Rutherford County Schools

The Rutherford County Schools district in North Carolina encompasses 18 schools, including 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 5 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district serves a diverse student population, with many schools reporting high rates of economic disadvantage. While the district has some standout high-performing schools, there are also significant disparities in educational outcomes across the schools.

Among the top-performing schools in the district are Cliffside Elementary School, which ranks 95th out of 1,505 elementary schools in North Carolina and has exceptional test scores, and Sunshine Elementary School, which ranks 85th in the state and boasts particularly strong math performance. At the high school level, Rutherford Early College High School stands out, ranking 65th out of 640 high schools in North Carolina and demonstrating outstanding test scores in subjects like English II and Math III.

However, the district also has some lower-performing schools, such as Rutherford Opportunity Center, which struggles with proficiency rates well below 50% on most exams. This uneven performance across the Rutherford County Schools district suggests the need for targeted interventions and support to address the disparities and ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.