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Needs Improvement

#2618 of 2,648 schools in NC

Salisbury High

High School · Rowan-Salisbury Schools

500 Lincolnton Rd, Salisbury, NC 28144

Enrollment

1,014

Student-Teacher

19.1:1

Score

2.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#2,618 of 2,648

In Salisbury

#10 of 14

public schools

In district

#28 of 32

Rowan-Salisbury Schools

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Salisbury High

2.6/10

High School in Salisbury · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Johns Kindergarten

Nearby

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Summit Virtual Academy

6.3/10

1.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Salisbury High

Salisbury High is a public high school in Salisbury, NC, part of Rowan-Salisbury Schools. Salisbury High serves approximately 1,014 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Salisbury High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,618 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Salisbury High show 31% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.4 pts below district
  • This school 2.6 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 5.0
  • NC avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

64% of students at Salisbury High were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress2.1Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.73 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.7Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency22.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency35.9% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-33.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-17.7 pts
Overall Proficiency29% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-17.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile10th
College Readiness3.6Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate71%
AP Participation9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment1.7Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,141
Chronic Absenteeism64.2%

Salisbury High — Students at Salisbury High score 29% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 30.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
56.0% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 43.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.6% (2025 NC)

Based on 28 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
82%
ELA
62%
2010
Math
72%
ELA
57%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
17%
ELA
32%
2013
Math
19%
ELA
45%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
17%
ELA
34%
2017
Math
2.5%
ELA
31%
2018
Math
17%
ELA
30%
2019
Math
17%
ELA
30%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
47%
2025
Math
22.3%
ELA
35.9%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.1/10.

How Salisbury High Compares

See how Salisbury High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
2.6/10
1th percentile in NC
Academic
2.7/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
2.1/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
1.7/10
Needs Improvement
AP Courses
3
State avg: 3
Sports
4
2 boys' · 2 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
53 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
64.2%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
9% participation·State avg: 3 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics4sports offered
2 boys'·2 girls'·4 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

500 Lincolnton Rd, Salisbury, NC 28144

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Salisbury High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Rowan Co Early College (rated 8.0/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Henderson High (rated 5.2/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, North Rowan High (rated 4.1/10, 3.8 miles away, in nearby Spencer), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Salisbury, see our Salisbury schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.8 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOHNS KINDERGARTEN Salisbury 0.8 mi
Summit Virtual Academy Salisbury 1.5 mi 6.3
Rowan Co Early College Salisbury 1.9 mi 8.0
Overton Elementary Salisbury 1.8 mi 2.2
Henderson High Salisbury 1.8 mi 5.2
NORTH HILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Salisbury 2.7 mi 7.6
SALISBURY ACADEMY Salisbury 2.6 mi 5.2
Koontz Elementary Salisbury 2.8 mi 2.0
SALISBURY ADVENTIST SCHOOL Salisbury 2.6 mi
Isenberg Elementary Salisbury 2.8 mi 5.3
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL Salisbury 3.4 mi 7.5
Dole Elementary Salisbury 3.3 mi 2.6
Southeast Middle Salisbury 4.1 mi 2.5
North Rowan High Spencer 3.8 mi 4.1
Granite Quarry Elementary Granite Quarry 4.3 mi 4.0
North Rowan Middle Spencer 4.1 mi 3.1
North Rowan Elementary Spencer 4.2 mi 2.9
Faith Academy Charter School Faith 5.3 mi 5.8
NEHEMIAH ENRICHMENT ACADEMY Salisbury 4.5 mi
Hurley Elementary Salisbury 4.8 mi 2.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28144 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$51,432

Median Home Value

$205,900

Median Rent

$982/mo

Population

27,238

College Educated

27.4%

Homeownership

54.1%

Avg Commute

21.1 min

Poverty Rate

26.1%

Median Age

39.2

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Graham High Graham, NC 2.8
Hugh M Cummings High Burlington, NC 2.4
Hunter Huss High Gastonia, NC 3.0
Carver High Winston-Salem, NC 3.1
Harding University High School Charlotte, NC 3.1
Statesville High Statesville, NC 3.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Salisbury High

What grades does Salisbury High serve?

Salisbury High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Salisbury High?

Salisbury High has an enrollment of approximately 1,014 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Salisbury High?

The student-teacher ratio at Salisbury High is 19.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Salisbury High rank in NC?

Salisbury High ranks #2,618 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Salisbury High's MySchoolScout rating?

Salisbury High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.6 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 Salisbury High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Salisbury High has 31% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Salisbury High a charter school?

No, Salisbury High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Salisbury High a Title I school?

No, Salisbury High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Salisbury High?

99.4% of students at Salisbury 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
61 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
43 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,014
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
53
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Rowan County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
64.2%
4-Year Graduation
71.0%

District

Rowan-Salisbury Schools
District Enrollment
18,110
Schools in District
32
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,141
District Rank
#28 of 32

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