Total enrollment
18,917
+892 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Rowan County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Combined enrollment across Rowan County's 35 public schools is roughly 18,917 students, an average of about 540 per school. Rowan-Salisbury Schools runs the largest share. By grade band, the county runs 18 elementary, 6 middle, and 8 high schools.
4-year change in Rowan County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
34
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Rowan County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 37.5% | #87 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 18,917 | #23 of 98 | #505 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 34 | #23 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 17.5:1 | #89 of 98 | #2,385 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 95.6% | #54 of 98 | #192 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 66.1% | #33 of 94 | #274 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.
Rowan County school rankings
Residents
149,875
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
35
3 districts
Enrollment
18,917
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$65,725
Above North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
95.6%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
18
8,202 students
Middle
6
3,776 students
High
8
5,760 students
Combined / other
3
1,179 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
17,683 students · 3 districts in Rowan County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Rowan 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+
23.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.3%
civilian labor
Median age
40
22.2% under 18
Test scores in Rowan County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 32 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Rowan Co Early College· 89.5%
- Carson High· 58.9%
- Millbridge Elementary· 56.3%
- Mt Ulla Elementary· 54.2%
- Bostian Elementary· 52.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Koontz Elementary· 13.5%
- North Rowan Elementary· 13.7%
- Dole Elementary· 20.8%
- Hurley Elementary· 21.0%
- Knollwood Elementary· 24.9%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson High | China Grove | High | 09-12 | 1,063 | · |
| West Rowan High | Mount Ulla | High | 09-12 | 988 | · |
| East Rowan High | Salisbury | High | 09-12 | 986 | · |
| Faith Academy Charter School | Faith | Combined | KG-10 | 938 | · |
| South Rowan High | China Grove | High | 09-12 | 932 | · |
| Salisbury High | Salisbury | High | 09-12 | 930 | · |
| Erwin Middle | Salisbury | Middle | 06-08 | 763 | · |
| West Rowan Middle | Salisbury | Middle | 06-08 | 707 | · |
| North Rowan Middle | Spencer | Middle | 06-08 | 649 | · |
| Southeast Middle | Salisbury | Middle | 06-08 | 628 | · |
| Landis Elementary | Landis | Elementary | KG-05 | 613 | · |
| West Rowan Elementary | Cleveland | Elementary | PK-05 | 611 | · |
| China Grove Elementary | China Grove | Elementary | PK-05 | 592 | · |
| Granite Quarry Elementary | Salisbury | Elementary | PK-05 | 586 | · |
| Knollwood Elementary | Salisbury | Elementary | PK-05 | 585 | · |
| China Grove Middle | China Grove | Middle | 06-08 | 572 | · |
| North Rowan High | Spencer | High | 09-12 | 555 | · |
| Koontz Elementary | Salisbury | Elementary | PK-05 | 554 | · |
| Millbridge Elementary | China Grove | Elementary | KG-05 | 547 | · |
| Isenberg Elementary | Salisbury | Elementary | PK-05 | 509 | · |
| Rockwell Elementary | Rockwell | Elementary | PK-05 | 502 | · |
| Hurley Elementary | Salisbury | Elementary | PK-05 | 466 | · |
| Corriher Lipe Middle | Landis | Middle | 06-08 | 457 | · |
| Shive Elementary | Rockwell | Elementary | PK-05 | 413 | · |
| North Rowan Elementary | Spencer | Elementary | PK-05 | 405 | · |
| Dole Elementary | Salisbury | Elementary | PK-05 | 388 | · |
| Bostian Elementary | China Grove | Elementary | KG-05 | 342 | · |
| North Kannapolis Elementary | Kannapolis | Elementary | PK-05 | 296 | · |
| Mt Ulla Elementary | Mount Ulla | Elementary | KG-05 | 281 | · |
| Morgan Elementary | Gold Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 275 | · |
| Summit Virtual Academy | Salisbury | Combined | KG-12 | 241 | · |
| Overton Elementary | Salisbury | Elementary | KG-05 | 237 | · |
| Rowan Co Early College | Salisbury | High | 09-12 | 235 | · |
| Henderson High | Salisbury | High | 06-12 | 71 | · |
| Knox Middle | Salisbury | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Rowan County
About Rowan County
In North Carolina, Rowan County is a moderately sized county of about 149,875 residents. 35 public schools across the county enrolls about 18,917 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $65,725 a year, 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 13%.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Rowan County spans 18 elementary schools (8,202 students), 6 middle schools (3,776), 8 high schools (5,760), and 3 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Rowan County is Rowan-Salisbury Schools, which alone enrolls about 17,683 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Rowan County has expanded 5% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 18,025 students to 18,917.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Rowan County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data