Cherokee County 8th graders outperformed students statewide on the Georgia writing assessment given in January. Ninety-one percent of Cherokee students in the regular program scored in the “meets or exceeds” category, compared to the state average of 86 percent. The district said it plans to continue working to improve scores, particularly among special needs students and those who are learning English.

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Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez