Top Rankings
Rutherford County 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 5 public high schools serving 2,272 students in Rutherford County Schools. 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 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 have a Graduation Rate of 88%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is East Rutherford High School, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 30% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), 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
18 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
7,394 Students
568,636 Students
# Teachers
401 Teachers
31,535 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Rutherford County Schools, which is ranked within the top 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
#142 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)53%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
63%
Graduation Rate
86%
86.5%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)41.6%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.51
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
12%
21%
% Black
11%
25%
% White
68%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
9%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,369 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,715 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$114 MM
$20,622 MM
Spending
$116 MM
$21,575 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,369
$13,318
Spending / Student
$15,715
$13,934
Best Rutherford County Schools Public High Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 9-13 | 208 students Student-teacher ratio: 52:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 623 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 596 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
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
Gr: 9-12 | 763 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
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
Gr: 6-12 | 82 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
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