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 5 public high schools serving 2,315 students in Rutherford County Schools School District. 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 School District 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 School District have a Graduation Rate of 87%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Chase High School, with 90-94% 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 Black), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
761 Schools
# Students
7,409 Students
565,764 Students
# Teachers
496 Teachers
33,453 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
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.
Overall District Rank
#142 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
63%
Graduation Rate
87%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.50
0.70
# American Indian Students
7 Students
5,772 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
31 Students
21,293 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
842 Students
115,235 Students
% Hispanic Students
11%
20%
# Black Students
833 Students
138,700 Students
% Black Students
11%
24%
# White Students
5,087 Students
254,801 Students
% White Students
69%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
3 Students
765 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
606 Students
30,969 Students
% of Two or more races Students
8%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
245
491
# Students in K Grade:
543
6,922
# Students in 1st Grade:
565
6,949
# Students in 2nd Grade:
531
7,207
# Students in 3rd Grade:
552
7,125
# Students in 4th Grade:
521
7,196
# Students in 5th Grade:
534
7,763
# Students in 6th Grade:
536
11,146
# Students in 7th Grade:
546
12,024
# Students in 8th Grade:
533
12,284
# Students in 9th Grade:
596
137,976
# Students in 10th Grade:
627
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
624
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
456
104,750
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
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.
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 High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: 9-13
| 202 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 640 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 625 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 750 students
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
Grades: 6-12
| 98 students
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