokee County

Tahlequah11 schoolsHulbert4 schoolsPark Hill2 schoolsHulbert1 schoolPeggs1 schoolTahlequah1 schoolWelling1 school

About Cherokee County

Cherokee County is a small county of about 47,942 residents in Oklahoma. Its public-school system serves approximately 7,401 students across 21 schools.

For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $53,218 a year, roughly 29% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 13% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 10% below the Oklahoma median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Cherokee County is made up of 15 elementary schools (4,446 students), 2 middle schools (838), and 4 high schools (2,117).

TAHLEQUAH dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,712 students on its own.

Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 7,573 students in SY 2017-18 versus 7,401 in SY 2024-25. Cherokee County now counts 21 public schools, up from 20 in SY 2017-18.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Cherokee County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County, Oklahoma has 21 public K-12 schools serving approximately 7,401 students.
How many high schools are in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County, Oklahoma has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 2,117 students.
How many middle schools are in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County, Oklahoma has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 838 students.
How many elementary schools are in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County, Oklahoma has 15 public elementary schools, serving approximately 4,446 students.
What is the largest school district in Cherokee County?
TAHLEQUAH is the largest school district in Cherokee County, serving approximately 3,712 students. The county contains 13 school districts overall.
What is the population of Cherokee County?
Cherokee County, Oklahoma has a population of approximately 47,942, with a median age of 37. About 21.2% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Cherokee County?
Median household income in Cherokee County is $53,218, below the Oklahoma average of $59,445. About 13.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Cherokee County?
Approximately 29.2% of adults 25 and older in Cherokee County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Cherokee County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 73.5% of students in Cherokee County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Oklahoma county average of 66.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cherokee County schools?
Across Cherokee County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 28.2 to 1.

Cherokee County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data