📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: August 2026·Editorial standards
📍 Bostic, NC · Rutherford County

Rutherford County Schools

Grades Pre-K – Ungraded · 7,527 students · 18 schools · 12 zip codes

8
out of 10 Rating Good
State reading & math proficiency · 79th percentile among North Carolina districts. Ranked within North Carolina only — not comparable across states.
Check a Zip Code
33,000+ zip codes across all 50 states
School District · North Carolina
Rutherford County Schools
📍 Bostic, NC · Rutherford County · NCES LEAID 3704080
8/10
Rating
7,527
Students
18
Schools
Pre-K – Ungraded
Grade Span
12
Zip Codes

District Contact & Information

Source: NCES CCD 2024–25
📚
Grades Served
Pre-K – Ungraded
📞
District Phone
(828)288-2200
🌐
District Website
www.rcsnc.org
📍
District Mailing Address
382 West Main Street, Forest City, NC 28043
🎓
Enrollment
7,527 students
🏫
Schools
18
🏙
County
Rutherford County, NC
🏷
NCES District ID (LEAID)
3704080
🏛
District Type
Public School District

Schools in Rutherford County Schools

18 schools listed
SchoolLevelGradesStudentsCity
Cliffside Elementary SchoolElementaryKindergarten – 5th188Cliffside
Ellenboro Elementary SchoolElementaryPre-K – 5th567Ellenboro
Forest City-Dunbar Elementary SchoolElementaryPre-K – 5th459Forest City
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary SchoolElementaryPre-K – 5th460Forest City
Harris Elementary SchoolElementaryPre-K – 5th434Forest City
Mt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary SchoolElementaryPre-K – 5th231Forest City
Pinnacle Elementary SchoolElementaryPre-K – 5th254Rutherfordton
Rutherfordton Elementary SchoolElementaryPre-K – 5th397Rutherfordton
Spindale Elementary SchoolElementaryPre-K – 5th337Spindale
Sunshine Elementary SchoolElementaryPre-K – 5th217Bostic
Chase Middle SchoolMiddle6th – 8th484Forest City
East Rutherford Middle SchoolMiddle6th – 8th533Bostic
R-S Middle SchoolMiddle6th – 8th561Rutherfordton
Chase High SchoolHigh9th – 12th596Forest City
East Rutherford High SchoolHigh9th – 12th623Bostic
R-S Central High SchoolHigh9th – 12th763Rutherfordton
Rutherford Early College High SchoolHigh9th – Ungraded208Spindale
Rutherford Opportunity CenterOther6th – 12th82Forest City

Zip Codes Served by Rutherford County Schools

12 zip codes
Zip CodeCityCountyState
28018BosticRutherford CountyNC
28019CaroleenRutherford CountyNC
28024CliffsideRutherford CountyNC
28040EllenboroRutherford CountyNC
28043Forest CityRutherford CountyNC
28074HarrisRutherford CountyNC
28076HenriettaRutherford CountyNC
28139RutherfordtonRutherford CountyNC
28160SpindaleRutherford CountyNC
28167Union MillsRutherford CountyNC
28720Chimney RockRutherford CountyNC
28746Lake LureRutherford CountyNC

Frequently Asked Questions

What zip codes are in Rutherford County Schools?▼
Rutherford County Schools serves 12 zip codes: 28018, 28019, 28024, 28040, 28043, 28074, 28076, 28139, 28160, 28167, 28720, 28746. Zip codes and district boundaries do not line up exactly, so confirm your exact address with the district office before you rely on an assignment.
How is Rutherford County Schools rated?▼
Rutherford County Schools has an overall rating of 8 out of 10 (Good), based on the share of students proficient in reading and math on state assessments (NC EOG 2024–25). That places it in the 79th percentile among North Carolina school districts. Ratings are percentile-ranked within North Carolina only and are not comparable across states.
How many students attend Rutherford County Schools?▼
The NCES Common Core of Data directory reports enrollment of 7,527 students across 18 schools for Rutherford County Schools.
What grades does Rutherford County Schools serve?▼
Rutherford County Schools is listed in the NCES directory as serving grades Pre-K – Ungraded.
What schools are in Rutherford County Schools?▼
NCES lists 18 schools operating under Rutherford County Schools: 10 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 other or combined. Each school's grade span, enrollment and city are listed on this page. Attendance zones are set by the district and a school on this list is not necessarily the one your address is assigned to.
How do I contact Rutherford County Schools?▼
You can reach Rutherford County Schools by phone at (828)288-2200 or online at www.rcsnc.org or by mail at 382 West Main Street, Forest City, NC 28043. Contact details come from the NCES district directory and are the best way to confirm which school your address is assigned to.

About Rutherford County Schools

Rutherford County Schools is a public school district serving 12 zip codes in North Carolina, primarily in Rutherford County. It carries an overall rating of 8/10 (Good), the 79th percentile among North Carolina districts. That rating reflects the share of students proficient in reading and math on state assessments (NC EOG 2024–25) and is ranked only against other North Carolina districts — scores are not comparable between states. Directory details on this page come from the NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.

Schools in this district

NCES lists 18 schools operating under Rutherford County Schools — 10 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high and 1 other or combined. The largest by enrollment is R-S Central High School with 763 students. School-level enrollment comes from the NCES Common Core of Data school directory; a school with no reported enrollment is shown with a dash rather than a zero.

Checking your own address

District boundaries are address-specific and do not follow zip code lines exactly — a single zip code can be split between two or more districts. Use the zip codes listed above as a starting point, then confirm your assignment with the district office at (828)288-2200 before making a housing decision.

🔍 Find Your District
🏠 Explore North Carolina
Districts in Rutherford County› All North Carolina Districts› Best Districts in North Carolina› How Our Ratings Work›