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Excellent

#55 of 1,035 schools in AR

Top 5% in state

Cherokee Elementary School

Elementary School · HIGHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

P O BOX 419, Hardy, AR 72542

Enrollment

547

Student-Teacher

13.7:1

Score

8.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 4th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Hardy

#1 of 3

public schools

Arkansas elementary schools

#30 of 509

In district

#1 of 3

HIGHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

Academic performance

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Cherokee Elementary School

Cherokee Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hardy, AR, part of the HIGHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT. The school serves approximately 547 students in grades Kindergarten – 4th with a student-teacher ratio of 13.7:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 94.8th percentile among AR schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 62% proficiency in math and 44% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.2/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $40,724, where 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a remote rural setting.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Cherokee Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-1.24 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.4Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency60%
Reading/ELA Proficiency47%
Overall Proficiency54%
Expected (poverty-adj.)22%
vs. Expected+31.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile90th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,909

Cherokee Elementary School — Students at Cherokee Elementary School score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

111.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AR EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 62.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 44.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from AR state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
68%
ELA
45%
2021*
Math
58%
ELA
40%
2022
Math
60%
ELA
47%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.2/10.

How Cherokee Elementary School Compares

See how Cherokee Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.4/10
95th percentile in AR
Academic
9.4/10
9.4/10
Growth
8.2/10
Above average
Environment
7.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
112%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
40 teachers

Location

P O BOX 419, Hardy, AR 72542

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Cherokee Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. KOSHKONONG ELEM. (rated 8.5/10, 24.1 miles away, in nearby Koshkonong), with a very similar rating. Another option is CAVE CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 21.4 miles away, in nearby Cave City), with a comparable rating. Additionally, COUCH ELEM. (rated 7.8/10, 23.2 miles away, in nearby Myrtle), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Hardy, see our Hardy schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 23.2 mi
School Distance Rating
HIGHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL Hardy 0.4 mi 8.4
HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL Hardy 0.6 mi 6.4
MAMMOTH SPRING ELEM. SCHOOL Mammoth Spring 15.8 mi 6.3
MAMMOTH SPRING HIGH SCHOOL Mammoth Spring 15.8 mi 6.5
THAYER ELEM. Thayer 18.1 mi 5.2
THAYER SR. HIGH Thayer 18.1 mi 6.1
SALEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Salem 16.6 mi 5.3
SALEM HIGH SCHOOL Salem 16.7 mi 5.6
CAVE CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Cave City 21.4 mi 8.1
CAVE CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL CAREER AND COLLEGIATE PREPARATORY Cave City 21.5 mi 7.6
CAVE CITY HIGH CAREER & COLLEGIATE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Cave City 21.6 mi 7.6
IZARD CO. CONS. ELEM. SCHOOL Brockwell 18.2 mi 7.1
MELBOURNE HIGH SCHOOL Melbourne 21.1 mi 7.4
MELBOURNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Melbourne 21.1 mi 5.4
KOSHKONONG ELEM. Koshkonong 24.1 mi 8.5
KOSHKONONG HIGH Koshkonong 24.1 mi 6.7
SLOAN-HENDRIX ELEM. SCHOOL Imboden 20.2 mi 6.5
SLOAN-HENDRIX HIGH SCHOOL Imboden 20.2 mi 6.6
COUCH ELEM. Myrtle 23.2 mi 7.8
COUCH HIGH Myrtle 23.2 mi 7.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 72542 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$40,724

Median Home Value

$90,500

Median Rent

$519/mo

Population

3,829

College Educated

9.9%

Homeownership

85%

Poverty Rate

12.7%

Median Age

45.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Cherokee Elementary School has a median household income of $40,724. It is a community where 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $90,500, with a median rent of $519/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.7%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
CHENAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Little Rock, AR 8.4
EUPER LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith, AR 8.4
HECTOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hector, AR 8.4
PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Corning, AR 8.4
SEQUOYAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Russellville, AR 8.4
BUFFALO ISLAND CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Leachville, AR 8.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Cherokee Elementary School

What grades does Cherokee Elementary School serve?

Cherokee Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 4th.

How many students attend Cherokee Elementary School?

Cherokee Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 547 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Cherokee Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Cherokee Elementary School is 13.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Cherokee Elementary School rank in AR?

Cherokee Elementary School is ranked #55 out of 1,035 schools in AR.

What is Cherokee Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Cherokee Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Cherokee Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Cherokee Elementary School has 62.0% math proficiency and 44.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Cherokee Elementary School a charter school?

No, Cherokee Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Cherokee Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Cherokee Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cherokee Elementary School?

111.7% of students at Cherokee Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
10 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
24 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Elevated (909/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Hardy). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 4th
Enrollment
547
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
40
Free/Reduced Lunch
111.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Sharp County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

HIGHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
District Enrollment
1,513
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,860
District Rank
#1 of 3

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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