Very Good
#820 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 31% in state
East Rutherford High School
High School · Rutherford County Schools · Forest City, NC
A Rutherford County Schools high school where students score 15 points above what's typical for similar communities.
PO Box 668, Forest City, NC 28043
- Math 67% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 56% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 92.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at East Rutherford High School score 61% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 12 points since 2019, reaching 62% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 47% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where East Rutherford High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 14Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,858/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Forest City), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$41,746
Median home value
$176,100
Median rent
$744/mo
College educated
17.9%
Homeownership
64.2%
Poverty rate
23.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28043; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford Opportunity CenterEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | 6–12 | 2.4 mi | 98 | Compare → |
| Thomas Jefferson Classical AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.9 | K–12 | 4.8 mi | 1,428 | Compare → |
| Chase High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | 9–12 | Not available | 625 | Compare → |
| R-s Central High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.9 | 9–12 | Not available | 750 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Rutherford County Schools
- Schools in district
- 18
- Rank in district
- #9 of 18
- District spending per student
- $14,515NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
East Rutherford High School is listed in Rutherford County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About East Rutherford High School
East Rutherford High School is a public high school in Forest City, NC, part of Rutherford County Schools, serving approximately 640 students in grades 9th-12th with a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #820 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about East Rutherford High School
What grades does East Rutherford High School serve?
East Rutherford High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend East Rutherford High School?
East Rutherford High School has an enrollment of approximately 640 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at East Rutherford High School?
The student-teacher ratio at East Rutherford High School is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does East Rutherford High School rank in NC?
East Rutherford High School ranks #820 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is East Rutherford High School's MySchoolScout rating?
East Rutherford High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at East Rutherford High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, East Rutherford High School has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is East Rutherford High School a charter school?
No, East Rutherford High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is East Rutherford High School a Title I school?
No, East Rutherford High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for East Rutherford High School?
98.8% of students at East Rutherford High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 640
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 45
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Rutherford County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 37.5%
- Phone
- (828) 245-6424
- 4-Year Graduation
- 92.0%
- Area population (ZIP 28043)
- 20,896
- Area average commute
- 24.4 min
- Area median age
- 40.3
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28043; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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