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 2025 school year, there are 18 public schools serving 7,409 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 31% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
2,764 Schools
# Students
7,409 Students
1,547,014 Students
# Teachers
496 Teachers
100,085 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Rutherford County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 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
#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
0.50
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
11%
21%
% Black
11%
25%
% White
69%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,925 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,695 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$111 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$109 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,925
$11,187
Spending / Student
$14,695
$11,612
Best Rutherford County Schools School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Rutherford Early College High 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
| 202 students
Rank: #22.
East Rutherford High 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
| 640 students
Rank: #33.
Cliffside Elementary 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
| 196 students
Rank: #44.
Pinnacle Elementary 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
| 227 students
Rank: #55.
Sunshine Elementary 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
| 197 students
Rank: #66.
Chase High 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
| 625 students
Rank: #77.
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary 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
| 406 students
Rank: #88.
Harris Elementary 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
| 440 students
Rank: #99.
Forest City-dunbar Elementary 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
| 487 students
Rank: #1010.
Rutherfordton Elementary 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
| 391 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Ellenboro Elementary 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
| 558 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
R-s Central High 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
| 750 students
Rank: #1313.
Mt. Vernon-ruth Elementary 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
| 244 students
Rank: #1414.
R-s Middle 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
| 559 students
Rank: #1515.
Chase Middle 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
| 481 students
Rank: #1616.
East Rutherford Middle 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
| 563 students
Rank: #1717.
Spindale Elementary 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
| 345 students
Rank: #1818.
Rutherford Opportunity Center
Alternative 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
| 98 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Rutherford County Schools School District?
Rutherford County Schools School District manages 18 public schools serving 7,409 students.
What is the rank of Rutherford County Schools School District?
Rutherford County Schools School District is ranked #144 out of 320 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?
69% of Rutherford County Schools School District students are White, 11% of students are Black, 11% of students are Hispanic, 8% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Rutherford County Schools School District?
Rutherford County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is equal to the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Rutherford County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $14,695 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Recent Articles
Can Naviance Succeed Improve College and Career Readiness?
Learn about a new student assessment system, Naviance Succeed, which provides tools and support to increase student college and career readiness. A number of school districts are using the tool this year in hopes of improving student performance through more accurate assessment process than are currently available.
Do You Need After School Day Care? Public Schools May Be the Solution
Learn about how your child's public school may be the best source of after school and vacation day care.
The Link Between Education and Incarceration: The NAACP Report
Education and the rate of incarceration have been linked in a recent NAACP report. Learn about the report and the troubling findings.
