Total enrollment
15,682
+854 (+6%) vs SY 2020-21
Cleveland County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Cleveland County, North Carolina operates 29 public K-12 schools today, enrolling approximately 15,682 students (about 541 per school). The level mix is 15 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Cleveland County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
29
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Cleveland County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 54.5% | #32 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 15,682 | #25 of 98 | #572 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 29 | #27 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.1:1 | #56 of 98 | #2,091 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 98.7% | #27 of 98 | #114 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 59.9% | #50 of 94 | #565 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Cleveland County school rankings
Residents
100,991
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
29
2 districts
Enrollment
15,682
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$58,534
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
98.7%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
15
6,377 students
Middle
5
3,374 students
High
6
4,490 students
Combined / other
3
1,441 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Cleveland County Schools
14,504 students · 2 districts in Cleveland County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Cleveland County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
22.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.2%
civilian labor
Median age
41
22.3% under 18
Test scores in Cleveland County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 26 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Cleveland ECHS· 86.2%
- Cleveland Innovation· 70.4%
- Boiling Springs Elementary· 68.3%
- Grover Elementary· 66.7%
- Casar Elementary· 63.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Shelby High· 39.0%
- James Love Elementary· 40.0%
- Township Three Elementary· 40.2%
- Elizabeth Elementary· 41.5%
- Washington Elementary· 41.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Mountain High | Kings Mountain | High | 09-12 | 1,305 | · |
| Pinnacle Classical Academy | Shelby | Combined | KG-12 | 1,178 | · |
| Crest High | Shelby | High | 09-12 | 1,098 | · |
| Burns High | Lawndale | High | 09-12 | 928 | · |
| Crest Middle | Shelby | Middle | 06-08 | 810 | · |
| Shelby High | Shelby | High | 09-12 | 792 | · |
| Burns Middle | Lawndale | Middle | 06-08 | 744 | · |
| Elizabeth Elementary | Shelby | Elementary | PK-05 | 649 | · |
| Kings Mountain Middle | Kings Mountain | Middle | 07-08 | 631 | · |
| Springmore Elementary | Shelby | Elementary | PK-05 | 618 | · |
| Kings Mountain Intermediate | Kings Mountain | Middle | 05-06 | 601 | · |
| Shelby Middle | Shelby | Middle | 06-08 | 588 | · |
| Boiling Springs Elementary | Shelby | Elementary | PK-05 | 558 | · |
| Bethware Elementary | Kings Mountain | Elementary | PK-04 | 548 | · |
| Township Three Elementary | Shelby | Elementary | PK-05 | 540 | · |
| Fallston Elementary | Fallston | Elementary | PK-05 | 502 | · |
| Jefferson Elementary | Shelby | Elementary | PK-05 | 439 | · |
| Union Elementary | Shelby | Elementary | PK-05 | 413 | · |
| James Love Elementary | Shelby | Elementary | PK-05 | 376 | · |
| Washington Elementary | Shelby | Elementary | PK-05 | 376 | · |
| Grover Elementary | Grover | Elementary | PK-04 | 323 | · |
| West Elementary | Kings Mountain | Elementary | PK-04 | 289 | · |
| Casar Elementary | Casar | Elementary | PK-05 | 275 | · |
| North Elementary | Kings Mountain | Elementary | PK-04 | 272 | · |
| Cleveland ECHS | Shelby | High | 09-13 | 225 | · |
| East Elementary | Kings Mountain | Elementary | PK-04 | 199 | · |
| Cleveland Innovation | Shelby | Combined | KG-12 | 187 | · |
| Turning Point Academy | Shelby | High | 06-12 | 142 | · |
| North Shelby | Shelby | Combined | PK-12 | 76 | · |
Cities in Cleveland County
About Cleveland County
Across the middle-population North Carolina county of Cleveland County of about 100,991 residents, the public-school footprint covers 29 schools and about 15,682 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $58,534, about 22% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 12%. That income level is 7% lower than the North Carolina median.
In terms of grade levels, Cleveland County consists of 15 elementary schools (6,377 students), 5 middle schools (3,374), 6 high schools (4,490), and 3 combined or other schools.
Cleveland County Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 14,504 students across Cleveland County.
Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment increased 6%: 14,828 students in SY 2020-21 versus 15,682 in SY 2024-25.
On this page, the community for Cleveland County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data