Enrollment
633
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gaffney, SC
Cherokee Charter School
Federal NCES profile for Cherokee Charter School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450390901755Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cherokee Charter School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #8 of 8
- schools in Gaffney · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 72.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Cherokee Charter School has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cherokee Charter School ranks #8 of 8 schools in Gaffney, SC.
School address
District: Charter Institute at Erskine · South Carolina
NCES ID 450390901755 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
49.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.9:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
-10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
72.5%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
-2% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Cherokee Charter School compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Cherokee Charter School
Cherokee Charter School is a higher-need, mid-sized charter combined-grade school in Gaffney, South Carolina, enrolling 633 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.9:1 puts it in the smaller third of South Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 72.5% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 633 students, its enrollment sits close to the South Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 1,214 South Carolina schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 142 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #139, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (68%) and African American (18%) (diversity index 49/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 633 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Charter Institute at Erskine spends $6,927 per pupil, 52% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Gaffney's public schools, it stands alongside B. D. Lee Elementary (603 students): Cherokee Charter School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.9:1 vs 14.7:1).
Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students) and Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students) alongside Cherokee Charter School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Cherokee Charter School compares
Cherokee Charter School on the metrics families compare, against South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 10% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.5% | ▼ 2% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 633 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
633
Bigger than 75% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
72.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% below the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 33% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$6,927
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 633 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
24
in-school suspensions + 48 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 68.4%
African American 18.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.8%
Two or More 3.2%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 68.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.0, Cherokee Charter School is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Charter Institute at Erskine, which includes Cherokee Charter School.
$6,927
Per student
-52%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-58%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 2.7%
State 85.8%
Federal 11.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Cherokee Charter School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sc Connections Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cyber Academy of South Carolina | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Carolina Virtual Charter School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gray Collegiate Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mevers School of Excellence | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cherokee Charter School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 6,152
- Students per teacher
- 27.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 3,280
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,180
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 772
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Gaffney
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
B. D. Lee Elementary
Standard public school
603 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Grassy Pond Elementary
Standard public school
519 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Limestone-Central Elementary
Standard public school
436 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Northwest Elementary
Standard public school
423 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary
Standard public school
399 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Corinth Elementary
Standard public school
292 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~633 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Cherokee Charter School's federal record.
- Compare Cherokee Charter School against another school. Compare schools
- Charter Institute at Erskine's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Cherokee Charter School
How many students attend Cherokee Charter School?
Cherokee Charter School has 633 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gaffney, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cherokee Charter School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cherokee Charter School is 12.9:1, which is 10% lower than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 18% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cherokee Charter School?
72.5% of students at Cherokee Charter School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cherokee Charter School?
The largest demographic group at Cherokee Charter School is White at 68.4% of enrollment, in Gaffney, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cherokee Charter School?
Cherokee Charter School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cherokee Charter School rank among schools in Gaffney?
By Resource Investment Index, Cherokee Charter School ranks #8 of 8 schools in Gaffney, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gaffney on the city page.
Is Cherokee Charter School a good school?
Cherokee Charter School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Charter Institute at Erskine?
Besides Cherokee Charter School, Charter Institute at Erskine also operates Sc Connections Academy (6,152 students), Cyber Academy of South Carolina (3,280 students), and South Carolina Virtual Charter School (2,180 students). See the Charter Institute at Erskine district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.