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Below Average

#2314 of 2,648 schools in NC

South Rowan High

High School · Rowan-salisbury Schools · China Grove, NC

A Rowan-salisbury Schools high school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1655 Patterson St, China Grove, NC 28023

  • Math 37% vs NC 56% (2025)
  • Reading 38% vs NC 54% (2025)
  • 88.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress3.5Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.22 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.0Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency37% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency38.2% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-19 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-15.4 pts
Overall Proficiency38% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-9.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile21th
College Readiness6.2Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate88%
AP Participation11.4%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.5Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.7:1
District spending per student$12,141
Chronic Absenteeism51.5%

Students at South Rowan High score 38% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency37%(2025 NC)
School
State
56%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency38%(2025 NC)
School
State
54%(2025 NC)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 9 points since 2019, reaching 38% in 2025.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
73%
ELA
56%
2010
Math
76%
ELA
54%
2011
Math
71%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
19%
ELA
39%
2013
Math
18%
ELA
44%
2014
Math
26%
ELA
45%
2015
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
26%
ELA
39%
2017
Math
1%
ELA
33%
2018
Math
26%
ELA
32%
2019
Math
26%
ELA
32%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
38%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
38%
2025
Math
37%
ELA
38%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 34% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 43% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

96.6%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where South 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 7Car-Dependent
  • Bike 20Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,258/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (China Grove), 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

$62,064

Median home value

$209,700

Median rent

$942/mo

College educated

18.1%

Homeownership

79.5%

Poverty rate

13.6%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28023; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
11.4% participation·State avg: 3 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics23sports offered
11 boys'·12 girls'·30 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Carson HighEnrollment path unverified6.69–123.7 mi1,135Compare →
East Rowan HighEnrollment path unverified5.69–12Not available1,072Compare →
Henderson HighEnrollment path unverified5.26–12Not available78Compare →
North Rowan HighEnrollment path unverified4.19–12Not available592Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Rowan-salisbury Schools

Schools in district
32
Rank in district
#16 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

South Rowan High is listed in Rowan-Salisbury Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About South Rowan High

South Rowan High is a public high school in China Grove, NC, part of Rowan-salisbury Schools, serving approximately 989 students in grades 9th-12th with a 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #2,314 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about South Rowan High

What grades does South Rowan High serve?

South Rowan High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend South Rowan High?

South Rowan High has an enrollment of approximately 989 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at South Rowan High?

The student-teacher ratio at South Rowan High is 17.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does South Rowan High rank in NC?

South Rowan High ranks #2,314 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is South Rowan High's MySchoolScout rating?

South Rowan High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 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 South Rowan High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, South Rowan High has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is South Rowan High a charter school?

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

Is South Rowan High a Title I school?

No, South Rowan High is not currently a Title I school.

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

96.6% of students at South 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
989
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
56
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Rowan County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
51.5%
4-Year Graduation
88.0%
Area population (ZIP 28023)
15,255
Area average commute
26 min
Area median age
41.9
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 28023; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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