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 4 public middle schools serving 1,701 students in Rutherford County Schools School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Rutherford County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
882 Schools
# Students
7,409 Students
494,023 Students
# Teachers
496 Teachers
31,644 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
0.71
# American Indian Students
7 Students
5,633 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
31 Students
19,933 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
842 Students
98,873 Students
% Hispanic Students
11%
20%
# Black Students
833 Students
122,407 Students
% Black Students
11%
25%
# White Students
5,087 Students
215,701 Students
% White Students
69%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
3 Students
646 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
606 Students
30,848 Students
% of Two or more races Students
8%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
245
1,882
# Students in K Grade:
543
16,660
# Students in 1st Grade:
565
16,806
# Students in 2nd Grade:
531
17,050
# Students in 3rd Grade:
552
16,530
# Students in 4th Grade:
521
16,849
# Students in 5th Grade:
534
19,618
# Students in 6th Grade:
536
111,560
# Students in 7th Grade:
546
116,793
# Students in 8th Grade:
533
119,029
# Students in 9th Grade:
596
12,380
# Students in 10th Grade:
627
10,877
# Students in 11th Grade:
624
9,420
# Students in 12th Grade:
456
8,569
# 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 Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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
Grades: 6-8
| 559 students
Rank: #22.
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
Grades: 6-8
| 481 students
Rank: #33.
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
Grades: 6-8
| 563 students
Rank: #44.
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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