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 5 public high schools serving 2,387 students in Rutherford County Schools School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Rutherford County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Rutherford County School School District have a Graduation Rate of 87%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Chase High School, with 90-94% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 29% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 54% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
752 Schools
# Students
7,527 Students
559,056 Students
# Teachers
557 Teachers
32,592 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
0.69
# American Indian Students
10 Students
5,904 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
23 Students
19,945 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
4%
# Hispanic Students
820 Students
109,180 Students
% Hispanic Students
11%
19%
# Black Students
845 Students
138,132 Students
% Black Students
11%
25%
# White Students
5,253 Students
258,223 Students
% White Students
70%
46%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
769 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
571 Students
28,636 Students
% of Two or more races Students
8%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
234
615
# Students in K Grade:
533
6,480
# Students in 1st Grade:
565
6,758
# Students in 2nd Grade:
563
6,722
# Students in 3rd Grade:
533
6,899
# Students in 4th Grade:
536
7,141
# Students in 5th Grade:
549
7,365
# Students in 6th Grade:
559
11,110
# Students in 7th Grade:
535
11,749
# Students in 8th Grade:
544
12,074
# 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 High 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.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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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