Top Rankings
Rowan-Salisbury Schools 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 2026-27 school year, there are 9 public high schools serving 6,001 students in Rowan-Salisbury Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Rowan-Salisbury Schools have an average math proficiency score of 35% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Rowan-Salisbury School have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is equal to the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Rowan Co Early College, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 51% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
32 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
17,683 Students
568,636 Students
# Teachers
990 Teachers
31,535 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Rowan-Salisbury Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 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 86% has increased from 84% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#268 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)31%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
63%
Graduation Rate
86%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)37.5%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.68
0.71
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
25%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
20%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
47%
44%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,538 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,390 is less than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$257 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$237 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$14,538
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$13,390
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Rowan-Salisbury Schools Public High Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 9-12 | 235 students Student-teacher ratio: 34:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 1,063 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 986 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 932 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 930 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 988 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 555 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #88.
Summit Virtual Academy
(Math: 18% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1636 Parkview Circle
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 630-7274
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 630-7274
Gr: K-12 | 241 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #99.
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
Gr: 6-12 | 71 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
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