Home > North Carolina > Rutherford County

Rutherford County Schools

Item: Rutherford County Schools
Rating: 6
Author: Public School Review

382 West Main Street
Forest City, NC 28043-3027

( shown in map)

Top 50%

Tel: (828) 288-2200

www.rcsnc.org

Top Rankings

Rutherford County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Overview

This School District

This State (NC)

# Schools

18 Schools

2,149 Schools

# Students

7,394 Students

1,095,543 Students

# Teachers

401 Teachers

71,743 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

18:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
Pre-K	238	75
Kind	578	315
1	562	325
2	561	331
3	515	341
4	547	325
5	543	333
6	515	333
7	532	325
8	544	327
9	9	35
10	28	31
11	27	28
12	5	24

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

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.

This School District

State Average (NC)

#142 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools
2023	#142
2022	#142
2021	#163
2019	#131
2018	#119
2017	#152
2016	#148
2015	#154
2014	#147
2013	#145
2012	#133

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

(21-22)

53%

51%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2022	53%	51%
2021	43%	42%
2019	44%	42%
2018	44%	48%
2017	46%	47%
2016	44%	47%
2015	39%	44%
2014	37%	43%
2013	35%	42%
2012	81%	82%
2011	82%	82%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

51%

50%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2022	51%	50%
2021	44%	47%
2019	46%	46%
2018	44%	47%
2017	44%	46%
2016	44%	47%
2015	44%	46%
2014	43%	46%
2013	41%	45%
2012	72%	73%
2011	69%	70%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

66%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2022	66%	63%
2021	61%	61%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

(21-22)

87%

86%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2022	87%	86%
2021	88%	85%
2020	88%	86%
2019	84%	85%
2018	84%	86%
2017	85%	88%
2016	81%	88%
2015	82%	87%
2014	79%	86%
2013	78%	85%
2012	73%	83%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

(2022-23)

41.6%

28.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	41.6%	28.7%
2022	51.1%	33.4%
2021	27.2%	25.4%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.51

0.72

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	0.50	0.71
2022	0.50	0.70
2021	0.50	0.69
2020	0.47	0.68
2019	0.47	0.68
2018	0.45	0.67
2017	0.45	0.67
2016	0.45	0.66
2015	0.45	0.66
2014	0.43	0.65
2013	0.44	0.65
2012	0.44	0.64
2011	0.44	0.64
2010	0.37	0.61
2009	0.37	0.61
2008	0.36	0.61
2007	0.36	0.60
2006	0.37	0.58
2005	0.36	0.58
2004	0.35	0.57
2003	0.35	0.56
2002	0.34	0.55
2001	0.33	0.53
2000	0.32	0.53
1999	0.31	0.52
1998	0.30	0.52
1997	0.30	0.50
1996	0.29	0.50
1995	0.27	0.49
1994	0.28	0.48
1993	0.28	0.48
1992	0.27	0.48
1991	0.28	0.48

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2011-2013)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2013	1%	1%
2012	1%	1%
2011	1%	2%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2006-2012)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2012	1%	3%
2011	1%	2%
2010	1%	3%
2009	1%	2%
2008	1%	3%
2007	2%	3%
2006	1%	2%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% Hispanic

12%

22%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	11%	20%
2022	11%	20%
2021	10%	19%
2020	9%	18%
2019	9%	18%
2018	8%	17%
2017	8%	17%
2016	7%	16%
2015	7%	16%
2014	7%	15%
2013	6%	14%
2012	6%	13%
2011	6%	13%
2010	5%	11%
2009	5%	11%
2008	5%	11%
2007	5%	10%
2006	4%	8%
2005	4%	8%
2004	3%	7%
2003	3%	6%
2002	2%	5%
2001	3%	4%
2000	2%	4%
1999	2%	3%
1998	1%	3%
1997	1%	2%
1996	1%	2%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% Black

11%

24%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	13%	25%
2022	13%	25%
2021	14%	25%
2020	14%	25%
2019	14%	25%
2018	14%	26%
2017	14%	26%
2016	14%	26%
2015	14%	26%
2014	12%	26%
2013	13%	26%
2012	13%	26%
2011	13%	26%
2010	17%	31%
2009	17%	31%
2008	15%	29%
2007	15%	29%
2006	18%	32%
2005	18%	31%
2004	18%	31%
2003	18%	31%
2002	18%	31%
2001	17%	31%
2000	17%	31%
1999	17%	31%
1998	17%	30%
1997	16%	31%
1996	16%	31%
1995	16%	30%
1994	16%	30%
1993	16%	30%
1992	16%	30%
1991	17%	30%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% White

68%

42%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	69%	44%
2022	69%	45%
2021	69%	46%
2020	71%	48%
2019	71%	48%
2018	72%	49%
2017	72%	49%
2016	73%	50%
2015	73%	50%
2014	74%	51%
2013	74%	52%
2012	73%	53%
2011	73%	53%
2010	77%	54%
2009	77%	54%
2008	79%	55%
2007	78%	56%
2006	77%	56%
2005	78%	57%
2004	79%	58%
2003	79%	59%
2002	80%	60%
2001	80%	61%
2000	81%	61%
1999	81%	62%
1998	82%	63%
1997	83%	64%
1996	83%	64%
1995	84%	65%
1994	84%	66%
1993	84%	66%
1992	84%	66%
1991	83%	66%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	7%	6%
2022	7%	5%
2021	7%	5%
2020	6%	5%
2019	6%	5%
2018	6%	4%
2017	6%	4%
2016	6%	4%
2015	6%	4%
2014	7%	4%
2013	6%	4%

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,955 is higher than the state median of $11,170. The school district revenue/student has grown by 22% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $14,724 is higher than the state median of $11,594. The school district spending/student has grown by 26% over four school years.

This School District

This State (NC)

Total Revenue

$111 MM

$17,307 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$111 MM	$8 MM
2022	$96 MM	$8 MM
2021	$111 MM	$8 MM
2020	$96 MM	$8 MM
2019	$90 MM	$8 MM
2018	$88 MM	$8 MM
2017	$86 MM	$8 MM
2016	$81 MM	$8 MM
2015	$91 MM	$18 MM
2014	$82 MM	$10 MM
2012	$84 MM	$17 MM
2011	$110 MM	$19 MM
2010	$91 MM	$18 MM
2009	$94 MM	$19 MM
2008	$86 MM	$18 MM
2007	$93 MM	$18 MM
2006	$89 MM	$15 MM
2005	$81 MM	$15 MM
2004	$92 MM	$17 MM
2003	$98 MM	$17 MM
2002	$75 MM	$16 MM
2001	$76 MM	$17 MM
2000	$76 MM	$20 MM
1999	$74 MM	$23 MM
1998	$68 MM	$26 MM
1997	$56 MM	$34 MM
1996	$54 MM	$34 MM
1995	$58 MM	$32 MM

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Spending

$109 MM

$17,964 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$109 MM	$8 MM
2022	$91 MM	$8 MM
2021	$109 MM	$8 MM
2020	$91 MM	$8 MM
2019	$90 MM	$7 MM
2018	$86 MM	$8 MM
2017	$85 MM	$9 MM
2016	$81 MM	$8 MM
2015	$89 MM	$18 MM
2014	$80 MM	$11 MM
2012	$83 MM	$16 MM
2011	$89 MM	$17 MM
2010	$89 MM	$18 MM
2009	$100 MM	$18 MM
2008	$84 MM	$17 MM
2007	$87 MM	$18 MM
2006	$83 MM	$15 MM
2005	$75 MM	$15 MM
2004	$86 MM	$16 MM
2003	$80 MM	$17 MM
2002	$73 MM	$15 MM
2001	$75 MM	$17 MM
2000	$74 MM	$20 MM
1999	$71 MM	$24 MM
1998	$66 MM	$26 MM
1997	$54 MM	$36 MM
1996	$52 MM	$33 MM
1995	$51 MM	$32 MM

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Revenue / Student

$14,955

$11,170

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$14,691	$10,093
2022	$12,239	$9,918
2021	$14,633	$10,282
2020	$12,239	$9,918
2019	$11,211	$9,125
2018	$10,629	$9,419
2017	$10,321	$10,522
2016	$9,462	$9,128
2015	$10,618	$10,864
2014	$9,569	$9,046
2012	$9,187	$10,562
2011	$12,060	$12,703
2010	$9,735	$10,864
2009	$9,827	$11,105
2008	$8,947	$11,767
2007	$9,152	$9,479
2006	$8,746	$9,335
2005	$8,066	$8,913
2004	$9,243	$8,734
2003	$9,616	$8,577
2002	$7,300	$8,130
2001	$7,482	$7,294
2000	$7,406	$7,636
1999	$7,143	$7,252
1998	$6,588	$5,688
1997	$5,561	$5,690
1995	$5,826	$5,545
1992	$4,822	$4,737

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Spending / Student

$14,724

$11,594

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$14,464	$9,807
2022	$11,664	$9,654
2021	$14,407	$9,990
2020	$11,664	$9,654
2019	$11,135	$8,949
2018	$10,454	$9,637
2017	$10,129	$11,583
2016	$9,450	$9,753
2015	$10,376	$10,591
2014	$9,401	$9,388
2012	$9,141	$10,336
2011	$9,694	$11,927
2010	$9,513	$10,591
2009	$10,426	$10,880
2008	$8,670	$11,136
2007	$8,607	$9,418
2006	$8,210	$8,813
2005	$7,543	$8,647
2004	$8,597	$8,413
2003	$7,815	$8,886
2002	$7,084	$7,903
2001	$7,337	$7,301
2000	$7,206	$7,650
1999	$6,899	$7,340
1998	$6,446	$5,663
1997	$5,337	$6,040
1995	$5,140	$5,570
1992	$5,683	$4,725

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School District Data: Full School Distirct Dataset XML | Full School Distirct Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Recent Articles

July 22, 2026

Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well

Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.

July 22, 2026

Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate

Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.

July 22, 2026

Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District

Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.

Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 18 schools
Grades: PK-13
Enrollment: 7,394 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 32%
: 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