Excellent
#145 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 5% in state
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle
Elementary School · Cherokee County Schools · Murphy, NC
A Cherokee County Schools elementary school where students score 12 points above what's typical for similar communities.
337 Blue Eagle Circle, Murphy, NC 28906
- Math 65% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 11:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle score 59% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 20 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 59% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 61% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
97.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 1Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated1,250/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$52,669
Median home value
$219,800
Median rent
$872/mo
College educated
24.4%
Homeownership
84%
Poverty rate
12.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28906; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in Cherokee County Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | PK–5 | Not available | 348 | Compare → |
| Martins Creek Elementary/midEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | PK–8 | Not available | 190 | Compare → |
| Murphy ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.1 | PK–5 | Not available | 516 | Compare → |
| Peachtree ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.0 | PK–5 | Not available | 168 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Cherokee County Schools
- Schools in district
- 13
- Rank in district
- #2 of 13
- District spending per student
- $14,303NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 24.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle is listed in Cherokee County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle is a public elementary school in Murphy, NC, part of Cherokee County Schools, serving approximately 121 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 11:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #145 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle
What grades does Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle serve?
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle?
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle has an enrollment of approximately 121 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle is 11:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle rank in NC?
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle ranks #145 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle has 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle a charter school?
No, Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle a Title I school?
No, Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle?
97.5% of students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 121
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Cherokee County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 24.0%
- Phone
- (828) 644-5115
- Area population (ZIP 28906)
- 19,712
- Area average commute
- 26.6 min
- Area median age
- 56.1
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28906; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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