Top Rankings
Cleveland County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 28 public schools serving 14,458 students in Cleveland County Schools School District. This district's average testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Cleveland County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 56% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
28 Schools
2,764 Schools
# Students
14,458 Students
1,547,014 Students
# Teachers
948 Teachers
100,085 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
District Rank
Cleveland County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has decreased from 90% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#139 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
65%
63%
Graduation Rate
86%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.60
0.71
# American Indian Students
16 Students
16,971 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
90 Students
65,132 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
1,315 Students
326,941 Students
% Hispanic Students
9%
21%
# Black Students
3,840 Students
380,120 Students
% Black Students
27%
25%
# White Students
8,166 Students
665,292 Students
% White Students
56%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
9 Students
2,147 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,022 Students
92,182 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
441
23,648
# Students in K Grade:
1,052
110,403
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,038
114,331
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,066
118,121
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,015
111,941
# Students in 4th Grade:
987
114,493
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,009
115,565
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,092
116,023
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,037
116,793
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,115
119,029
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,366
137,977
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,168
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
1,135
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
937
104,759
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,058 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,102 is less than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$160 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$161 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,058
$11,187
Spending / Student
$11,102
$11,612
Best Cleveland County Schools School District Public Schools (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.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #10 - 1210. - 12.
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: #10 - 1210. - 12.
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: #10 - 1210. - 12.
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: #1313.
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: #14 - 1614. - 16.
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: #14 - 1614. - 16.
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: #14 - 1614. - 16.
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: #1717.
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: #1818.
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: #1919.
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: #2020.
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: #2121.
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: #2222.
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: #2323.
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: #2424.
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: #2525.
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: #2626.
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: #2727.
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: #2828.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Cleveland County Schools School District?
Cleveland County Schools School District manages 28 public schools serving 14,458 students.
What is the rank of Cleveland County Schools School District?
Cleveland County Schools School District is ranked #138 out of 320 school districts in North Carolina (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Cleveland County Schools School District?
56% of Cleveland County Schools School District students are White, 27% of students are Black, 9% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Cleveland County Schools School District?
Cleveland County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is equal to the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Cleveland County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $11,102 is less than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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