Cherokee: Schools & Education

12 public schools serve Cherokee. Smoky Mountain High School is the largest at 899 students (grades 9-12). Total enrollment: 4,240 students.

~172 residents per school (vs North Carolina ~592).

K-12 Schools

12 K-12 schools serving the area — about 172 residents per school. 24.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. average ~35%).

Schools (1)

NEW KITUWAH ACADEMY

60 WATER DAM RD

Schools (12)

0-12 · 292 students · 370 Mitten Lane, Cashiers NC 28717 · (828)743-5755

Catamount School

6-8 · 59 students · 100 Smoky Mountain Dr, Sylva NC 28779 · (828)331-1775

Blue Ridge School

-1-6 · 165 students · 95 Bobcat Drive, Cashiers NC 28717 · (828)743-2646

Cullowhee Valley School

-1-8 · 619 students · 240 Wisdom Drive, Cullowhee NC 28723 · (828)293-5667

Fairview Elementary

-1-8 · 762 students · 251 Big Orange Way, Sylva NC 28779 · (828)586-2819

Scotts Creek Elementary

-1-8 · 451 students · 516 Parris Branch, Sylva NC 28779 · (828)631-2740

Smoky Mountain High School

9-12 · 899 students · 100 Smoky Mountain Drive, Sylva NC 28779 · (828)586-2177

Smokey Mountain Elementary

-1-8 · 353 students · 884 US Hwy 441N, Whittier NC 28789 · (828)497-5535

Jackson Community School

6-12 · 75 students · 3770 Skyland Drive, Sylva NC 28779 · (828)586-4328

Blue Ridge Early College

7-13 · 132 students · 95 Bobcat Dr, Cashiers NC 28717 · (828)743-2646

Jackson Co Early College

9-13 · 101 students · 404 College Drive, Sylva NC 28779 · (828)339-4499

Highlands School

0-12 · 332 students · 545 Pierson Dr, Highlands NC 28741 · (828)526-2147

School Districts · Districts	Summit Charter, Jackson County Public Schools, Jackson County Public Schools, Macon County Schools
School Districts · Total count	4
School Districts · Nces Lea Ids	3700029, 3700421, 3702340, 3702760
School Statistics · Total Schools	12
School Statistics · Total Enrollment	4,240
School Statistics · Total Teachers	301
School Statistics · Student Teacher Ratio	14.10
School Statistics · Charter Schools	1
School Statistics · Free Lunch Students	2,433
School Statistics · Free Lunch Pct	57.4%
Schools Count	12

Sources: NCES LEA assignment from schools in this city · NCES CCD 2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12

Higher Education

Colleges and universities within commuting range, plus IPEDS scorecard data on enrollment, completion, and net price.

Colleges (1)

Western Carolina University

8282277100 · NCES IPEDS 2022 — within 3 miles

College Scorecard · Fetched	2026-04-15
Nearest College · Name	Western Carolina University
Nearest College · City	Cullowhee
Nearest College · Phone	(828) 227-7100
Nearest College · Distance	2.1 mi

Sources: College Scorecard API query by city+state — no results · NCES IPEDS 2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12

Early Childhood

Daycare and preschool capacity. Federal child-care data is sparse — counts reflect state-licensed providers only.

Facilities (2)

KALEIDOSCOPE DREAMS

10 ADAMS CREEK RD · CENTER BASED

NEW KITUWAH ACADEMY

60 WATER DAM ROAD · CENTER BASED

Libraries

Public libraries from IMLS Public Libraries Survey — visits, circulation, and service-area population.

Nearest Library · Name	ALBERT CARLTON-CASHIERS COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Nearest Library · Phone	(828) 743-0215
Nearest Library · Address	249 FRANK ALLEN RD, CASHIERS NC 28717
Nearest Library · Distance	0.7 mi

Sources: IMLS PLS 2022 — nearest by coordinates

Other

Libraries (1)

ALBERT CARLTON-CASHIERS COMMUNITY LIBRARY

8287430215 · 249 FRANK ALLEN RD, CASHIERS NC 28717

Job Training · Total count	1
Pct Bachelors Plus	24.5%
Scholarship Funds · Total count	1

Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · IRS BMF keyword · Refreshed 2026-04-12

Read Next

Demographics & People Population, age, language breakdown, and household data. Economy & Jobs Median income, employment, commute, and major employers. Housing & Real Estate Median home value, ownership rate, build-year mix. Healthcare & Safety Hospitals, clinics, fire, police, EMS coverage.