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 3,356 students in Rutherford County Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Rutherford County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 59% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency 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 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
1,007 Schools
# Students
7,394 Students
477,947 Students
# Teachers
401 Teachers
32,759 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Rutherford 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 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
0.51
0.73
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
12%
24%
% Black
11%
25%
% White
68%
40%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
9%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,955 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 22% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,724 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 26% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$111 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$109 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,955
$11,168
Spending / Student
$14,724
$11,592
Best Rutherford County Schools Public Preschools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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 | 254 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #22.
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 | 217 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #33.
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 | 460 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #44.
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 | 434 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #55.
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 | 459 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #66.
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 | 397 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #77.
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 | 567 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #88.
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 | 231 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #99.
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 | 337 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
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