Top Rankings
Rutherford 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 2024-25 school year, there are 18 public schools serving 7,527 students in Rutherford 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 Rutherford County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 53% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 30% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
2,746 Schools
# Students
7,527 Students
1,541,323 Students
# Teachers
557 Teachers
98,777 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Rutherford County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 321 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 87% has increased from 85% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#142 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
63%
Graduation Rate
87%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.49
0.71
# American Indian Students
10 Students
17,548 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
23 Students
61,664 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
4%
# Hispanic Students
820 Students
314,590 Students
% Hispanic Students
11%
20%
# Black Students
845 Students
382,022 Students
% Black Students
11%
25%
# White Students
5,253 Students
678,903 Students
% White Students
70%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
2,174 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
571 Students
86,155 Students
% of Two or more races Students
8%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
234
22,539
# Students in K Grade:
533
111,274
# Students in 1st Grade:
565
116,694
# Students in 2nd Grade:
563
110,703
# Students in 3rd Grade:
533
113,225
# Students in 4th Grade:
536
114,192
# Students in 5th Grade:
549
114,885
# Students in 6th Grade:
559
115,571
# Students in 7th Grade:
535
117,762
# Students in 8th Grade:
544
122,335
# Students in 9th Grade:
691
139,774
# Students in 10th Grade:
685
128,053
# Students in 11th Grade:
529
111,043
# Students in 12th Grade:
471
103,273
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,691 is higher than the state median of $11,229. The school district revenue/student has grown by 20% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,464 is higher than the state median of $11,655. The school district spending/student has grown by 24% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$111 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$109 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,691
$11,229
Spending / Student
$14,464
$11,655
Best Rutherford County Schools School District Public Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Rutherford Early College High School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
286 Icc Loop Road
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 288-2202
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 288-2202
Grades: 9-13
| 191 students
Rank: #22.
East Rutherford High School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
331 East High Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-6424
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-6424
Grades: 9-12
| 659 students
Rank: #33.
Cliffside Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4016 Us Hwy 221-a
Cliffside, NC 28024
(828) 288-2235
Cliffside, NC 28024
(828) 288-2235
Grades: K-5
| 213 students
Rank: #44.
Pinnacle Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1204 Painters Gap Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3440
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3440
Grades: PK-5
| 234 students
Rank: #55.
Sunshine Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
231 Toney Road
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-0658
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-0658
Grades: PK-5
| 190 students
Rank: #66.
Chase High School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1603 Chase High Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-5883
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-5883
Grades: 9-12
| 660 students
Rank: #77.
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
100 Forrest Hunt Drive
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-2161
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-2161
Grades: PK-5
| 391 students
Rank: #88.
Harris Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3330 Us 221 S Hwy
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-2354
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-2354
Grades: PK-5
| 445 students
Rank: #99.
Forest City-dunbar Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
286 Learning Parkway
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-4978
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-4978
Grades: PK-5
| 479 students
Rank: #1010.
Rutherfordton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
201 Bob Hardin Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3778
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3778
Grades: PK-5
| 390 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Ellenboro Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
813 Piney Mountain Church Rd
Ellenboro, NC 28040
(828) 453-8185
Ellenboro, NC 28040
(828) 453-8185
Grades: PK-5
| 595 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
R-s Central High School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
641 Hwy 221 North
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3304
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3304
Grades: 9-12
| 758 students
Rank: #1313.
Mt. Vernon-ruth Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2785 Hudlow Road
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 287-4792
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 287-4792
Grades: PK-5
| 235 students
Rank: #1414.
R-s Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
607 Westbrook Dr.
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 286-4461
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 286-4461
Grades: 6-8
| 574 students
Rank: #1515.
Chase Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
840 Chase High Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 247-1043
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 247-1043
Grades: 6-8
| 501 students
Rank: #1616.
East Rutherford Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
259 East Church Street
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-3750
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-3750
Grades: 6-8
| 552 students
Rank: #1717.
Spindale Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
161 N Oak St
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 286-2861
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 286-2861
Grades: PK-5
| 341 students
Rank: #1818.
Rutherford Opportunity Center
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
140 Old Caroleen Road
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-5294
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-5294
Grades: 6-12
| 119 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Rutherford County Schools School District?
Rutherford County Schools School District manages 18 public schools serving 7,527 students.
What is the rank of Rutherford County Schools School District?
Rutherford County Schools School District is ranked #144 out of 321 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 Rutherford County Schools School District?
70% of Rutherford County Schools School District students are White, 11% of students are Hispanic, 11% of students are Black, and 8% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Rutherford County Schools School District?
Rutherford County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Rutherford County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $14,464 is higher than the state median of $11,655. The school district spending/student has grown by 24% over four school years.
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