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 14 public elementary schools serving 5,259 students in Rutherford County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Rutherford County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
2,162 Schools
# Students
7,527 Students
1,087,308 Students
# Teachers
557 Teachers
72,818 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
12,876 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
23 Students
44,883 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
4%
# Hispanic Students
820 Students
219,982 Students
% Hispanic Students
11%
20%
# Black Students
845 Students
271,286 Students
% Black Students
11%
25%
# White Students
5,253 Students
472,625 Students
% White Students
70%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
1,512 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
571 Students
64,153 Students
% of Two or more races Students
8%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
234
22,112
# Students in K Grade:
533
110,803
# Students in 1st Grade:
565
116,691
# Students in 2nd Grade:
563
110,703
# Students in 3rd Grade:
533
113,222
# Students in 4th Grade:
536
114,191
# Students in 5th Grade:
549
114,885
# Students in 6th Grade:
559
115,571
# Students in 7th Grade:
535
113,963
# Students in 8th Grade:
544
118,274
# Students in 9th Grade:
691
11,259
# Students in 10th Grade:
685
9,543
# Students in 11th Grade:
529
8,432
# Students in 12th Grade:
471
7,659
# 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 Elementary Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
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: #1414.
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
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