Cherokee County puts historic high school up for sale

The Cherokee County School Board has voted to put up for sale its former Downtown Center headquarters, the historic Canton High School Building at 110 Academy St. GOOGLE MAPS

The Cherokee County School Board has voted to put up for sale its former Downtown Center headquarters, the historic Canton High School Building at 110 Academy St. GOOGLE MAPS

Now that the Cherokee County School District has moved to a new administrative headquarters, the School Board has voted to advertise for sale its former Downtown Center – the historic Canton High School building – and an adjacent parking lot in downtown Canton.

The facility, occupying about 1.8 acres at 110 Academy St., was replaced by the new Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility at 1205 Bluffs Parkway, Canton.

The district dedicated the building last month and moved its Communications, Curriculum and Instruction, Financial Management, Human Resources and School Operations divisions there.

The Cherokee School Police Department remains at 110 Academy but will move later this year to the district’s Support Services warehouse and offices at 200 Mountain Brook Court, Canton, a district spokeswoman said.

Canton City Manager Billy Peppers said he was not aware of any plans for the former high school. He said the city retains first right of refusal to purchase the property from the school district, matching the highest bidder.

Canton High was constructed in 1924 and replaced by Cherokee High School in 1956; for a while, it housed students in fourth through eighth grades, according to the Cherokee County Historical Society and Canton Tourism Council. It was later closed as a school and renovated by the district for offices.