Rutherford County Schools School District

382 West Main Street
Forest City, NC 28043-3027
(District boundaries shown in map)
6/
10
Top 50%

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 4 public middle schools serving 1,701 students in Rutherford County Schools School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Rutherford County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
882 Schools
# Students
7,409 Students
494,023 Students
# Teachers
496 Teachers
31,644 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.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#142 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
53%
51%
51%
50%
66%
63%
87%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.50
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
11%
20%
% Black
11%
25%
% White
69%
44%
% 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.
This School District
This State (NC)
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 Middle Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
R-s Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
607 Westbrook Dr.
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 286-4461
Grades: 6-8
| 559 students
Rank: #22.
Chase Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
840 Chase High Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 247-1043
Grades: 6-8
| 481 students
Rank: #33.
East Rutherford Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
259 East Church Street
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-3750
Grades: 6-8
| 563 students
Rank: #44.
Rutherford Opportunity Center
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
140 Old Caroleen Road
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-5294
Grades: 6-12
| 98 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 18 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 7,409 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 31%
  • : 87% (Top 50% in NC)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 53% (Top 50%)
  • : 51% (Top 50%)
  • : 66% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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