Average
#1874 of 2,648 schools in NC
Spindale Elementary School
Elementary School · Rutherford County Schools · Spindale, NC
A Rutherford County Schools elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
161 N Oak St, Spindale, NC 28160
- Math 55% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 41% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Spindale Elementary School score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 16 points since 2020, reaching 48% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 42% (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
99.1%
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 Spindale 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 44Car-Dependent
- Bike 53Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated793/100K
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
$38,625
Median home value
$121,300
Median rent
$692/mo
College educated
14.9%
Homeownership
47.8%
Poverty rate
15.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28160; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word of Faith Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.5private | K–12 | 1.5 mi | 77 | Compare → |
| Rutherfordton Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.3 | PK–5 | 2.8 mi | 391 | Compare → |
| Forest City-dunbar Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.7 | PK–5 | 3.4 mi | 487 | Compare → |
| Mt. Vernon-ruth Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | PK–5 | 3.7 mi | 244 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
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
- #18 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
Spindale Elementary School is listed in Rutherford County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Spindale Elementary School
Spindale Elementary School is a public elementary school in Spindale, NC, part of Rutherford County Schools, serving approximately 345 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,874 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Spindale Elementary School
What grades does Spindale Elementary School serve?
Spindale Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Spindale Elementary School?
Spindale Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 345 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Spindale Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Spindale Elementary School is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Spindale Elementary School rank in NC?
Spindale Elementary School ranks #1,874 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Spindale Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Spindale Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 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 Spindale Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Spindale Elementary School has 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Spindale Elementary School a charter school?
No, Spindale Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Spindale Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Spindale Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Spindale Elementary School?
99.1% of students at Spindale 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
- 345
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Rutherford County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.0%
- Phone
- (828) 286-2861
- Area population (ZIP 28160)
- 3,825
- Area median age
- 46.6
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 28160; 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
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.