Top Rankings
Rutherford County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 1,701 students in Rutherford County Schools. This district's average middle testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Rutherford County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
18 Schools
880 Schools
# Students
7,409 Students
493,642 Students
# Teachers
496 Teachers
31,617 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Rutherford County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 84% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#142 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)53%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)87%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.50
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
11%
20%
% Black
11%
25%
% White
69%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,925 is higher than the state median of $11,191. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,695 is higher than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$111 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$109 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,925
$11,191
Spending / Student
$14,695
$11,616
Best Rutherford County Schools Public Middle Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
R-s Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
607 Westbrook Dr.
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 286-4461
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 286-4461
Gr: 6-8 | 559 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #22.
Chase Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
840 Chase High Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 247-1043
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 247-1043
Gr: 6-8 | 481 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #33.
East Rutherford Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
259 East Church Street
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-3750
Bostic, NC 28018
(828) 245-3750
Gr: 6-8 | 563 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #44.
Rutherford Opportunity Center
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
140 Old Caroleen Road
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-5294
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-5294
Gr: 6-12 | 98 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
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