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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 14 public elementary schools serving 5,192 students in Rutherford County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
ÎÛÎÛÂþ»­ Elementary Schools in Rutherford County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 32% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
2,174 Schools
# Students
7,409 Students
1,091,007 Students
# Teachers
496 Teachers
73,903 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 87% has increased from 85% 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
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
11%
21%
% Black
11%
25%
% White
69%
43%
% 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 ÎÛÎÛÂþ»­ Elementary Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Cliffside Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4016 Us Hwy 221-a
Cliffside, NC 28024
(828) 288-2235
Grades: K-5
| 196 students
Rank: #22.
Pinnacle Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1204 Painters Gap Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3440
Grades: PK-5
| 227 students
Rank: #33.
Sunshine Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
231 Toney Road
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-0658
Grades: PK-5
| 197 students
Rank: #44.
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
100 Forrest Hunt Drive
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-2161
Grades: PK-5
| 406 students
Rank: #55.
Harris Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3330 Us 221 S Hwy
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-2354
Grades: PK-5
| 440 students
Rank: #66.
Forest City-dunbar Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
286 Learning Parkway
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-4978
Grades: PK-5
| 487 students
Rank: #77.
Rutherfordton Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
201 Bob Hardin Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3778
Grades: PK-5
| 391 students
Rank: #88.
Ellenboro Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
813 Piney Mountain Church Rd
Ellenboro, NC 28040
(828) 453-8185
Grades: PK-5
| 558 students
Rank: #99.
Mt. Vernon-ruth Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2785 Hudlow Road
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 287-4792
Grades: PK-5
| 244 students
Rank: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
Spindale Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
161 N Oak St
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 286-2861
Grades: PK-5
| 345 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
| 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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