Very Good
#561 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 21% in state
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School
Elementary School · Rutherford County Schools · Forest City, NC
A Rutherford County Schools elementary school where students score 16 points above what's typical for similar communities.
100 Forrest Hunt Drive, Forest City, NC 28043
- Math 71% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 13 points since 2020, reaching 62% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 50% (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 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.3%
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 Forrest W. Hunt Elementary 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 23Car-Dependent
- Bike 21Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.5 | PK–5 | 3.3 mi | 440 | Compare → |
| Forest City-dunbar Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.7 | PK–5 | 3.4 mi | 487 | Compare → |
| Thomas Jefferson Classical AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.9 | K–12 | 3.7 mi | 1,428 | Compare → |
| Word of Faith Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.5private | K–12 | 4.8 mi | 77 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Rutherford County Schools
- Schools in district
- 18
- Rank in district
- #7 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
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School is listed in Rutherford County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School is a public elementary school in Forest City, NC, part of Rutherford County Schools, serving approximately 406 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #561 of 2,648 schools in NC.
State assessment records show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School
What grades does Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School serve?
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School?
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 406 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School is 15.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School rank in NC?
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School ranks #561 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School a charter school?
No, Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School?
99.3% of students at Forrest W. Hunt Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 406
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Rutherford County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.0%
- Phone
- (828) 245-2161
- 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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