Top Rankings
Rutherford County 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 14 public elementary schools serving 5,192 students in Rutherford County Schools. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Rutherford County Schools 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
2,171 Schools
# Students
7,409 Students
1,090,440 Students
# Teachers
496 Teachers
73,859 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Rutherford County Schools, 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 86% has increased from 84% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#142 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)53%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)87%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
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 $11,191. 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 $11,616. 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
$11,191
Spending / Student
$14,695
$11,616
Best Rutherford County Schools Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Cliffside Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4016 Us Hwy 221-a
Cliffside, NC 28024
(828) 288-2235
Cliffside, NC 28024
(828) 288-2235
Gr: K-5 | 196 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #22.
Pinnacle Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1204 Painters Gap Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3440
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3440
Gr: PK-5 | 227 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #33.
Sunshine Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
231 Toney Road
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-0658
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-0658
Gr: PK-5 | 197 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #44.
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
100 Forrest Hunt Drive
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-2161
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-2161
Gr: PK-5 | 406 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #55.
Harris Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3330 Us 221 S Hwy
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-2354
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-2354
Gr: PK-5 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #66.
Forest City-dunbar Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
286 Learning Parkway
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-4978
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-4978
Gr: PK-5 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #77.
Rutherfordton Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
201 Bob Hardin Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3778
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3778
Gr: PK-5 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #88.
Ellenboro Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
813 Piney Mountain Church Rd
Ellenboro, NC 28040
(828) 453-8185
Ellenboro, NC 28040
(828) 453-8185
Gr: PK-5 | 558 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #99.
Mt. Vernon-ruth Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2785 Hudlow Road
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 287-4792
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 287-4792
Gr: PK-5 | 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #1010.
R-s Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
607 Westbrook Dr.
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 286-4461
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 286-4461
Gr: 6-8 | 559 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1111.
Chase Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
840 Chase High Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 247-1043
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 247-1043
Gr: 6-8 | 481 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1212.
East Rutherford Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
259 East Church Street
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-3750
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-3750
Gr: 6-8 | 563 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1313.
Spindale Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
161 N Oak St
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 286-2861
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 286-2861
Gr: PK-5 | 345 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1414.
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
Gr: 6-12 | 98 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
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