Top Rankings
Rowan-Salisbury Schools 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 2025-26 school year, there are 8 public high schools serving 6,220 students in Rowan-Salisbury Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Rowan-Salisbury Schools have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Rowan-Salisbury School have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is equal to the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Rowan Co Early College, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Hispanic), 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
32 Schools
759 Schools
# Students
18,110 Students
565,383 Students
# Teachers
1,098 Teachers
33,426 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Rowan-Salisbury Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 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.
Overall District Rank
#268 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)31%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)84%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.67
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
23%
20%
% Black
20%
24%
% White
48%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,187 is higher than the state median of $11,191. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,154 is higher than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$221 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$220 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,187
$11,191
Spending / Student
$12,154
$11,616
Best Rowan-Salisbury Schools Public High Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Rowan Co Early College
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-79% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1333 Jake Alexander Blvd S
Salisbury, NC 28145
(704) 216-3873
Salisbury, NC 28145
(704) 216-3873
Gr: 9-12 | 235 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #22.
Carson High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
290 Kress Venture Dr
China Grove, NC 28023
(704) 855-7297
China Grove, NC 28023
(704) 855-7297
Gr: 9-12 | 1,135 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #33.
East Rowan High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
175 St Luke's Church Rd
Salisbury, NC 28146
(704) 279-5232
Salisbury, NC 28146
(704) 279-5232
Gr: 9-12 | 1,072 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #44.
South Rowan High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1655 Patterson St
China Grove, NC 28023
(704) 857-1161
China Grove, NC 28023
(704) 857-1161
Gr: 9-12 | 989 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #55.
Salisbury High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
500 Lincolnton Rd
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 636-1221
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 636-1221
Gr: 9-12 | 1,014 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #66.
West Rowan High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
8050 Nc 801 Hwy
Mount Ulla, NC 28125
(704) 278-9233
Mount Ulla, NC 28125
(704) 278-9233
Gr: 9-12 | 1,105 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #77.
North Rowan High School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
300 North Whitehead Ave
Spencer, NC 28159
(704) 636-4420
Spencer, NC 28159
(704) 636-4420
Gr: 9-12 | 592 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #88.
Henderson High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1215 North Main St
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 639-3134
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 639-3134
Gr: 6-12 | 78 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
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