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 school year, there are 5 public high schools serving 2,414 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 28% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 53% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
738 Schools
# Students
7,572 Students
539,647 Students
# Teachers
555 Teachers
32,877 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Rutherford County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 325 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
0.68
# American Indian Students
10 Students
5,866 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
25 Students
18,660 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
3%
# Hispanic Students
808 Students
100,068 Students
% Hispanic Students
11%
19%
# Black Students
885 Students
133,085 Students
% Black Students
12%
25%
# White Students
5,286 Students
256,757 Students
% White Students
70%
47%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
713 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
553 Students
26,206 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
217
543
# Students in K Grade:
545
5,886
# Students in 1st Grade:
582
5,830
# Students in 2nd Grade:
522
6,059
# Students in 3rd Grade:
546
6,186
# Students in 4th Grade:
527
6,315
# Students in 5th Grade:
556
6,848
# Students in 6th Grade:
518
10,258
# Students in 7th Grade:
551
11,024
# Students in 8th Grade:
602
10,933
# Students in 9th Grade:
779
142,946
# Students in 10th Grade:
551
119,163
# Students in 11th Grade:
580
110,398
# Students in 12th Grade:
496
97,258
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,604 is higher than the state median of $11,354. The school district revenue/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,378 is higher than the state median of $11,785. The school district spending/student has grown by 23% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$111 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$109 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,604
$11,354
Spending / Student
$14,378
$11,785
Best Rutherford County Schools School District Public High Schools (2024)
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
| 192 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
| 685 students
Rank: #33.
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
| 673 students
Rank: #44.
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
| 769 students
Rank: #55.
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
| 95 students
Recent Articles
Should Teacher Salaries be Public Information?
Public school teachers are considered public servants – but does that make their salary details public information? Learn about the heated debate surrounding whether teacher salaries should be made public.
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.
Bussing: North Carolina's New Student Assignment Plan
We analyze a new plan for student assignment in two North Carolina school districts and the public reaction to the idea of bussing students – as well as alternatives that have been proposed by education experts.
