Rutherford County Schools
Public
Regional · 8 towns Grades PK–12 B-School Grade
Public schools for Forest City, Spindale, Rutherfordton, Lake Lure, Ellenboro, Ruth, Bostic and Chimney Rock Village.
At a glance
7,394Students enrolled
18Schools
8Towns served
$13,859Spent per student
18:1Student–teacher ratio
98%Free / reduced lunch
School path
Where would my kid go?
Grades PK–5
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School or Forest City-Dunbar Elementary SchoolDepends on your addressThis districtGrades 6–8
R-S Middle School or East Rutherford Middle School or Chase Middle SchoolDepends on your addressThis districtGrades 6–8
R-S Middle School or East Rutherford Middle School or Chase Middle SchoolDepends on your addressThis districtGrades 6–8
R-S Middle School or East Rutherford Middle School or Chase Middle SchoolDepends on your addressThis districtGrades 6–8
R-S Middle School or East Rutherford Middle School or Chase Middle SchoolDepends on your addressThis districtGrades 6–8
R-S Middle School or East Rutherford Middle School or Chase Middle SchoolDepends on your addressThis districtGrades 6–8
R-S Middle School or East Rutherford Middle School or Chase Middle SchoolDepends on your addressThis districtGrades 6–8
R-S Middle School or East Rutherford Middle School or Chase Middle SchoolDepends on your addressThis districtBased on district boundaries from the U.S. Department of Education. Where a town has more than one school at a grade, your street decides; check with the district before you enroll.
Academic performanceDistrict vs NC
Math proficiency43%
State average 41.9%
Reading / language arts44%
State average 47.2%
Graduation rate (4-year)88%
State average 87.7%
EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (tests 2020–21; graduation 2019–20). The tick marks the state average.
Where the money goes
$13,859
per student each year · 6% above the NC average
Spending
Paid for by
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances (fiscal 2024).
Enrollment · last 5 years
7,557’20
7,572’21
7,527’22
7,409’23
7,394’24
Students
White · 68%5,026
Hispanic · 12%879
Black · 11%821
Two or more races · 9%629
Asian · 0%29
American Indian/Alaska Native · 0%7
Across the district's schools, as reported to NCES.
Towns served
Schools18 in district
Ellenboro Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 567 students · Ellenboro
BPublicForrest W. Hunt Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 460 students · Forest City
BPublicForest City-Dunbar Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 459 students · Forest City
B-PublicHarris Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 434 students · Forest City
B+PublicRutherfordton Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 397 students · Rutherfordton
B-PublicSpindale Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 337 students · Spindale
CPublicPinnacle Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 254 students · Rutherfordton
CPublicMt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 231 students · Forest City
B+PublicSunshine Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 217 students · Bostic
A-PublicCliffside Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades K–5 · 188 students · Cliffside
BPublicR-S Middle SchoolMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 561 students · Rutherfordton
C+PublicEast Rutherford Middle SchoolMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 533 students · Bostic
C+PublicChase Middle SchoolMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 484 students · Forest City
B-PublicR-S Central High SchoolHigh · Grades 9–12 · 763 students · Rutherfordton
B+PublicEast Rutherford High SchoolHigh · Grades 9–12 · 623 students · Bostic
B+PublicChase High SchoolHigh · Grades 9–12 · 596 students · Forest City
A-PublicRutherford Early College High SchoolHigh · Grades 9–13 · 208 students · Spindale
BPublicRutherford Opportunity CenterHigh · Grades 6–12 · 82 students · Forest City
DPublicSchool data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES). Ratings are from neighbors on TownTapestry.
District facts from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory and school district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau's school finance survey. Test scores and graduation rates from EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings reflect opinions, not an official measure of school quality.