Mahadev Maitri Foundation
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Rutherford County Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
18
Schools
7,527
Students
$16,397
Per-Pupil Spend
+14% nat'l
99.2%
Free Lunch Rate
+47pp vs nat'l
84.8%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Rutherford County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 7,527 students across 18 schools. It includes 10 elementary, 3 middle, 5 high schools. Its graduation rate of 84.8% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $16,397 is above average for a US public school district. 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 34/100.

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All Schools (18)
Middle Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Chase Middle School06–08501
East Rutherford Middle School06–08552
R-S Middle School06–08574
High Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Chase High School09–12660
East Rutherford High School09–12659
R-S Central High School09–12758
Rutherford Early College High School09–13191
Rutherford Opportunity Center06–12119
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,397+14% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
54%
22%
State
53.8%
Local (property tax)
22.0%
Federal
24.2%

Funding is shared between state (54%) and local sources (22%), with notable federal support (24%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
18
Schools
7,527
Students
99%
Free Lunch
$16K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate84.8%
Opportunity Score34/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 18 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
99% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Low opportunity scores
Median opportunity score of 34/100, below the national median of 50, which can correlate with weaker long-term economic mobility for students.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
24% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Rutherford County Schools?
Rutherford County Schools has 18 public schools, serving a total of 7,527 students.
What is the graduation rate for Rutherford County Schools?
The graduation rate is 84.8%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Rutherford County Schools spend per student?
Rutherford County Schools spends $16,397 per pupil — 14% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Rutherford County Schools?
99% of students in Rutherford County Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Rutherford County Schools?
No, Rutherford County Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Rutherford County Schools serve?
Rutherford County Schools serves grades PK through 13, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for Rutherford County Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Rutherford County Schools is 34/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.