Rutherford County Schools School District

382 West Main Street
Forest City, NC 28043-3027
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 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 2024 school year, there are 14 public elementary schools serving 5,253 students in Rutherford County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Rutherford County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 56% (majority Black).

Overview

2021-2022 School Year Data
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
2,169 Schools
# Students
7,572 Students
1,079,973 Students
# Teachers
555 Teachers
74,448 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

District Rank

Rutherford County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 319 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 88% has increased from 81% over five school years.
Definition of Terms 2021-2022 School Year Data
This School District
State Average (NC)
#163 out of 321 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart display the overall district rank of Rutherford County Schools  School District, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
43%
42%
This chart display the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Rutherford County Schools  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of NC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
44%
47%
This chart display the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Rutherford County Schools  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of NC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
88%
85%
This chart display public school graduation rate of Rutherford County Schools  School District and public school graduation rate of NC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.49
0.70
# American Indian Students
10 Students
12,846 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
25 Students
42,535 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
4%
# Hispanic Students
808 Students
214,515 Students
% Hispanic Students
11%
20%
# Black Students
885 Students
272,424 Students
% Black Students
12%
25%
# White Students
5,286 Students
475,894 Students
% White Students
70%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
1,590 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
553 Students
59,301 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
6%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
217
21,001
# Students in K Grade:
545
112,042
# Students in 1st Grade:
582
108,688
# Students in 2nd Grade:
522
111,859
# Students in 3rd Grade:
546
112,431
# Students in 4th Grade:
527
113,015
# Students in 5th Grade:
556
113,863
# Students in 6th Grade:
518
116,205
# Students in 7th Grade:
551
117,135
# Students in 8th Grade:
602
119,094
# Students in 9th Grade:
779
10,398
# Students in 10th Grade:
551
9,149
# Students in 11th Grade:
580
8,221
# Students in 12th Grade:
496
6,872
# 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.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$111 MM
$17,307 MM
This chart display total revenue of Rutherford County Schools  School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in NC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$109 MM
$17,964 MM
This chart display total spending of Rutherford County Schools  School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in NC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$14,604
$11,354
This chart display average revenue per public school student in Rutherford County Schools  School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in NC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$14,378
$11,785
This chart display average spending per public school student in Rutherford County Schools  School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in NC by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Rutherford County Schools School District Public Elementary Schools (2024)

School (Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Sunshine Elementary School
Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
231 Toney Road
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-0658
Grades: PK-5
| 192 students
Rank: #22.
Mt. Vernon-ruth Elementary School
Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2785 Hudlow Road
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 287-4792
Grades: K-5
| 215 students
Rank: #33.
Harris Elementary School
Math: 56% | Reading: 50%
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3330 Us 221 S Hwy
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-2354
Grades: PK-5
| 454 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Cliffside Elementary School
Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
4016 Us Hwy 221-a
Cliffside, NC 28024
(828) 288-2235
Grades: K-5
| 208 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School
Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
100 Forrest Hunt Drive
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-2161
Grades: PK-5
| 369 students
Rank: #66.
Ellenboro Elementary School
Math: 50% | Reading: 48%
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
813 Piney Mountain Church Rd
Ellenboro, NC 28040
(828) 453-8185
Grades: PK-5
| 610 students
Rank: #77.
Rutherfordton Elementary School
Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
201 Bob Hardin Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3778
Grades: PK-5
| 383 students
Rank: #88.
Forest City-dunbar Elementary School
Math: 47% | Reading: 38%
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
286 Learning Parkway
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-4978
Grades: PK-5
| 470 students
Rank: #99.
Chase Middle School
Math: 35% | Reading: 47%
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
840 Chase High Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 247-1043
Grades: 6-8
| 517 students
Rank: #1010.
R-s Middle School
Math: 32% | Reading: 43%
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
545 Charlotte Rd
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 286-4461
Grades: 6-8
| 603 students
Rank: #1111.
East Rutherford Middle School
Math: 32% | Reading: 40%
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
259 East Church Street
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-3750
Grades: 6-8
| 543 students
Rank: #1212.
Pinnacle Elementary School
Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1204 Painters Gap Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3440
Grades: PK-5
| 233 students
Rank: #1313.
Spindale Elementary School
Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
161 N Oak St
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 286-2861
Grades: PK-5
| 361 students
Rank: #1414.
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
| 95 students

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • District size: 18 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 7,572 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 30%
  • : 88% (Top 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 43% (Top 50%)
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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