School district or education agency · NCES 3704080

Rutherford County Schools

Forest City, NC

District overview See comparisons

Students7,409

Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.

Schools18

operational schools · 2023–24

Students7,409

students in linked records

Latest attendance year2022–23

federal comparable series

Latest finance record$14,515

per student

District, state and country

How does this district compare?

State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.

MeasureDistrictNCUnited States

Academic standing2025

47th percentile45th percentile45th percentile

This district is 2 percentile points higher than the state figure and 2 percentile points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students chronically absent2022–23

41.6%28.7%27.8%

This district is 12.9 percentage points higher than the state figure and 13.8 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Revenue per studentFY 2023

$15,098$13,391$19,509

This district is $1,707 per student higher than the state figure and $4,411 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Spending per studentFY 2023

$14,515$12,316$15,859

This district is $2,199 per student higher than the state figure and $1,344 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Capital outlay per studentFY 2023

$593$1,359$1,964

This district is $766 per student lower than the state figure and $1,371 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Equipment spending per studentFY 2023

$52$215$336

This district is $163 per student lower than the state figure and $284 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Special-education spending per studentFY 2023

$1,745$1,306$1,793

This district is $439 per student higher than the state figure and $48 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Salaries per studentFY 2023

$8,126$7,126$8,742

This district is $1,000 per student higher than the state figure and $616 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Benefits per studentFY 2023

$3,643$2,889$3,769

This district is $754 per student higher than the state figure and $126 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023

$2,628$5,278$11,715

This district is $2,650 per student lower than the state figure and $9,087 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt retired per studentFY 2023

$392$656$869

This district is $264 per student lower than the state figure and $477 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Students per teacher2023–24

15:115:115:1

This district is about the same as the state figure and about the same as the U.S. figure.

Students per counselor2023–24

308:1340:1376:1

This district is 32 students per counselor lower than the state figure and 68 students per counselor lower than the U.S. figure.

District staff per 1,000 students2023–24

149.6128.4138.9

This district is 21.2 staff per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 10.7 staff per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24

22.514.718.5

This district is 7.8 aides per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 4.0 aides per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24

0.30.50.9

This district is 0.2 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 0.6 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

Regular diplomas among completers2023–24

98.8%99.3%99.0%

This district is 0.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.2 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–122023–24

0.7%2.0%2.6%

This district is 1.3 percentage points lower than the state figure and 1.9 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schools

3.2%8.7%12.0%

This district is 5.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 8.8 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schools

16.1%11.9%14.0%

This district is 4.3 percentage points higher than the state figure and 2.1 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schools

1.4%1.9%3.9%

This district is 0.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.6 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schools

78.2%92.5%95.8%

This district is 14.3 percentage points lower than the state figure and 17.6 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24

-2.2%+0.9%+0.5%

This district is 3.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals2021–22 · valid district records

99.1%50.8%50.6%

This district is 48.3 percentage points higher than the state figure and 48.5 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollment

9.0%7.8%4.5%

This district is 1.2 percentage points higher than the state figure and 4.5 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollment

17.0%15.6%9.0%

This district is 1.4 percentage points higher than the state figure and 8.0 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollment

56.2%13.3%6.7%

This district is 42.9 percentage points higher than the state figure and 49.5 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students enrolled in district distance education2021–22 · matched enrollment

2.4%6.9%5.1%

This district is 4.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimate

19.0%15.6%14.4%

This district is 3.4 percentage points higher than the state figure and 4.6 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment · 2023–24

Who attends this district?

Pre-K245 students

3.3%

Kindergarten–grade 53,246 students

43.8%

Grades 6–81,615 students

21.8%

Grades 9–122,303 students

31.1%

See enrollment for every grade

Pre-Kindergarten245

Kindergarten543

Grade 1565

Grade 2531

Grade 3552

Grade 4521

Grade 5534

Grade 6536

Grade 7546

Grade 8533

Grade 9596

Grade 10627

Grade 11624

Grade 12456

Students by race and ethnicity

White5,087 (68.7%)

Hispanic/Latino842 (11.4%)

Black or African American833 (11.2%)

Two or more races606 (8.2%)

Asian31 (0.4%)

American Indian or Alaska Native7 (0.1%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander3 (0.0%)

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.

Current staffing · 2023–24

How many staff members support students?

1,108.7All district staff, full-time equivalent

500Teachers, full-time equivalent

24.1School counselors, full-time equivalent

2School psychologists, full-time equivalent

166.8Instructional aides, full-time equivalent

16Librarians and media specialists, full-time equivalent

35.6School administrators, full-time equivalent

74.8Student support staff, full-time equivalent

See detailed staffing

Pre-K teachers18 FTE

Kindergarten teachers34.2 FTE

Elementary teachers286 FTE

Secondary teachers161.9 FTE

Elementary school counselors11.8 FTE

Secondary school counselors11.6 FTE

Instructional coordinators5.2 FTE

District administrators11.5 FTE

District administrative support27.9 FTE

School administrative support53.3 FTE

Library and media support2 FTE

Other support staff189.6 FTE

Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.

High-school outcomes · 2023–24

How many students completed school or dropped out?

512Total completers

506Regular diplomas

6Other state-recognized credentials

16Reported dropouts, grades 9–12

Regular diplomas among completers

District98.8%

NC99.3%

United States99.0%

Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–12

District0.7%

NC2.0%

United States2.6%

Final NCES Common Core of Data completer and dropout files, 2023–24. The dropout rate divides the reported annual grades 9–12 dropout count by complete grades 9–12 enrollment. It is not a cohort graduation rate. The diploma share describes credentials among completers and should not be read as a graduation rate.

Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot

How many students may need specialized support?

Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.

3.2%Students learning English219 students · 15 of 18 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District3.2%

NC8.7%

U.S.12.0%

16.1%Students receiving IDEA special-education services1,184 students · 18 of 18 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District16.1%

NC11.9%

U.S.14.0%

1.4%Students with Section 504 plans91 students · 15 of 18 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District1.4%

NC1.9%

U.S.3.9%

0.6%English learners also receiving IDEA services46 students · 18 of 18 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District0.6%

NC1.3%

U.S.1.7%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.

Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22

What did the district report about teachers and preschool?

78.2%Teachers reported as certified

250Children ages 3–5 in district preschool

Teacher certification comparison

District78.2%

NC92.5%

United States95.8%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.

Community context · 2024

How many school-age children live in poverty?

This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.

9,715children ages 5 to 17

1,846estimated to live in families below the poverty line

19.0%about 1 in 5 school-age children

District19.0%

NC15.6%

United States14.4%

U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.

District geography · 2024–25

What area does this district cover?

NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.

Loading the official district boundary…

Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.

Comparable districts

Districts serving a similar student population

These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in NC receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.

Surry County SchoolsLowgap, NC7,352 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Franklin County SchoolsBunn, NC7,994 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Orange County SchoolsHillsborough, NC7,067 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Carteret County Public SchoolsAtlantic, NC8,035 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Haywood County SchoolsCanton, NC6,566 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →

Academic results · 2025

How do results differ among student groups?

Students not economically disadvantaged2,394 assessments

57 out of 100

White students4,237 assessments

51 out of 100

Fem2,912 assessments

48 out of 100

Mal3,361 assessments

46 out of 100

Economically disadvantaged students3,879 assessments

42 out of 100

Hispanic students776 assessments

42 out of 100

Black students686 assessments

34 out of 100

A score of 50 marks the national 2019 midpoint. Higher numbers indicate stronger results on the comparable Stanford research scale. This is not a state proficiency rate.

District makeup

What kinds of schools are in the district?

4High schools

3Middle schools

9Elementary schools

11Rural setting

5Town setting

School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.

District finances

How is the district funded, and how does it spend?

Sources of funds

Where the money comes from

Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.

24.5%Federal

56.9%State

18.6%Local

Uses of funds

Where the money goes

Annual spending for each enrolled student.

$14,515Total current spending per student

$8,608Instruction per student

$5,073Support services per student

Revenue by source: percentages and dollars

$27.9MFederal revenue24.5% of total revenue

$64.6MState revenue56.9% of total revenue

$21.2MLocal revenue18.6% of total revenue

How operating money was used

$8,608Instructionper student

$5,073Student and instructional supportper student

$1,745Special educationper student

$1,567Building operations and maintenanceper student

$577Student transportationper student

$835Food servicesper student

$539Technologyper student

People costs

$61.2MSalaries$8,126 per student

$27.4MEmployee benefits$3,643 per student

Equipment, buildings and debt

$395KEquipmentFY 2023

$4.5MCapital outlay$593 per student

$3.7MConstructionincluded in capital outlay

$19.8MDebt outstanding at year end$2,628 per student

$0New debt issuedFY 2023

$3MDebt principal retiredFY 2023

$593KInterest paid on debtFY 2023

Selected federal program revenue

$3.6MTitle I$476 per student

$1.7MIDEA special education$224 per student

$200KCareer and technical education$27 per student

$5.3MChild nutrition$698 per student

What changed since FY 2022

Operating spending per student

FY 2022$14,170

FY 2023$14,515

Capital spending per student

FY 2022$1,819

FY 2023$593

Debt outstanding per student

FY 2022$3,002

FY 2023$2,628

Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.

Attendance

How has chronic absence changed?

2020–2127.2%

2,007 of 7,382 students

2021–2251.1%

3,762 of 7,355 students

2022–2341.6%

3,037 of 7,293 students

Specialized support and security · 2021–22

What specialized roles were reported?

10.6Sworn law-enforcement officer FTE16 reporting schools

0Security staff FTE16 reporting schools

Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.

Learning opportunities

What do district schools offer?

Algebra I4 reporting schools

Calculus4 reporting schools

Biology4 reporting schools

Chemistry4 reporting schools

Physics4 reporting schools

Computer science4 reporting schools

Advanced Placement4 reporting schools

Dual enrollment4 reporting schools

Gifted programs16 reporting schools

International Baccalaureate4 reporting schools

Athletics4 reporting schools

Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.

Safety and discipline

What was reported across district schools?

679Out-of-school suspensions16 reporting schoolsSee schools →662In-school suspensions16 reporting schoolsSee schools →35Law-enforcement referrals16 reporting schoolsSee schools →0School-related arrests16 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.

Technology and safety · 2021–22

What access and incident data is available?

100%Schools reporting Wi-Fi16 reporting schools

100%Schools reporting fiber16 reporting schools

1Student devices reported16 reporting schools

Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.

Six questions parents ask

What the available data says

Each answer shows its reporting year and opens a deeper comparison. Missing and suppressed results are never shown as zero.

Are students making academic progress?5 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2025Explore and compare →Are students missing too much school?41.6% chronically absent2022–23 · 7,293 students measuredExplore and compare →Is the district improving?Declined overallCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore and compare →Where are student-group gaps largest?7 student groups2025 research estimatesExplore and compare →How much does the district spend?$14,515current spending per studentExplore and compare →Does the district have enough support staff?308:1 counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore and compare →

Data status

8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.

See all sources →