The Cherokee County School District houses over 32,600 students, is the largest employer in Cherokee County and consists of 36 schools: 11 elementary, composed of kindergarten through 6th grade; six elementary composed of kindergarten through 5th grade; three elementary composed of kindergarten through 4th grade; one intermediate school, grades 5 and 6; four middle schools, grades 7 and 8; two middle, grades 6 through 8; four high schools, grades 9 through 12; one high school with ninth grade only; Ralph Bunche for Head Start, CrossRoads Alternative MS/HS, Polaris Evening School and Mountainbrook School at L.R. Tippens Educational Center.

Elementary Schools

Kindergarten
Cherokee County's elementary schools each offer full-day kindergarten, operating the same hours as the elementary grades. Children living in Cherokee County who are five years old on or before September 1 are eligible to attend. A developmentally appropriate curriculum has been designed to develop each child's socialization skills, reading and math readiness, as well as gross and fine motor skills. All students who qualify within an attendance area may ride the bus to and from school. A bus safety program is provided for all students to help ensure their safety and knowledge of procedures.

Elementary Grades
Cherokee County elementary schools house students from kindergarten through sixth grade, kindergarten through fifth grade and kindergarten through fourth grade, with schools ranging in size from 200 to 1,500 students. Despite vast differences in size, every effort is made to provide the same services, instructional programs and materials for each school, no matter how large or small. Students must be six years old on or before September 1 to enroll in first grade. The curriculum at all grade levels is based upon the Georgia Performance Standards set forth by the Georgia Department of Education and is supplemented by local student performance standards which are directly aligned with the State curriculum and assessments and can be accessed online at the School District's Web site (www.cherokee.k12.ga.us). Teachers and administrators strive to provide a program that not only emphasizes the development of the basic skills, but also recognizes and serves the individual needs of students working at different levels of achievement through differentiated instruction delivery models.

Middle Schools

Cherokee County students in seventh and eighth grades will attend one of six middle schools: E T Booth, Dean Rusk, Marie Archer Teasley, Woodstock Middle, Creekland or Freedom (Freedom and Creekland both also house sixth grade) depending upon the location of their current residence. The middle school concept allows a smooth education transition between the elementary school and the high school, while allowing for the physical and emotional changes taking place. Curriculum is developed around the basic model from the State Department of Education and is supplemented by local student performance standards.

High Schools

The high school years can be the most exciting, and often the most challenging, for students and parents alike. To help your student set a course for the future, whether that future includes college, vocational training or an entrance directly into the workforce, Cherokee County high schools offer a strong, comprehensive and individualized program of instruction for all high school students. Students will attend one of five high schools: Cherokee, Creekview (which houses ninth grade in school year 2005-06) Etowah, Sequoyah, or Woodstock High School, depending on the school district in which they live. CrossRoads MS/HS and Polaris Evening School are also available to certain students. The Cherokee County School District boasts average Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores that have increased 51 points over the past three years. While the State of Georgia is routinely reported as 50th in the Nation in SAT scores; an analogous comparison would rank Cherokee County 23rd in the Nation! The graduating class of 2004 scored a combined SAT of 1032, six points above the National average and 45 above the Georgia average.

View more information on CrossRoads Alternative MS/HS and Polaris Evening School.