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Home > North Carolina > Rutherford County

Rutherford County Schools

382 West Main Street
Forest City, NC 28043-3027

( shown in map)

:

6/

10

Top 50%

Tel: (828) 288-2200

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">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 2026 school year, there are 9 public preschools serving 3,295 students in Rutherford County Schools. This district's average pre is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public pre schools in North Carolina.

Public Preschools in Rutherford County Schools have an score of 59% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and score of 50% (versus the 46% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 33% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">Overview

This School District

This State (NC)

# Schools

18 Schools

994 Schools

# Students

7,409 Students

464,055 Students

# Teachers

496 Teachers

33,275 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

15:1

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="student-by-grade">Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
Pre-K	245	66
Kind	515	205
1	533	211
2	510	216
3	503	196
4	496	198
5	493	189

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="district-rank">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.

This School District

State Average (NC)

#142 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools
2023	#142
2022	#142
2021	#163
2019	#131
2018	#119
2017	#152
2016	#148
2015	#154
2014	#147
2013	#145
2012	#133

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(21-22)

53%

51%

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2022	53%	51%
2021	43%	42%
2019	44%	42%
2018	44%	48%
2017	46%	47%
2016	44%	47%
2015	39%	44%
2014	37%	43%
2013	35%	42%
2012	81%	82%
2011	82%	82%

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51%

50%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2022	51%	50%
2021	44%	47%
2019	46%	46%
2018	44%	47%
2017	44%	46%
2016	44%	47%
2015	44%	46%
2014	43%	46%
2013	41%	45%
2012	72%	73%
2011	69%	70%

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66%

63%

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2022	66%	63%
2021	61%	61%

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(21-22)

87%

86%

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2022	87%	86%
2021	88%	85%
2020	88%	86%
2019	84%	85%
2018	84%	86%
2017	85%	88%
2016	81%	88%
2015	82%	87%
2014	79%	86%
2013	78%	85%
2012	73%	83%

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="students-by-ethnicity">Students by Ethnicity:

0.50

0.72

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	0.50	0.71
2022	0.50	0.70
2021	0.50	0.69
2020	0.47	0.68
2019	0.47	0.68
2018	0.45	0.67
2017	0.45	0.67
2016	0.45	0.66
2015	0.45	0.66
2014	0.43	0.65
2013	0.44	0.65
2012	0.44	0.64
2011	0.44	0.64
2010	0.37	0.61
2009	0.37	0.61
2008	0.36	0.61
2007	0.36	0.60
2006	0.37	0.58
2005	0.36	0.58
2004	0.35	0.57
2003	0.35	0.56
2002	0.34	0.55
2001	0.33	0.53
2000	0.32	0.53
1999	0.31	0.52
1998	0.30	0.52
1997	0.30	0.50
1996	0.29	0.50
1995	0.27	0.49
1994	0.28	0.48
1993	0.28	0.48
1992	0.27	0.48
1991	0.28	0.48

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% American Indian

n/a

1%

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2011-2013)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2013	1%	1%
2012	1%	1%
2011	1%	2%

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% Asian

1%

4%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2006-2012)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2012	1%	3%
2011	1%	2%
2010	1%	3%
2009	1%	2%
2008	1%	3%
2007	2%	3%
2006	1%	2%

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% Hispanic

11%

23%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	11%	20%
2022	11%	20%
2021	10%	19%
2020	9%	18%
2019	9%	18%
2018	8%	17%
2017	8%	17%
2016	7%	16%
2015	7%	16%
2014	7%	15%
2013	6%	14%
2012	6%	13%
2011	6%	13%
2010	5%	11%
2009	5%	11%
2008	5%	11%
2007	5%	10%
2006	4%	8%
2005	4%	8%
2004	3%	7%
2003	3%	6%
2002	2%	5%
2001	3%	4%
2000	2%	4%
1999	2%	3%
1998	1%	3%
1997	1%	2%
1996	1%	2%

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% Black

11%

25%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	13%	25%
2022	13%	25%
2021	14%	25%
2020	14%	25%
2019	14%	25%
2018	14%	26%
2017	14%	26%
2016	14%	26%
2015	14%	26%
2014	12%	26%
2013	13%	26%
2012	13%	26%
2011	13%	26%
2010	17%	31%
2009	17%	31%
2008	15%	29%
2007	15%	29%
2006	18%	32%
2005	18%	31%
2004	18%	31%
2003	18%	31%
2002	18%	31%
2001	17%	31%
2000	17%	31%
1999	17%	31%
1998	17%	30%
1997	16%	31%
1996	16%	31%
1995	16%	30%
1994	16%	30%
1993	16%	30%
1992	16%	30%
1991	17%	30%

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% White

69%

41%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	69%	44%
2022	69%	45%
2021	69%	46%
2020	71%	48%
2019	71%	48%
2018	72%	49%
2017	72%	49%
2016	73%	50%
2015	73%	50%
2014	74%	51%
2013	74%	52%
2012	73%	53%
2011	73%	53%
2010	77%	54%
2009	77%	54%
2008	79%	55%
2007	78%	56%
2006	77%	56%
2005	78%	57%
2004	79%	58%
2003	79%	59%
2002	80%	60%
2001	80%	61%
2000	81%	61%
1999	81%	62%
1998	82%	63%
1997	83%	64%
1996	83%	64%
1995	84%	65%
1994	84%	66%
1993	84%	66%
1992	84%	66%
1991	83%	66%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

n/a

% Two or more races

8%

6%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	7%	6%
2022	7%	5%
2021	7%	5%
2020	6%	5%
2019	6%	5%
2018	6%	4%
2017	6%	4%
2016	6%	4%
2015	6%	4%
2014	7%	4%
2013	6%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="district-revenue-and-spending">District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,925 is higher than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has grown by 21% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $14,695 is higher than the state median of $11,617. The school district spending/student has grown by 25% over four school years.

This School District

This State (NC)

Total Revenue

$111 MM

$17,307 MM

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$111 MM	$8 MM
2022	$96 MM	$8 MM
2021	$111 MM	$8 MM
2020	$96 MM	$8 MM
2019	$90 MM	$8 MM
2018	$88 MM	$8 MM
2017	$86 MM	$8 MM
2016	$81 MM	$8 MM
2015	$91 MM	$18 MM
2014	$82 MM	$10 MM
2012	$84 MM	$17 MM
2011	$110 MM	$19 MM
2010	$91 MM	$18 MM
2009	$94 MM	$19 MM
2008	$86 MM	$18 MM
2007	$93 MM	$18 MM
2006	$89 MM	$15 MM
2005	$81 MM	$15 MM
2004	$92 MM	$17 MM
2003	$98 MM	$17 MM
2002	$75 MM	$16 MM
2001	$76 MM	$17 MM
2000	$76 MM	$20 MM
1999	$74 MM	$23 MM
1998	$68 MM	$26 MM
1997	$56 MM	$34 MM
1996	$54 MM	$34 MM
1995	$58 MM	$32 MM

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Spending

$109 MM

$17,964 MM

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$109 MM	$8 MM
2022	$91 MM	$8 MM
2021	$109 MM	$8 MM
2020	$91 MM	$8 MM
2019	$90 MM	$7 MM
2018	$86 MM	$8 MM
2017	$85 MM	$9 MM
2016	$81 MM	$8 MM
2015	$89 MM	$18 MM
2014	$80 MM	$11 MM
2012	$83 MM	$16 MM
2011	$89 MM	$17 MM
2010	$89 MM	$18 MM
2009	$100 MM	$18 MM
2008	$84 MM	$17 MM
2007	$87 MM	$18 MM
2006	$83 MM	$15 MM
2005	$75 MM	$15 MM
2004	$86 MM	$16 MM
2003	$80 MM	$17 MM
2002	$73 MM	$15 MM
2001	$75 MM	$17 MM
2000	$74 MM	$20 MM
1999	$71 MM	$24 MM
1998	$66 MM	$26 MM
1997	$54 MM	$36 MM
1996	$52 MM	$33 MM
1995	$51 MM	$32 MM

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Revenue / Student

$14,925

$11,192

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$14,691	$10,093
2022	$12,239	$9,918
2021	$14,633	$10,282
2020	$12,239	$9,918
2019	$11,211	$9,125
2018	$10,629	$9,419
2017	$10,321	$10,522
2016	$9,462	$9,128
2015	$10,618	$10,864
2014	$9,569	$9,046
2012	$9,187	$10,562
2011	$12,060	$12,703
2010	$9,735	$10,864
2009	$9,827	$11,105
2008	$8,947	$11,767
2007	$9,152	$9,479
2006	$8,746	$9,335
2005	$8,066	$8,913
2004	$9,243	$8,734
2003	$9,616	$8,577
2002	$7,300	$8,130
2001	$7,482	$7,294
2000	$7,406	$7,636
1999	$7,143	$7,252
1998	$6,588	$5,688
1997	$5,561	$5,690
1995	$5,826	$5,545
1992	$4,822	$4,737

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Spending / Student

$14,695

$11,617

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Rutherford County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$14,464	$9,807
2022	$11,664	$9,654
2021	$14,407	$9,990
2020	$11,664	$9,654
2019	$11,135	$8,949
2018	$10,454	$9,637
2017	$10,129	$11,583
2016	$9,450	$9,753
2015	$10,376	$10,591
2014	$9,401	$9,388
2012	$9,141	$10,336
2011	$9,694	$11,927
2010	$9,513	$10,591
2009	$10,426	$10,880
2008	$8,670	$11,136
2007	$8,607	$9,418
2006	$8,210	$8,813
2005	$7,543	$8,647
2004	$8,597	$8,413
2003	$7,815	$8,886
2002	$7,084	$7,903
2001	$7,337	$7,301
2000	$7,206	$7,650
1999	$6,899	$7,340
1998	$6,446	$5,663
1997	$5,337	$6,040
1995	$5,140	$5,570
1992	$5,683	$4,725

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Best Rutherford County Schools Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Pinnacle Elementary School

(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
:

9/

10

Top 20%

Add to Compare

1204 Painters Gap Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3440

Gr: PK-5 | 227 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 18%

Rank: #22.

Sunshine Elementary School

(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
:

8/

10

Top 30%

Add to Compare

231 Toney Road
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-0658

Gr: PK-5 | 197 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%

Rank: #33.

Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School

(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
:

8/

10

Top 30%

Add to Compare

100 Forrest Hunt Drive
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-2161

Gr: PK-5 | 406 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 42%

Rank: #44.

Harris Elementary School

(Math: 60% | Reading: 56%)
:

7/

10

Top 50%

Add to Compare

3330 Us 221 S Hwy
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-2354

Gr: PK-5 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 20%

Rank: #55.

Forest City-dunbar Elementary School

(Math: 66% | Reading: 48%)
:

7/

10

Top 50%

Add to Compare

286 Learning Parkway
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-4978

Gr: PK-5 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%

Rank: #66.

Rutherfordton Elementary School

(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
:

6/

10

Top 50%

Add to Compare

201 Bob Hardin Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 287-3778

Gr: PK-5 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 33%

Rank: #77.

Ellenboro Elementary School

(Math: 57% | Reading: 47%)
:

6/

10

Top 50%

Add to Compare

813 Piney Mountain Church Rd
Ellenboro, NC 28040
(828) 453-8185

Gr: PK-5 | 558 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 20%

Rank: #88.

Mt. Vernon-ruth Elementary School

(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
:

6/

10

Top 50%

Add to Compare

2785 Hudlow Road
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 287-4792

Gr: PK-5 | 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 19%

Rank: #99.

Spindale Elementary School

(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-34%)
:

4/

10

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

161 N Oak St
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 286-2861

Gr: PK-5 | 345 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%

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Quick Facts (2026)

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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