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George Sperling House and OutbuildingsGeorge Sperling House and Outbuildings · Photo: Upstateherd · CC BY-SA 3.0
B−
Schools in Shelby · Cleveland County Schools

Shelby’s public schools outscore 51% of North Carolina districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Shelby, 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.

#154of 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
48%
▼ 2 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
56%
▲ 5 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
84%
▼ 2 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.6K
▼ 4% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.6
NC 16.0
Schools in town
9
3,069 students on the public path
In brief

Shelby’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 301 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Shelby’s, its schools beat 61%, higher than their 51% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 48% and math 56% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,565 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Pinnacle Classical Academy is in town. Cleveland Innovation, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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 Shelby’s grade

B Test scoresC Graduation

B−: better than 51% of North Carolina school districts, #154 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores are above the North Carolina average; graduation is below it.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 51%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (301)Better than 61%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 7,244 test results and a graduating class of 1,181 could put Shelby anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Shelby’s students in the tested grades sat them (6,977 in math, 7,511 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to B+
6–8Shelby MiddleCleveland County SchoolsC
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC to A+

Shelby’s public schools are run by Cleveland County Schools. 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.

Cleveland County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 28 schools · 14,504 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 15.6 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$12,565NC $13,045 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading48%
State average 49.9% · 7511 students tested
Math56%
State average 50.8% · 6977 students tested

Shelby vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ShelbyB−Cleveland County Schools

Every school in Shelby

10 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 Shelbyby address
Elizabeth Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
649 students18:1Rate it →
Jefferson Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
439 students15:1Rate it →
James Love Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C+
376 students12:1Rate it →
Shelby Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
588 students17:1Rate it →
Shelby High
High · Grades 9–12
C
792 students15:1Rate it →
Cleveland ECHS
High · Grades 9–12
A+
225 students20:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Turning Point Academy
High · Grades 6–12
D−
Alternative Education
142 students12:1Rate it →
North Shelby
Grades PK–12
C+
Special Education
76 students6:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Pinnacle Classical Academy
Grades K–12
A
Charter
1,178 students28:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Shelbynot counted as local schools
Cleveland Innovation
Grades K–12
B−
Online
187 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Shelby’s schools

Are Shelby’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of North Carolina: the public schools Shelby children attend outscore 51% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #154 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 61%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Shelby in?

Cleveland County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 14,504 students in 28 schools (2024–25).

Where do Shelby kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Shelby High and Cleveland ECHS.

What is Shelby’s graduation rate?

84% of the class of 2023 in Cleveland County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Shelby spend per student?

$12,565 in Cleveland County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Shelby families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Shelby → 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.