B−
Rutherford County Schools
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 8 towns
Serves Forest City, Spindale, Rutherfordton, Lake Lure, Ellenboro, Ruth, Bostic and Chimney Rock Village.
Students
7,394
Schools
18
Spent per student
$13,859
NC $13,045
Students per teacher
18:1
Free or reduced lunch
98%
Debt
$30.7M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Rutherford County Schools
- School Grade B−: better than 51% of North Carolina districts
- Spends 6% more per student than the NC average
- 18 students per teacher
- Debt of $30.7M, about $4,148 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Bostic.
PK–510 elementary schoolsThis district
6–8East Rutherford Middle SchoolThis district
9–124 high schoolsThis district
Test scores vs. NC
2020–21Math proficiency43%
State average 41.9%
Reading / language arts44%
State average 47.2%
Graduation rate (4-year)88%
State average 87.7%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$13,859 per student · 6% above NC
Spending
Classroom instruction 58%Support & administration 35%Other 7%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 21%State 54%Federal 25%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
7,557’20
7,572’21
7,527’22
7,409’23
7,394’24
About steady.
Students
White 68%Hispanic 12%Black 11%Two or more races 9%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
18 public schools.
Ellenboro Elementary School
B567 students19:1
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School
B460 students19:1
Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School
B−459 students18:1
Harris Elementary School
B+434 students16:1
Rutherfordton Elementary School
B−397 students16:1
Spindale Elementary School
C337 students17:1
Pinnacle Elementary School
C254 students16:1
Mt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary School
B+231 students18:1
Sunshine Elementary School
A−217 students16:1
Cliffside Elementary School
B188 students15:1
R-S Middle School
C+561 students19:1
East Rutherford Middle School
C+533 students20:1
Chase Middle School
B−484 students18:1
R-S Central High School
B+763 students21:1
East Rutherford High School
B+623 students19:1
Chase High School
A−596 students21:1
Rutherford Early College High School
B208 students55:1
Rutherford Opportunity Center
D82 students8:1
Towns served
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.