Excellent
#298 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 11% in state
Rutherfordton Elementary School
Elementary School · Rutherford County Schools · Rutherfordton, NC
A Rutherford County Schools elementary school where students score 25 points above what's typical for similar communities.
201 Bob Hardin Road, Rutherfordton, NC 28139
- Math 77% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 66% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Rutherfordton Elementary School score 72% 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 30 points since 2020, reaching 72% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 61% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 56% (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
99.2%
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 Rutherfordton 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 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 1Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,648/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Rutherfordton), 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
$52,148
Median home value
$195,300
Median rent
$842/mo
College educated
23.2%
Homeownership
79.2%
Poverty rate
17.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28139; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spindale Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | PK–5 | 2.8 mi | 345 | Compare → |
| Word of Faith Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.5private | K–12 | 2.9 mi | 77 | Compare → |
| Cliffside Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.3 | K–5 | Not available | 196 | Compare → |
| Ellenboro Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.1 | PK–5 | Not available | 558 | 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
- #4 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
Rutherfordton Elementary School is listed in Rutherford County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Rutherfordton Elementary School
Rutherfordton Elementary School is a public elementary school in Rutherfordton, NC, part of Rutherford County Schools, serving approximately 391 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #298 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
What's said publicly about Rutherfordton Elementary School
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.Reviewed for accuracy.
Sources (1)
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Rutherfordton Elementary School
What grades does Rutherfordton Elementary School serve?
Rutherfordton Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Rutherfordton Elementary School?
Rutherfordton Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 391 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rutherfordton Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Rutherfordton Elementary School is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Rutherfordton Elementary School rank in NC?
Rutherfordton Elementary School ranks #298 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Rutherfordton Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Rutherfordton Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 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 Rutherfordton Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Rutherfordton Elementary School has 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Rutherfordton Elementary School a charter school?
No, Rutherfordton Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Rutherfordton Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Rutherfordton Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Rutherfordton Elementary School?
99.2% of students at Rutherfordton 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
- 391
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Rutherford County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.1%
- Phone
- (828) 287-3778
- Area population (ZIP 28139)
- 18,887
- Area average commute
- 27.7 min
- Area median age
- 49.1
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 28139; 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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