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Shelby High

Public Grades 9-12

557^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 641 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 13% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Shelby High is a public high school located in Shelby, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 790 students. It is part of the Cleveland County Schools district, which is ranked 97 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Shelby High faces significant challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom half of North Carolina high schools over the past 10 years and maintaining a 1-2 star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating below-average performance. The school struggles across various student subgroups, with particularly concerning performance for its disabled and multi-racial student populations. Shelby High's proficiency rates on end-of-course exams are significantly lower than the Cleveland County Schools and North Carolina state averages, with only 32.5% proficiency in Biology, 39.2% in English II, 17.2% in Math I, and 27.6% in Math III.

Interestingly, Shelby High is located in close proximity to several other high schools in the Cleveland County Schools district, including Kings Mountain High, Burns High, and Crest High, which generally outperform Shelby High. Additionally, within the same district, Cleveland ECHS stands out as a high-performing school, ranking in the top 10% of North Carolina high schools and achieving significantly higher proficiency rates.

792

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,492

Per pupil spending ?

99.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

230 E Dixon Boulevard
Shelby, NC 28152-6716

(704) 476-8325

District: Cleveland County Schools

Feeder schools for Shelby High:

Elementary:	Elizabeth Elementary
	James Love Elementary
	Jefferson Elementary
Middle:	Shelby Middle

Racial breakdown:

African American:

52.7%

White:

29.2%

Hispanic:

10.0%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Shelby High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 44th percentile in 2015 → 13th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (30% vs 53% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 31 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school30%

District avg48%

North Carolina avg53%

557^th of 641

North Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 31 pts since 2015

From bottom 44% (2015) to bottom 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5High Schools in the Cleveland County Schools

97^th of 242Cleveland County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	15.5	557 of 641	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.3	505 of 640	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.9	499 of 626	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.1	441 of 621	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.9	391 of 594	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	21.1	397 of 514	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.3	374 of 469	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	20.2	374 of 476	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	31.4	306 of 507	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.9	298 of 531	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	28.5	290 of 451	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	28.7	320 of 505	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	26.9	388 of 502	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	45.8	318 of 506	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	44.2	325 of 499	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	38.1	355 of 490	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	45.1	288 of 477	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	46.0	263 of 453	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	44.6	279 of 431	35.3%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	21.3	374 of 440	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.8	322 of 437	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.0	384 of 434	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.5	297 of 430	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.4	192 of 364	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	19.8	326 of 369	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.8	328 of 359	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	20.5	299 of 330	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	22.4	298 of 334	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.6	229 of 364	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	19.9	319 of 349	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	35.3	173 of 273	36.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	12.1	564 of 610	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.1	492 of 602	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.3	479 of 588	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.8	374 of 594	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.6	304 of 475	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.8	352 of 475	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.3	337 of 449	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	26.4	348 of 412	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.3	383 of 403	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	37.4	319 of 403	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	48.5	262 of 398	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.2	132 of 337	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.0	218 of 325	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.9	28 of 100	72.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	35.3	285 of 462	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.0	258 of 454	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.0	374 of 449	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.1	292 of 436	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.5	223 of 370	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.3	281 of 354	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.6	287 of 340	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	18.7	535 of 606	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.9	507 of 613	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.3	491 of 597	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.1	357 of 544	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.2	267 of 432	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	16.1	402 of 446	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.7	381 of 424	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	17.3	524 of 601	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.5	489 of 607	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.3	491 of 602	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.2	463 of 585	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.1	294 of 481	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	12.9	438 of 488	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.8	411 of 463	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	7.3	250 of 253	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.4	223 of 261	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.9	139 of 249	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	8.9	176 of 185	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	22.5	309 of 349	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	16.4	479 of 542	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.3	434 of 553	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.2	334 of 537	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.9	317 of 534	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.2	197 of 439	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.3	266 of 444	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.8	263 of 427	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2025)38th percentile+25 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)37th percentile+24 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)16th percentile~ school

African American (2025)15th percentile~ school

Male (2025)13th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)12th percentile~ school

White (2025)12th percentile~ school

Special Education (2024)11th percentile-10 vs school

Disabled (2022)9th percentile-20 vs school

Female (2025)8th percentile-6 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)1st percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

English II39%-20 vs state

Biology32%-16 vs state

Math III28%-39 vs state

Math I17%-17 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, August 7, 2018

This website 'ranking' is disappointing, and not accurate if you ask the locals who care about education. Shelby High has great teachers, school board, parental involvement, and high goals- which are met by students, just not the 'majority'. Although demographic averages score SHS low here, these stats do not reflect the above average component of SHS. I went there, as did my 3 children. Full load of AP courses offered the college-bound component of SHS does excellent: many scholarships to competitive universities, high SAT's scores, and high expectations from teachers. Also- great arts programs: Theater is Broadway quality, and music (orchestra & band) are excellent as well. The cream of the crop sector is not reflected in these scores which are skewed low as an overall score. Good portion of students score in 4-5-plus GPA. f your child wants to be challenged- Shelby High is a great school, and with enough peer/parent support to steer them wherever they want to go in life. This is the county seat school, so low-income increases have blurred the good reputation if only number here are used to evaluate the school. Too much data left out! Many clubs, great football program (state champs several times) etc. make this school one to be proud of, and to be noticed by excellent colleges, even Ivy league.
I suggest parents ask locals in the know, rather than use this website as a deterrent as far as moving into this district. Shelby 'inner city' schools are always great, even tho' demographics have altered in the county. They 'city' schools have had a long history of monetary support (the best facilities- swimming pool, state of the art theater), much more positive is present than these few categories of ranks suggest. Close Quote

Schools Near Shelby High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOC Biology (2025)	EOC English II (2025)	EOC Math I (2025)	EOC Math III (2025)	EOG Mathematics (2025)	EOG Reading (2025)	EOG Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Shelby High	Public	9-12	230 E Dixon Boulevard	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8325	792	51	15.4	99.6%	231 (29.2%)	417 (52.7%)	79 (10.0%)	10 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	54 (6.8%)	15.5	557^th of 641 public high schools	13.1%		21.3	505^th of 640 public high schools	21.1%	52	32.5	39.2	17.2	27.6				$9,492	$690	$8,802
Turning Point Academy	Public	6-12	409 West Sumter Street	Shelby	28150	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8399	142	12	11.8	97.9%	65 (45.8%)	59 (41.5%)	7 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (7.7%)								(n/a)					5.6	29.4	29.4	$21,288	$1,682	$19,606
Cleveland ECHS	Public	9-12	1800 E. Marion Street	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8232	225	11	20.2	98.7%	128 (56.9%)	35 (15.6%)	45 (20.0%)	5 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.3%)	90.8	69^th of 641 public high schools	89.2%		92.3	56^th of 640 public high schools	91.3%	13	84.5	86.2	81.4	93.3				$7,781	$522	$7,258
Crest High	Public	9-12	800 Old Boiling Springs Road	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8331	1,098	58	18.8	99.7%	671 (61.1%)	254 (23.1%)	91 (8.3%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	76 (6.9%)	42.2	361^st of 641 public high schools	43.7%		66.2	199^th of 640 public high schools	68.9%	162	42.8	50.7	37.7	67.9				$8,650	$808	$7,842
Kings Mountain High	Public	9-12	500 Phifer Road	Kings Mountain	28086	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8330	1,305	72	18.1	98.8%	771 (59.1%)	297 (22.8%)	119 (9.1%)	17 (1.3%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	98 (7.5%)	52.3	278^th of 641 public high schools	56.6%		50.8	291^st of 640 public high schools	54.5%	13	50.7	52.5	39.1	81.2				$9,036	$654	$8,382
Burns High	Public	9-12	307 E Stagecoach Trail	Lawndale	28090	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8335	928	58	15.9	99.5%	626 (67.5%)	156 (16.8%)	95 (10.2%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (5.0%)	38.3	390^th of 641 public high schools	39.2%		48.3	308^th of 640 public high schools	51.9%	82	40.8	56.6	43.6	48.3				$9,886	$976	$8,911
Cherryville High	Public	9-12	313 Ridge Avenue	Cherryville	28021	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9605	484	33	14.6	99.4%	349 (72.1%)	56 (11.6%)	60 (12.4%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.1%)	46	330^th of 641 public high schools	48.5%		44.7	337^th of 640 public high schools	47.3%	7	42.5	53.1	39.8	72.6				$10,928	$967	$9,961
Bessemer City High	Public	9-12	119 Yellow Jacket Lane	Bessemer City	28016	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9601	590	32	18.5	99.5%	259 (43.9%)	148 (25.1%)	144 (24.4%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.9%)	15.9	554^th of 641 public high schools	13.6%		23.9	491^st of 640 public high schools	23.3%	63	26.6	34.3	16.7	46.2				$9,616	$754	$8,862
East Rutherford High School	Public	9-12	331 East High Rd	Bostic	28018	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 245-6424	623	33	18.9	98.4%	411 (66.0%)	89 (14.3%)	74 (11.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (7.4%)	44.8	341^st of 641 public high schools	46.8%		49.2	303^rd of 640 public high schools	52.7%	38	41.3	55.2	41.7	66.7				$10,163	$1,106	$9,057
West Lincoln High	Public	9-12	172 Shoal Rd	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 736-9453	731	45	16.1	99.3%	612 (83.7%)	9 (1.2%)	78 (10.7%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.7%)	58.1	242^nd of 641 public high schools	62.2%		48.8	306^th of 640 public high schools	52.2%	64	57.5	66.0	35.7	74.1				$8,213	$515	$7,699

Frequently Asked Questions about Shelby High

What schools feed into Shelby High?

Shelby High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Elizabeth Elementary
Elementary : James Love Elementary
Elementary : Jefferson Elementary
Middle : Shelby Middle

What district is Shelby High in?

Cleveland County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Shelby High?

Students at Shelby High are 53% African American, 29% White, 10% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Shelby High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 792 students attended Shelby High.

Is Shelby High a good school?

Shelby High ranks in the bottom 13.1% of North Carolina high schools.

Rate Shelby High!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.