Top 10 Best Cleveland County Public Schools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 32 public schools serving 16,727 students in Cleveland County, NC (there are 5 private schools, serving 227 private students). 99% of all K-12 students in Cleveland County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Cleveland County, NC are Cleveland Echs, Thomas Jefferson Class Academy and Pinnacle Classical Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Cleveland County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Cleveland County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 55% (majority Black).

Best Cleveland County Public Schools (2024)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Cleveland Echs
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1800 E. Marion Street
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8232
Grades: 9-13
| 215 students
Rank: #22.
Thomas Jefferson Class Academy
Charter School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2527 Us 221a Hwy
Mooresboro, NC 28114
(828) 657-9998
Grades: K-12
| 1,324 students
Rank: #33.
Pinnacle Classical Academy
Charter School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2401 Joes Lake Rd
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 740-4040
Grades: K-12
| 1,079 students
Rank: #44.
Kings Mountain High School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
500 Phifer Road
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8330
Grades: 9-12
| 1,170 students
Rank: #55.
Crest High School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
800 Old Boiling Springs
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8331
Grades: 9-12
| 1,125 students
Rank: #66.
East Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
600 Cleveland Avenue
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8356
Grades: PK-4
| 199 students
Rank: #77.
Casar Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
436 Schoolhouse Road
Casar, NC 28020
(704) 476-8255
Grades: PK-5
| 257 students
Rank: #88.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1166 Wyke Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8390
Grades: PK-4
| 377 students
Rank: #99.
Springmore Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
616 Mcbrayer Homestead Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8235
Grades: PK-5
| 526 students
Rank: #1010.
Kings Mountain Intermediate
(Math: 56% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
227 Kings Mountain Boulevard
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8366
Grades: 5-6
| 606 students
Rank: #1111.
Burns Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
215 Shady Grove Road
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8223
Grades: 6-8
| 768 students
Rank: #1212.
Marion Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
410 Forest Hill Drive
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8381
Grades: PK-4
| 220 students
Rank: #1313.
Boiling Springs Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1522 Patrick Avenue
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8361
Grades: PK-5
| 534 students
Rank: #1414.
Burns High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
307 E Stagecoach Trail
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8335
Grades: 9-12
| 906 students
Rank: #1515.
Kings Mountain Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1000 Phifer Road
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8340
Grades: 7-8
| 700 students
Rank: #1616.
Grover Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
206 Carolina Avenue
Grover, NC 28073
(704) 476-8351
Grades: PK-4
| 322 students
Rank: #1717.
Bethware Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
115 Bethware Drive
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8346
Grades: PK-4
| 470 students
Rank: #1818.
Crest Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
315 Beaverdam Church Rd
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8221
Grades: 6-8
| 930 students
Rank: #1919.
Cleveland Innovation
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
400 W Marion St
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8000
Grades: K-12
| 208 students
Rank: #2020.
West Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
500 W Mountain Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8345
Grades: PK-4
| 293 students
Rank: #2121.
Fallston Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
112 Gary Street
Fallston, NC 28042
(704) 476-8240
Grades: PK-5
| 457 students
Rank: #2222.
North Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
900 N Ramseur Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8225
Grades: PK-4
| 266 students
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Union Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1440 Union Church Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8250
Grades: PK-5
| 393 students
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1907 Stony Point Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8260
Grades: PK-5
| 421 students
Rank: #2525.
North Shelby
Special Education School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1701 Charles Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8230
Grades: PK-12
| 83 students
Rank: #2626.
Township Three Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
526 Davis Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8245
Grades: PK-5
| 574 students
Rank: #2727.
Shelby High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
230 E Dixon Boulevard
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8325
Grades: 9-12
| 829 students
Rank: #2828.
James Love Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
309 James Love Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8385
Grades: PK-4
| 349 students
Rank: #2929.
Shelby Middle School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1480 South Dekalb Street
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8328
Grades: 7-8
| 430 students
Rank: #3030.
Shelby Intermediate
(Math: 30% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
220 S Post Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8371
Grades: 5-6
| 412 students
Rank: #3131.
Graham Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1100 Blanton Street
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8386
Grades: PK-4
| 209 students
Rank: #3232.
Turning Point Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
409 West Sumter Street
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8399
Grades: 6-12
| 75 students
[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Cleveland County, NC

Cleveland County Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
500 W Parker Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 734-5677
Grades: 7-12
| 39 students
220 South Post Rd
Shelby, NC 28152
(919) 807-3690
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
500 W Parker Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 734-5677
Grades: 6-11
| 56 students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public schools in Cleveland County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Cleveland County, NC include Cleveland Echs, Thomas Jefferson Class Academy and Pinnacle Classical Academy.
How many public schools are located in Cleveland County, NC?
32 public schools are located in Cleveland County, NC.
What percentage of students in Cleveland County, NC go to public school?
99% of all K-12 students in Cleveland County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Cleveland County, NC?
Cleveland County, NC public schools minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 55% (majority Black).

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