Average
#1681 of 2,648 schools in NC
Rutherford Opportunity Center
High School · Rutherford County Schools · Forest City, NC
A Rutherford County Schools high school where students score 38 points below what's typical for similar communities.
140 Old Caroleen Road, Forest City, NC 28043
- Math 10% vs NC 57% (2025)
- Reading 14% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 57.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Rutherford Opportunity Center score 9% 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 28 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 12% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 14% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 17% (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 33 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
96.9%
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 Rutherford Opportunity Center 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 45Car-Dependent
- Bike 20Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Rutherford High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | 9–12 | 2.4 mi | 640 | Compare → |
| Word of Faith Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.5private | K–12 | 3.7 mi | 77 | 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.
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
- #16 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
Rutherford Opportunity Center is listed in Rutherford County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Rutherford Opportunity Center
Rutherford Opportunity Center is a public high school in Forest City, NC, part of Rutherford County Schools, serving approximately 98 students in grades 6th-12th with a 6.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,681 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 14% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 17% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Rutherford Opportunity Center
What grades does Rutherford Opportunity Center serve?
Rutherford Opportunity Center serves students in grades 6th through 12th.
How many students attend Rutherford Opportunity Center?
Rutherford Opportunity Center has an enrollment of approximately 98 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rutherford Opportunity Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Rutherford Opportunity Center is 6.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Rutherford Opportunity Center rank in NC?
Rutherford Opportunity Center ranks #1,681 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Rutherford Opportunity Center's MySchoolScout rating?
Rutherford Opportunity Center has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 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 Rutherford Opportunity Center?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Rutherford Opportunity Center has 14% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 17% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Rutherford Opportunity Center a charter school?
No, Rutherford Opportunity Center is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Rutherford Opportunity Center a Title I school?
No, Rutherford Opportunity Center is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Rutherford Opportunity Center?
96.9% of students at Rutherford Opportunity Center 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
- 6th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 98
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 6.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 15
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Rutherford County
- Phone
- (828) 248-5294
- 4-Year Graduation
- 57.0%
- 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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