Total enrollment
10,948
+381 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Cherokee County
Texas · Public K-12
Cherokee County's public schools total 24 across the county, with enrollment of about 10,948 and Jacksonville ISD the largest single district. The level mix is 11 elementary, 6 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Cherokee County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
24
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Cherokee County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Texas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 46.4% | #97 of 192 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 10,948 | #60 of 196 | #758 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 24 | #60 of 196 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.3:1 | #83 of 196 | #1,026 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 65.6% | #73 of 196 | #880 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 62.7% | #45 of 192 | #436 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Cherokee County school rankings
Residents
51,886
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
24
6 districts
Enrollment
10,948
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$61,261
Below Texas avg
Free/reduced lunch
65.6%
Above Texas avg
Elementary
11
4,373 students
Middle
6
2,844 students
High
5
2,966 students
Combined / other
2
765 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
JACKSONVILLE ISD
4,700 students · 6 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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
18.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
14.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.2%
civilian labor
Median age
38
25.2% under 18
Test scores in Cherokee County
Latest 2025-26 ELA proficiency, 20 schools ranked. Texas state average: 55.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- BULLARD H S· 75.0%
- RUSK EL· 75.0%
- BULLARD MIDDLE· 72.0%
- BULLARD EL· 66.0%
- BULLARD INT· 64.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- FRED DOUGLASS· 30.0%
- WEST SIDE EL· 31.0%
- JACKSONVILLE MIDDLE· 36.0%
- EAST SIDE EL· 37.0%
- ALTO EL· 40.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSONVILLE H S | Jacksonville | High | 09-12 | 1,270 | · |
| BULLARD H S | Bullard | High | 09-12 | 909 | · |
| NICHOLS INT | Jacksonville | Middle | 05-06 | 674 | · |
| JACKSONVILLE MIDDLE | Jacksonville | Middle | 07-08 | 629 | · |
| EAST SIDE EL | Jacksonville | Elementary | PK-04 | 623 | · |
| RUSK H S | Rusk | High | 09-12 | 621 | · |
| FRED DOUGLASS | Jacksonville | Elementary | PK-04 | 577 | · |
| JOE WRIGHT EL | Jacksonville | Elementary | PK-04 | 526 | · |
| NEW SUMMERFIELD SCHOOL | New Summerfield | Combined | PK-12 | 526 | · |
| BULLARD MIDDLE | Bullard | Middle | 07-08 | 478 | · |
| RUSK J H | Rusk | Middle | 06-08 | 458 | · |
| BULLARD INT | Bullard | Middle | 05-06 | 453 | · |
| BULLARD EL | Bullard | Elementary | 03-04 | 423 | · |
| BULLARD PRI | Bullard | Elementary | 01-02 | 409 | · |
| WEST SIDE EL | Jacksonville | Elementary | PK-04 | 381 | · |
| GW BRADFORD PRI | Rusk | Elementary | PK-01 | 379 | · |
| RUSK INT | Rusk | Elementary | 04-05 | 301 | · |
| RUSK EL | Rusk | Elementary | 02-03 | 298 | · |
| BULLARD EARLY CHILDHOOD | Bullard | Elementary | PK-KG | 249 | · |
| WELLS SCHOOL | Wells | Combined | PK-12 | 239 | · |
| ALTO EL | Alto | Elementary | PK-04 | 207 | · |
| ALTO MIDDLE | Alto | Middle | 05-08 | 152 | · |
| ALTO H S | Alto | High | 09-12 | 146 | · |
| COMPASS CENTER | Jacksonville | High | 06-12 | 20 | · |
Cities in Cherokee County
About Cherokee County
Across the small Texas county of Cherokee County of about 51,886 residents, the public-school footprint covers 24 schools and about 10,948 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $61,261, about 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 15%. That income level is 8% noticeably below the Texas median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Cherokee County spans 11 elementary schools (4,373 students), 6 middle schools (2,844), 5 high schools (2,966), and 2 combined or other schools.
JACKSONVILLE ISD dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 4,700 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Cherokee County has increased 4% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 10,567 students to 10,948.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Cherokee County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data