Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Summary:

Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in Forest City, North Carolina, part of the Rutherford County Schools district.

Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School stands out for its strong academic performance, consistently exceeding state and district averages in mathematics, reading, and science proficiency across grades 3-5. The school's diverse student population, with high percentages of African American, Hispanic, and English Language Learner students, is a particular strength, as these subgroups rank among the top 100 elementary schools in North Carolina. The school's low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 12.5 to 13.9 students per teacher, also contributes to its success.

While Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School outperforms the state and district, nearby schools like Harris Elementary and Cliffside Elementary within the Rutherford County Schools district, as well as Springmore Elementary in the neighboring Cleveland County Schools district, also demonstrate strong academic performance. The high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School, over 99%, suggests the school is serving a predominantly low-income population, which may present unique challenges and opportunities.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 286 Learning Parkway
       Forest City, NC  28043-3427


(828) 245-4978

District: Rutherford County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
278th of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,235 Help


Students who attend Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    East Rutherford Middle School
High:    East Rutherford High School
    Rutherford Early College High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.0 Help
Number of students:  479

Racial breakdown:

White:
35.9%
African American:
29.9%
Hispanic:
22.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.4% Help


 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School ranks better than 81.5% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 4th among 10 ranked elementary schools in the Rutherford County Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 78.01. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (35.9%), African American (29.9%), Hispanic (22.3%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 99.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Rutherford County Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School is 13, which is the 5th best among 10 elementary schools in the Rutherford County Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School employs 36.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School is $12,235, which is the 2nd highest among 10 elementary schools in the Rutherford County Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School 278th of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Rutherford County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Rutherford County Schools 73rd of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 35.23 938th 1276 26.5%
2007 38.68 917th 1293 29.1%
2008 32.67 970th 1324 26.7%
2009 41.73 892nd 1354 34.1%
2010 25.44 1103rd 1363 19.1%
2011 28.94 1086th 1381 21.4%
2012 28.64 1109th 1388 20.1%
2013 35.38 940th 1403 33.0%
2014 35.92 918th 1390 34.0%
2015 42.34 870th 1440 39.6%
2016 52.83 680th 1425 52.3%
2017 46.26 814th 1429 43.0%
2018 50.10 742nd 1434 48.3%
2019 55.13 672nd 1473 54.4%
2021 54.05 656th 1489 55.9%
2022 63.80 524th 1514 65.4%
2023 77.64 280th 1502 81.4%
2024 78.01 278th 1505 81.5%
See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 62.66 27th 97 72.2%
2024 77.48 25th 159 84.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 71.97 59th 485 87.8%
2023 93.96 18th 514 96.5%
2024 92.28 28th 533 94.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 70.87 127th 801 84.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.81 457th 1332 65.7%
2019 69.15 329th 1361 75.8%
2021 74.66 204th 1329 84.7%
2022 83.78 98th 1366 92.8%
2023 89.59 58th 1437 96.0%
2024 90.22 50th 1450 96.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.52 531st 1405 62.2%
2019 58.98 577th 1424 59.5%
2021 51.70 661st 1440 54.1%
2022 60.30 541st 1458 62.9%
2023 78.41 237th 1459 83.8%
2024 75.29 281st 1455 80.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.73 246th 897 72.6%
2019 68.62 164th 878 81.3%
2021 69.57 102nd 646 84.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 41.08 546th 612 10.8%
2021 29.01 432nd 494 12.6%
2022 59.80 245th 500 51.0%
2023 68.18 78th 582 86.6%
2024 64.77 218th 669 67.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.38 949th 1413 32.8%
2019 50.12 740th 1430 48.3%
2021 54.59 618th 1444 57.2%
2022 65.58 461st 1464 68.5%
2023 72.29 340th 1461 76.7%
2024 77.36 270th 1464 81.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.64 185th 927 80.0%
2019 69.07 211th 949 77.8%
2021 74.81 122nd 896 86.4%
2022 84.42 73rd 927 92.1%
2023 88.33 54th 933 94.2%
2024 82.92 88th 924 90.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 69.13 201st 851 76.4%
2019 56.34 345th 865 60.1%
2021 73.79 139th 843 83.5%
2022 68.00 200th 893 77.6%
2023 94.67 23rd 915 97.5%
2024 85.27 80th 951 91.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 39.53 795th 1178 32.5%
2019 50.38 602nd 1183 49.1%
2021 29.36 883rd 1172 24.7%
2022 41.71 730th 1194 38.9%
2023 52.18 583rd 1183 50.7%
2024 68.98 331st 1166 71.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 259 112 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 373
1989 246 115 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 363
1990 265 115 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 383
1991 250 124 3 0 1 n/a n/a 0 378
1992 233 139 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 375
1993 220 153 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 373
1994 189 165 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 354
1995 180 151 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 335
1996 180 151 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 335
1997 161 159 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 324
1998 143 162 3 6 0 n/a n/a 0 314
1999 87 113 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 202
2000 98 105 1 6 0 n/a n/a 0 210
2001 141 188 4 12 0 n/a n/a 0 345
2002 103 186 3 16 0 n/a n/a 0 308
2003 103 186 3 16 0 n/a n/a 0 308
2004 111 173 4 24 0 n/a n/a 0 312
2005 111 156 3 29 0 n/a n/a 0 299
2006 102 145 1 28 0 n/a n/a 0 276
2007 212 220 2 58 0 n/a n/a 37 529
2008 182 192 1 59 0 n/a n/a 31 465
2009 196 226 2 53 1 n/a n/a 0 478
2010 191 230 5 53 1 n/a n/a 0 480
2011 168 197 3 77 1 0 58 0 504
2012 162 186 3 79 0 0 59 0 489
2013 182 181 5 77 0 0 58 0 503
2014 135 166 1 76 0 0 55 0 433
2015 136 192 1 89 0 0 52 0 470
2016 162 180 2 70 0 0 50 0 464
2017 162 173 1 81 0 0 60 0 477
2018 155 151 5 82 1 0 56 0 450
2019 143 172 6 85 0 0 65 0 471
2020 143 173 5 90 0 1 61 0 473
2021 166 170 4 99 1 1 67 0 508
2022 160 152 4 103 0 1 50 0 470
2023 172 143 4 107 0 1 52 0 479

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 373 22.0 16.9 44.2
1989 363 22.0 16.5 100
1990 383 22.0 17.4 46
1991 378 22.0 17.1 45.8
1992 375 22.0 17.0 30.1
1993 373 22.0 17.0 41.6
1994 354 21.0 16.9 48
1995 335 22.0 15.2 51
1996 335 22.0 15.2 51
1997 324 20.0 16.2 52.2
1998 314 22.0 14.3 55.4
1999 202 17.0 11.9 94.6
2000 210 17.0 12.4 74.3
2001 345 17.0 20.3 47.2
2002 308 17.0 18.1 89
2003 308 17.0 18.1 89
2004 312 17.0 18.4 85.6
2005 299 17.0 17.6 86
2006 276 17.0 16.2 83.7
2007 529 n/a n/a 86
2008 465 34.9 13.3 97
2009 478 32.1 14.9 79.9
2010 480 28.7 16.7 87.9
2011 504 30.3 16.6 91.9
2012 489 29.0 16.8 91
2013 503 27.1 18.4 87.5
2014 433 29.4 14.7 98.4
2015 470 30.0 15.6 99.4
2016 464 32.0 14.5 99.4
2017 477 31.6 15.0 99.4
2018 450 34.7 12.9 99.3
2019 471 33.4 14.0 99.4
2020 473 33.9 13.9 99.4
2021 508 36.4 13.9 97.8
2022 470 37.4 12.5 99.4
2023 479 36.7 13.0 99.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 373 22.0 16.9 44.2
1989 363 22.0 16.5 100
1990 383 22.0 17.4 46
1991 378 22.0 17.1 45.8
1992 375 22.0 17.0 30.1
1993 373 22.0 17.0 41.6
1994 354 21.0 16.9 48
1995 335 22.0 15.2 51
1996 335 22.0 15.2 51
1997 324 20.0 16.2 52.2
1998 314 22.0 14.3 55.4
1999 202 17.0 11.9 94.6
2000 210 17.0 12.4 74.3
2001 345 17.0 20.3 47.2
2002 308 17.0 18.1 89
2003 308 17.0 18.1 89
2004 312 17.0 18.4 85.6
2005 299 17.0 17.6 86
2006 276 17.0 16.2 83.7
2007 529 n/a n/a 86
2008 465 34.9 13.3 97
2009 478 32.1 14.9 79.9
2010 480 28.7 16.7 87.9
2011 504 30.3 16.6 91.9
2012 489 29.0 16.8 91
2013 503 27.1 18.4 87.5
2014 433 29.4 14.7 98.4
2015 470 30.0 15.6 99.4
2016 464 32.0 14.5 99.4
2017 477 31.6 15.0 99.4
2018 450 34.7 12.9 99.3
2019 471 33.4 14.0 99.4
2020 473 33.9 13.9 99.4
2021 508 36.4 13.9 97.8
2022 470 37.4 12.5 99.4
2023 479 36.7 13.0 99.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $3,287 (26.9%) $8,948 (73.1%) $12,235

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 672nd of 1473 Elementary schoolsRanks 280th of 1502 Elementary schools
 27%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School)83.171.2
 11.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Rutherford County Schools)77.677.2
 0.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)64.361.1
 3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School)66.246.2
 20%
   3rd Grade Reading (Rutherford County Schools)61.849.5
 12.3%
   3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)56.848
 8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School)5686.4
 30.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Rutherford County Schools)67.267.7
 0.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
4th Grade Reading (Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School)42.774.2
 31.5%
   4th Grade Reading (Rutherford County Schools)6660.7
 5.3%
   4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)57.355.3
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School)63.865.8
 2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Rutherford County Schools)66.868.9
 2.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)60.255.9
 4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School)43.564.4
 20.9%
   5th Grade Reading (Rutherford County Schools)6155.6
 5.4%
   5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)54.648
 6.6%
5th Grade Science (Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School)78.378.1
 0.2%
   5th Grade Science (Rutherford County Schools)81.680.6
 1%
   5th Grade Science (North Carolina)72.665.3
 7.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students471479
 1.7%
African American172143
 16.9%
American Indian00
Asian64
 33.3%
Hispanic85107
 25.9%
Pacific Islander01
White143172
 20.3%
Two or More Races6552
 20%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.4%99.4%
 0%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 479 students attended Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School.

Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School ranks 278th of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School are 36% White, 30% African American, 22% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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