The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Science. The lowest is 37% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Andrews Middle
Andrews Middle School serves grades 6-8 in a small North Carolina mountain town that sits at a crossroads of civic renewal and fiscal uncertainty. The school draws from a rural community with deep poverty and limited diversity in ways that shape academic experience and family circumstance.
The enrollment is small, drawn from Andrews and the immediate Andrews area. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a figure that reflects the economic reality of the region: the local economy is built on manufacturing, health care, and retail work, with major employers including a nonprofit that hires disabled adults, regional hospital care, and small downtown businesses. Housing values in the Andrews zip code are modest and have remained relatively stable. The town itself is experiencing slow population decline even as local leaders express optimism about new housing and business development. This is a place where school-age children are overwhelmingly from low-income families.
The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller Hispanic population and very small numbers of other racial groups. Data on special education enrollment and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to contact the school directly about services in those areas.
On state assessments administered in 2024-25, Andrews Middle's performance shows uneven results across subjects. In math, students reached proficiency at a rate well below the midpoint. In English language arts, proficiency was around the midpoint. Science performance was notably stronger, with a majority of tested students proficient, though it is worth noting that the science assessment changed this year, which can affect year-to-year comparisons. Because the school's enrollment is very small and it is the only middle school in the district serving grades 6-8, comparison to other district middle schools is not possible.
The school sits within Cherokee County Schools, which has undergone substantial structural changes in recent years. In January 2024, the district reorganized multiple K-8 campuses, converting some longstanding community schools into separate elementary and middle configurations. This reorganization moved middle-grade students across the county and altered bus routes and school communities. Separately, in January 2023, the school board reversed an earlier decision to consolidate three small high schools into one facility, choosing instead to keep Andrews, Murphy, and Hiwassee Dam high schools open as separate institutions. This decision shapes which high school path is available to Andrews Middle graduates. A third structural change is underway: in 2024-25, the county began redirecting a dedicated quarter-cent sales tax away from education funding toward the county's general fund, a lasting shift in the district's revenue available for facilities and staffing.
Andrews is a compact historic mountain town with a walkable downtown core of brick storefronts, restaurants, and shops. The town is bookended by the Valley River to the north and foothills to the south. Most residents own homes. Civic life centers on downtown, where the public library serves as a community gathering place. Public transit is minimal; nearly all residents rely on personal vehicles. The town added a farmers market in 2024 and approved a downtown social district in 2025, signals of modest civic momentum in a place that has been flat or slowly shrinking in population.
For a family considering Andrews Middle, the school offers state-tested academics in a small-town setting where most peers are also from low-income backgrounds. Math proficiency is a soft spot worth understanding further with the school, and science is a relative strength. The school exists within a district navigating significant budget and organizational transitions, which may affect what programs and supports are available. A parent may want to learn directly from the school about special education, English learner services, after-school programs, and how it is managing the broader district changes.
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