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Forest-City-Main-St-block-ncPhoto: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
B
Schools in Forest City · Rutherford County Schools

Forest City’s public schools outscore 58% of North Carolina districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Forest City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

#116of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
51%
▲ 1 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
53%
▲ 2 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▲ 2 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.9K
▲ 6% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
18.1
NC 16.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
4
4,687 students on the public path
In brief

Forest City’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 137 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Forest City’s, its schools beat 81%, higher than their 58% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 53% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,859 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then three middle and four high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Faith Academy (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Forest City’s grade

B Test scoresB Graduation

B: better than 58% of North Carolina school districts, #116 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 58%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (137)Better than 81%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,732 test results and a graduating class of 602 could put Forest City anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Forest City’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,603 in math, 3,860 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Forest City, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B−
9–124 high schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A+

Forest City’s public schools are run by Rutherford County Schools, which also serves Bostic, Chimney Rock Village, Ellenboro and Lake Lure and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Rutherford County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 18 schools · 7,394 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 18.1 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$13,859NC $13,045 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading51%
State average 49.9% · 3860 students tested
Math53%
State average 50.8% · 3603 students tested

Forest City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Forest City’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Forest CityBRutherford County Schools
SpindaleBRutherford County Schools

Every school in Forest City

11 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Forest Cityby address
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
460 students19:1Rate it →
Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
459 students18:1Rate it →
Also serving Forest Cityin other towns
R-S Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Rutherfordton
C+
561 students19:1Rate it →
East Rutherford Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bostic
C+
533 students20:1Rate it →
Chase Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
484 students18:1Rate it →
R-S Central High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Rutherfordton
B+
763 students21:1Rate it →
East Rutherford High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Bostic
B+
623 students19:1Rate it →
Chase High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
596 students21:1Rate it →
Rutherford Early College High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Spindale
A+
208 studentsRate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Rutherford Opportunity Center
High · Grades 6–12
D
Alternative Education
82 students8:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Faith Academy
High · Grades 8–9
Private · Religious · All-boys
2 students1:1Rate it →

Questions about Forest City’s schools

Are Forest City’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of North Carolina: the public schools Forest City children attend outscore 58% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #116 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 81%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Forest City in?

Rutherford County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 7,394 students in 18 schools (2024–25).

Where do Forest City kids go to high school?

One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: R-S Central High School, East Rutherford High School, Chase High School and Rutherford Early College High School.

What is Forest City’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Rutherford County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Forest City spend per student?

$13,859 in Rutherford County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Forest City?

Yes: Faith Academy (religious · all-boys, grades 8–9, 2 students).

Parents talk

What Forest City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Forest City → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.