For the 2025 school year, there are 30 public schools serving 17,051 students in Cleveland County, NC (there are 5 private schools, serving 247 private students). 99% of all K-12 students in Cleveland County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Cleveland County, NC are Cleveland Echs, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and Pinnacle Classical Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Cleveland County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Cleveland County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Cleveland County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Cleveland Echs
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1800 E. Marion Street
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8232
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8232
Grades: 9-13
| 214 students
Rank: #22.
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy
Charter School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2527 Us 221a Hwy
Mooresboro, NC 28114
(828) 657-9998
Mooresboro, NC 28114
(828) 657-9998
Grades: K-12
| 1,428 students
Rank: #33.
Pinnacle Classical Academy
Charter School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2401 Joes Lake Rd
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 740-4040
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 740-4040
Grades: K-12
| 1,165 students
Rank: #44.
Crest High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
800 Old Boiling Springs
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8331
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8331
Grades: 9-12
| 1,101 students
Rank: #55.
Kings Mountain High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
500 Phifer Road
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8330
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8330
Grades: 9-12
| 1,317 students
Rank: #66.
North Shelby
Special Education School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1701 Charles Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8230
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8230
Grades: PK-12
| 77 students
Rank: #77.
Boiling Springs Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1522 Patrick Avenue
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8361
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8361
Grades: PK-5
| 555 students
Rank: #88.
Burns High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
307 E Stagecoach Trail
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8335
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8335
Grades: 9-12
| 922 students
Rank: #99.
Springmore Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
616 Mcbrayer Homestead Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8235
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8235
Grades: PK-5
| 581 students
Rank: #1010.
Casar Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
436 Schoolhouse Road
Casar, NC 28020
(704) 476-8255
Casar, NC 28020
(704) 476-8255
Grades: PK-5
| 279 students
Rank: #1111.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1166 Wyke Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8390
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8390
Grades: PK-5
| 425 students
Rank: #12 - 1412. - 14.
Grover Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
206 Carolina Avenue
Grover, NC 28073
(704) 476-8351
Grover, NC 28073
(704) 476-8351
Grades: PK-4
| 323 students
Rank: #12 - 1412. - 14.
Shelby High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
230 E Dixon Boulevard
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8325
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8325
Grades: 9-12
| 790 students
Rank: #12 - 1412. - 14.
West Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
500 W Mountain Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8345
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8345
Grades: PK-4
| 287 students
Rank: #1515.
Kings Mountain Intermediate
(Math: 65% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
227 Kings Mountain Boulevard
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8366
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8366
Grades: 5-6
| 632 students
Rank: #16 - 1816. - 18.
Bethware Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
115 Bethware Drive
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8346
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8346
Grades: PK-4
| 530 students
Rank: #16 - 1816. - 18.
East Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
600 Cleveland Avenue
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8356
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8356
Grades: PK-4
| 203 students
Rank: #16 - 1816. - 18.
James Love Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
309 James Love Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8385
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8385
Grades: PK-5
| 356 students
Rank: #1919.
Fallston Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
112 Gary Street
Fallston, NC 28042
(704) 476-8240
Fallston, NC 28042
(704) 476-8240
Grades: PK-5
| 487 students
Rank: #2020.
Kings Mountain Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1000 Phifer Road
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8340
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8340
Grades: 7-8
| 664 students
Rank: #2121.
North Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
900 N Ramseur Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8225
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8225
Grades: PK-4
| 291 students
Rank: #2222.
Union Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1440 Union Church Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8250
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8250
Grades: PK-5
| 424 students
Rank: #2323.
Burns Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
215 Shady Grove Road
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8223
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8223
Grades: 6-8
| 756 students
Rank: #2424.
Crest Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
315 Beaverdam Church Rd
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8221
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8221
Grades: 6-8
| 833 students
Rank: #2525.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1907 Stony Point Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8260
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8260
Grades: PK-5
| 386 students
Rank: #2626.
Township Three Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
526 Davis Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8245
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8245
Grades: PK-5
| 541 students
Rank: #2727.
Cleveland Innovation
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
400 W Marion St
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8000
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8000
Grades: K-12
| 164 students
Rank: #2828.
Shelby Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1480 South Dekalb Street
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8328
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8328
Grades: 6-8
| 591 students
Rank: #2929.
Elizabeth Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
220 S Post Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8371
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8371
Grades: PK-5
| 581 students
Rank: #3030.
Turning Point Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
409 West Sumter Street
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8399
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8399
Grades: 6-12
| 148 students
Cleveland County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Davidson School (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
500 W Parker Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 734-5677
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 734-5677
Grades: 7-12
| 39 students
220 South Post Rd
Shelby, NC 28152
(919) 807-3690
Shelby, NC 28152
(919) 807-3690
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
1100 Blanton Street
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8386
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8386
Grades: PK-4
| 209 students
410 Forest Hill Drive
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8381
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8381
Grades: PK-4
| 220 students
West Road Intermediate School (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
500 W Parker Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 734-5677
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 734-5677
Grades: 6-11
| 56 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Cleveland County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Cleveland County, NC include Cleveland Echs, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and Pinnacle Classical Academy.
How many public schools are located in Cleveland County?
30 public schools are located in Cleveland County.
What percentage of students in Cleveland County go to public school?
99% of all K-12 students in Cleveland County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Cleveland County?
Cleveland County public schools minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Cleveland County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Cleveland County include: Crest Middle School vs. Burns Middle School, Crest High School vs. Burns High School, Burns High School vs. Crest High School
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