Total enrollment
7,394
-163 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
18 schools in Rutherford County Schools
North Carolina · 7,394 students · 6 cities
Rutherford County Schools, North Carolina runs 18 public K-12 schools today, teaching approximately 7,394 students across 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high.
4-year change in Rutherford County Schools
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
18
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Rutherford County Schools ranks
Among districts| Measure | This district | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 57.4% | #19 of 112 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 7,394 | #47 of 116 | #1,277 of 9,234 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 18 | #43 of 116 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 18.5:1 | #112 of 116 | #7,939 of 9,044 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 97.6% | #68 of 114 | #459 of 8,164 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 50.4% | #78 of 111 | #2,919 of 6,853 |
Districts need at least 2 schools and 500 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.
Inside Rutherford County Schools
State test results across the district's 17 scored schools run from Cliffside Elementary School at 76.9% proficient to R-S Central High School at 38.1%, a gap of 38.8 points. That is the 62nd widest gap among 104 North Carolina districts with four or more scored schools.
Since 2017-18, the 18 district schools that reported both years went from 8,258 to 7,394 students (down 10%) and from 524 to 400 full-time teachers (down 24%), as of 2024-25.
Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across each school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25; schools with fewer than 100 students and schools serving specialized populations are left out. Staffing figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data and count only schools that reported students and teachers in both years.
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-S Central High School | Rutherfordton | High | 09-12 | 763 |
| East Rutherford High School | Bostic | High | 09-12 | 623 |
| Chase High School | Forest City | High | 09-12 | 596 |
| Ellenboro Elementary School | Ellenboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 567 |
| R-S Middle School | Rutherfordton | Middle | 06-08 | 561 |
| East Rutherford Middle School | Bostic | Middle | 06-08 | 533 |
| Chase Middle School | Forest City | Middle | 06-08 | 484 |
| Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School | Forest City | Elementary | PK-05 | 460 |
| Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School | Forest City | Elementary | PK-05 | 459 |
| Harris Elementary School | Forest City | Elementary | PK-05 | 434 |
| Rutherfordton Elementary School | Rutherfordton | Elementary | PK-05 | 397 |
| Spindale Elementary School | Spindale | Elementary | PK-05 | 337 |
| Pinnacle Elementary School | Rutherfordton | Elementary | PK-05 | 254 |
| Mt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary School | Forest City | Elementary | PK-05 | 231 |
| Sunshine Elementary School | Bostic | Elementary | PK-05 | 217 |
| Rutherford Early College High School | Spindale | High | 09-13 | 208 |
| Cliffside Elementary School | Cliffside | Elementary | KG-05 | 188 |
| Rutherford Opportunity Center | Forest City | High | 06-12 | 82 |
About Rutherford County Schools
Rutherford County Schools is a rural-scale public-school district in North Carolina. The district operates 18 schools and teaches approximately 7,394 students.
Looking at the level breakdown, Rutherford County Schools is made up of 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools.
Average enrollment per school in Rutherford County Schools is about 411, meaningfully below the North Carolina average of roughly 571.
Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment remained close to its prior level: 7,557 students in SY 2020-21 versus 7,394 in SY 2024-25.
On allk12, the community for Rutherford County Schools discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.