Top Rankings
Cleveland 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 8 public high schools serving 4,753 students in Cleveland County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Cleveland County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 61% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 58% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Cleveland County School have a Graduation Rate of 83%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Cleveland Echs, with ≥90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
28 Schools
760 Schools
# Students
14,504 Students
568,877 Students
# Teachers
928 Teachers
31,559 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Cleveland County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 314 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 84% has decreased from 88% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#139 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)56%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
65%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)86%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.61
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
10%
21%
% Black
27%
25%
% White
55%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,023 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,066 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$160 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$161 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,023
$11,168
Spending / Student
$11,066
$11,592
Best Cleveland County Schools Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Cleveland Echs
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1800 E. Marion Street
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8232
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8232
Gr: 9-13 | 225 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #22.
Crest High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
800 Old Boiling Springs Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8331
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8331
Gr: 9-12 | 1,098 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #33.
Kings Mountain High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
500 Phifer Road
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8330
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8330
Gr: 9-12 | 1,305 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #44.
North Shelby
Special Education School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1701 Charles Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8230
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8230
Gr: PK-12 | 76 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #55.
Burns High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
307 E Stagecoach Trail
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8335
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8335
Gr: 9-12 | 928 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #66.
Shelby High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
230 E Dixon Boulevard
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8325
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8325
Gr: 9-12 | 792 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #77.
Cleveland Innovation
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
400 W Marion St
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8163
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8163
Gr: K-12 | 187 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #88.
Turning Point Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
409 West Sumter Street
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8399
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8399
Gr: 6-12 | 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
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