Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle

Cherokee County Schools
337 Blue Eagle Circle
Murphy, NC 28906
120 Students
Elementary School Pre-K - 8th
School Overview
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle School, located in Murphy, North Carolina, serves as a central hub for students in the rural Cherokee County area. As a combined Pre-K through 8th-grade facility, the school provides a foundational educational environment that transitions students from their early childhood years through the onset of adolescence. The school’s curriculum is designed to meet state academic standards while fostering a tight-knit community atmosphere, typical of the small-town culture found in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

The school places a strong emphasis on student development and community engagement, operating as part of the Cherokee County School District. By housing both elementary and middle school levels under one roof, Hiwassee Dam facilitates a continuous learning progression, allowing for mentorship opportunities between older and younger students. The school actively encourages parental involvement and maintains a focus on preparing its middle schoolers for the transition to high school, aiming to provide a supportive, comprehensive, and locally focused educational experience.
120
Total Students
10.9
Full-Time Teachers
11.0
Student/Teacher Ratio
98.3%
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics
  • White
    105 (87.5 %)
  • Hispanic
    7 (5.8 %)
  • Two or More
    7 (5.8 %)
  • American Indian
    1 (0.8 %)
School Location
School Details
Status: Open
School Level: Elementary School
School Type: Regular School
Charter Status:* Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction: No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status: No
District: Cherokee County Schools
Phone: (828)644-5115
Website: http://www.cherokee.k12.nc.us/hdse/
Grade Range: Pre-K - 8th
Total Students: 120
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 10.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 11.0
NSLP Participation:1 Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch: 118
Qualified Reduced Lunch: 0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

1 National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught
Pre-Kindergarten 1
Kindergarten 14
Grade 1 10
Grade 2 14
Grade 3 8
Grade 4 10
Grade 5 14
Grade 6 19
Grade 7 16
Grade 8 14
Gender Ratio
Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)
Ranger Elementary/Middle
Cherokee County Schools
258 Students
101 Hardy Truett Road
Murphy, NC 28906 (6.5 miles away)
Elementary School Pre-K - 8th