Best Schools in Forest City, North Carolina
9 schools · 4 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High
Choosing a school in Forest City?
Use this page to compare every school in Forest City by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Chase High School
High · Rutherford County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Harris Elementary School
Elementary · Rutherford County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
East Rutherford High School
High · Rutherford County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Forest City for 2026 are Chase High School (7.2/10), Harris Elementary School (7.2/10), and East Rutherford High School (6.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
9
8 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$176,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
9
8 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$176,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +11.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Forest City schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Forest City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 9 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chase High School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Harris Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | East Rutherford High School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Mt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Chase Middle School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Rutherford Opportunity Center | 5.3 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $41,746
- Median home value
- $176,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 18%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 64%
25% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Forest City compares
North Carolina rank
#102 of 255
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above North Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$42k
61% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
8
Rutherford County Schools runs Forest City's public schools
8 public schools. Rutherford County Schools is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Forest City is a Rutherford County Schools school (8 of 8).
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.3 to 7.2 — the spread is inside Forest City, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Forest City, North Carolina
Forest City, North Carolina has 8 ranked public schools with an average score of 7.2 out of 10. Five of those eight schools — 62% — score 7 or higher, meaning most students in this small Rutherford County city have access to above-average options without traveling far from home.
The elementary tier drives that performance. Forest City-Dunbar Elementary leads the city with a 9.2 out of 10 — the top score in the local landscape and nearly two full points above the city average. Harris Elementary follows closely at 9.1, and Forrest W. Hunt Elementary rounds out the top three at 8.4. All three clear the 7-plus threshold by a wide margin. Parents with children in the early grades face a clear, strong field of options.
The secondary schools hold their own but at a lower ceiling. Chase High School scores 7.5 and Chase Middle School scores 7.1 — both above the citywide average, yet well below what the elementary tier delivers. The spread between Forest City-Dunbar's 9.2 and Chase High's 7.5 is real. Families should factor that trajectory in when choosing where to settle. The middle and high school years remain above average, but they don't match the quality floor set by the elementary schools.
For families comparing Forest City against other North Carolina cities, the 62% rate of 7-plus schools offers a clean signal: this is a district where the typical school performs well, not just the outliers. If you have elementary-age children, the top three schools here rank among the strongest local options available. If you're planning across all grade levels, the secondary pathway is solid — Chase High and Chase Middle both land above the city average — but it's worth calibrating expectations for the step down from the elementary years. The city rewards parents who research school-by-school rather than relying on district-level reputation alone.
Elementary Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 440 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 244 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
| 3 | 487 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.2 |
| 4 | 406 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.6 |
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 481 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 625 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 2 | 640 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 3 | 98 students · 6th–12th | 5.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Faith AcademyPrivate 2 students · 8th–9th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Forest City
Forest City, North Carolina · 9 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$41,746
Median Home Value
$176,100
Median Rent
$744/mo
Population
20,896
College Educated
18%
Homeownership
64%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
23.8%
Community Profile
Forest City has a median household income of $41,746. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $176,100, with a median rent of $744/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 4
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 4
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in North Carolina
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Forest City, North Carolina
How many schools are in Forest City, North Carolina?
Forest City has 9 schools, including 8 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Forest City, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Forest City is 6.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Forest City, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Forest City on MySchoolScout is Chase High School with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Forest City, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Forest City on MySchoolScout is Harris Elementary School with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Forest City, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Forest City on MySchoolScout is Chase Middle School with a composite score of 6.4/10.
What is the best high school in Forest City, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Forest City on MySchoolScout is Chase High School with a composite score of 7.2/10.
How many school districts serve Forest City, North Carolina?
Forest City is served by 1 school district: Rutherford County Schools.
What is the education level in Forest City, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 18% of adults in Forest City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Forest City, North Carolina?
The median household income in Forest City is approximately $41,746 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Forest City, North Carolina?
Yes, Forest City has 1 private school alongside 8 public schools.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Forest City, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Forest City is 12.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Forest City, North Carolina?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.