Top Rankings
Rowan-Salisbury 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 8 public high schools serving 6,220 students in Rowan-Salisbury Schools School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Rowan-Salisbury Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Rowan-Salisbury School School District have a Graduation Rate of 81%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Rowan Co Early College, with ≥90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
32 Schools
761 Schools
# Students
18,110 Students
565,764 Students
# Teachers
1,098 Teachers
33,453 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
District Rank
Rowan-Salisbury Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 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 84% has increased from 83% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#268 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
31%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
63%
Graduation Rate
84%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.67
0.70
# American Indian Students
46 Students
5,772 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
146 Students
21,293 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
4,238 Students
115,235 Students
% Hispanic Students
23%
20%
# Black Students
3,549 Students
138,700 Students
% Black Students
20%
24%
# White Students
8,772 Students
254,801 Students
% White Students
48%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
4 Students
765 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,355 Students
30,969 Students
% of Two or more races Students
8%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
213
491
# Students in K Grade:
1,235
6,922
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,308
6,949
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,445
7,207
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,268
7,125
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,270
7,196
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,331
7,763
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,266
11,146
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,277
12,024
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,288
12,284
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,802
137,976
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,529
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
1,490
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,388
104,750
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,187 is higher 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 $12,154 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$221 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$220 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,187
$11,187
Spending / Student
$12,154
$11,612
Best Rowan-Salisbury Schools School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Rowan Co Early College
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-79% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1333 Jake Alexander Blvd S
Salisbury, NC 28145
(704) 216-3873
Salisbury, NC 28145
(704) 216-3873
Grades: 9-12
| 235 students
Rank: #22.
Carson High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
290 Kress Venture Dr
China Grove, NC 28023
(704) 855-7297
China Grove, NC 28023
(704) 855-7297
Grades: 9-12
| 1,135 students
Rank: #33.
East Rowan High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
175 St Luke's Church Rd
Salisbury, NC 28146
(704) 279-5232
Salisbury, NC 28146
(704) 279-5232
Grades: 9-12
| 1,072 students
Rank: #44.
South Rowan High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1655 Patterson St
China Grove, NC 28023
(704) 857-1161
China Grove, NC 28023
(704) 857-1161
Grades: 9-12
| 989 students
Rank: #55.
Salisbury High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
500 Lincolnton Rd
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 636-1221
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 636-1221
Grades: 9-12
| 1,014 students
Rank: #66.
West Rowan High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
8050 Nc 801 Hwy
Mount Ulla, NC 28125
(704) 278-9233
Mount Ulla, NC 28125
(704) 278-9233
Grades: 9-12
| 1,105 students
Rank: #77.
North Rowan High School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
300 North Whitehead Ave
Spencer, NC 28159
(704) 636-4420
Spencer, NC 28159
(704) 636-4420
Grades: 9-12
| 592 students
Rank: #88.
Henderson High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1215 North Main St
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 639-3134
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 639-3134
Grades: 6-12
| 78 students
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