Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School

Set in Forest City, North Carolina, Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School is a mid-sized K-5 school, overseen by Rutherford County Schools. It teaches 460 students across grades pre-K through 5.

Rutherford County Schools runs 18 schools in total, collectively educating 7,394 students. Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School is one of those campuses.

Demographically, Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School records that the largest single group is White, at 58% of enrollment. Beyond that, the school records 20% Hispanic, 14% multiracial, 8% Black. By comparison, Rutherford County as a whole is about 82% White, so the school skews visibly less White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, On paper, Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School has 24 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 19.3:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 14.9:1, putting Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School higher than the state norm the norm. About 98% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 48.8% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 61.6%.

In the area at large, ACS estimates for Rutherford County put median household income runs about $51,410, 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 13%. Across Rutherford County's 20 public schools (combined enrollment of about 9,205 students), Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Rutherford Opportunity Center, roughly 2.0 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School ranks 4th on composite proficiency, above the local average of 61.3%.

Geographically, the school is in a small-town area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count ticked up 17%: 394 students in 2018 compared to 460 in 2025. Black enrollment moved from 12% to 8% across the same window. Class-load math has widened: from 17.1:1 in 2018 to 19.3:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.