The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in Science. The lowest is 6% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on The Oaks Academy
The Oaks Academy is an alternative public school serving grades six through twelve in Murphy, a small Appalachian county seat in the mountains of southwestern North Carolina. It functions as one of a handful of pathways available within Cherokee County Schools, the district that spans the county's scattered communities.
The school enrolls a small population, with roughly half in high school grades and the remainder in middle school. Almost all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing them in a population experiencing economic hardship. The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and students identifying as two or more races. Data on special education enrollment and English learners were not available in the school's reporting.
State testing proficiency in grades three through eight shows low performance across tested subjects. In English language arts, a small share of students met proficiency. Math results were weaker still, with very few students proficient. Science proficiency was in the low-to-moderate range, though the science assessment was newly administered this year, so trend comparison is not available. These results reflect what students were able to demonstrate on standardized assessments; they do not capture whether the school's alternative model produces different kinds of learning or readiness that tests may not measure. A parent may want to look into further with the school what academic approaches and supports define the program and how outcomes are tracked beyond these state tests.
No state graduation rate was available. This gap likely reflects the school's alternative status and small size; alternative schools often serve students with non-traditional pathways or completion timelines that standard rate calculations do not capture. The school's own reporting on how many students complete and move on would be a valuable conversation starter.
Murphy itself is a walkable historic downtown surrounded by residential neighborhoods on wooded lots, with major employers including a regional hospital, the school district, large retailers, advanced manufacturing firms, and a tribal casino that opened in recent years. The housing market sits below the North Carolina state average, with home values and mortgage estimates within reach for many households. Growth is slow but steady, with a mix of second-home buyers and full-time residents. The town's Main Street program has focused on downtown preservation and local business growth.
The district recently navigated significant organizational changes. In early 2024, the board reorganized multiple elementary and middle school campuses, remapping attendance zones and converting some long-standing K-8 community schools into separate elementary and middle configurations. More fundamentally, a 2023 decision reversed a planned consolidation of the county's three high schools into one new facility, keeping Andrews, Murphy, and Hiwassee Dam high schools as separate institutions. This choice directly shapes commute times, school size, and community connection depending on where a family lives. Additionally, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners moved in 2024-25 to redirect future sales tax revenue that had been dedicated to education toward the county's general fund, a structural funding change that affects what the district can spend on facilities, staffing, and programming.
For families considering The Oaks Academy, the school represents an alternative setting with a small peer group, intensive supports implied by the alternative designation, and economic circumstances where most students face similar household challenges. The low standardized test results are straightforward facts to discuss with school staff about what academic content and skill levels students are working at, what the school's theory of instruction is, and how progress is measured beyond tests. Whether this model serves a student's learning profile and goals is a conversation best anchored in the school's own account of its program.
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