Below Average
#2343 of 2,648 schools in NC
North Rowan High
High School · Rowan-salisbury Schools · Spencer, NC
A Rowan-salisbury Schools high school where students score 25 points below what's typical for similar communities.
300 North Whitehead Ave, Spencer, NC 28159
- Math 14% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 31% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 87.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at North Rowan High score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 22 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 22% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 23% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 33% (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
97.6%
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 North Rowan High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Charlotte map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 37Car-Dependent
- Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average524/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$63,396
Median home value
$160,300
Median rent
$1,042/mo
College educated
22.5%
Homeownership
62%
Poverty rate
12.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28159; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson HighEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | 6–12 | 2.1 mi | 78 | Compare → |
| North Hills Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | PK–12 | 3.0 mi | 384 | Compare → |
| Salisbury HighEnrollment path unverified | 2.6 | 9–12 | 3.8 mi | 1,014 | Compare → |
| Rowan Co Early CollegeEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | 9–12 | 5.0 mi | 235 | 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.
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.
Rowan-salisbury Schools
- Schools in district
- 32
- Rank in district
- #18 of 32
- District spending per student
- $12,141NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
North Rowan High is listed in Rowan-Salisbury Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About North Rowan High
North Rowan High is a public high school in Spencer, NC, part of Rowan-salisbury Schools, serving approximately 592 students in grades 9th-12th with a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 out of 10 and ranks #2,343 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about North Rowan High
What grades does North Rowan High serve?
North Rowan High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend North Rowan High?
North Rowan High has an enrollment of approximately 592 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Rowan High?
The student-teacher ratio at North Rowan High 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 North Rowan High rank in NC?
North Rowan High ranks #2,343 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is North Rowan High's MySchoolScout rating?
North Rowan High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 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 North Rowan High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, North Rowan High has 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is North Rowan High a charter school?
No, North Rowan High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is North Rowan High a Title I school?
No, North Rowan High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for North Rowan High?
97.6% of students at North Rowan High 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
- 592
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Rowan County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 60.3%
- Phone
- (704) 636-4420
- 4-Year Graduation
- 87.0%
- Area population (ZIP 28159)
- 3,181
- Area median age
- 43.4
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 28159; 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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