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)
Schools (12)
| 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)
| 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)
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 |
Other
Libraries (1)
| 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