Cleveland County Schools School District
School District · Shelby, North Carolina
Avg Rating
7.2
out of 10
Schools
28
15 elem, 5 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
14,458
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
Avg Rating
7.2
out of 10
Schools
28
15 elem, 5 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
14,458
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#8 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.9
above North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$12,540
$572 vs North Carolina median
District size
14,458 students
Much larger than North Carolina median
The short answer
Cleveland County Schools ranks #8 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Cleveland County Schools's schools with real test data average 7.2/10 across 28 schools. Its top-rated schools are North Elementary (9.1/10), Bethware Elementary (8.9/10), and Boiling Springs Elementary (8.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.1/10 despite 96% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Cleveland County Schools schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +15.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Cleveland County Schools schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Cleveland County Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (28 of 28). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Elementary | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Bethware Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Boiling Springs Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Jefferson Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Springmore Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Union Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Washington Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Grover Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Cleveland Innovation | 8.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Crest Middle | 7.6 / 10 |
See all 28 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Cleveland County Schools
Cleveland County Schools is a Shelby, North Carolina school district serving 28 schools.The district educates 14,458 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.2:1. District-level spending was $12,540 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 7.2/10, Cleveland County Schools is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is North Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.1/10.
In standardized testing, Cleveland County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 57.3% and ELA proficiency of 52.0%.
The district includes 15 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 6 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Cleveland County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Cleveland County Schools with test data.
Schools in Cleveland County Schools
28 schoolsElementary Schools15
Middle Schools5
High Schools6
Other Schools2
District Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Shelby
- Total Enrollment
- 14,458
- Teachers (FTE)
- 949
- District spending per student
- $12,540NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 18.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Cleveland County Schools?
Cleveland County Schools has 28 schools in total — 15 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Cleveland County Schools?
The average composite rating for Cleveland County Schools is 7.2/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Cleveland County Schools?
Cleveland County Schools's district-level spending was $12,540 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cleveland County Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Cleveland County Schools is 15.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Cleveland County Schools?
North Elementary is the highest-rated school in Cleveland County Schools with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What are the test scores in Cleveland County Schools?
Across schools in Cleveland County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 57.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 52.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Cleveland County Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Cleveland County Schools has an average school rating of 7.2/10 across 28 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.2/10
- Math Proficiency
- 57.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 52.0%
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 rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Cleveland County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-Burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-Statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-Salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Nash County Public Schools (28)
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.
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