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R-S Central High School

Q: Is R-S Central High School a good school?

R-S Central High School ranks 391 st of 641 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

391^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 641 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 39% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

R-S Central High School is a public high school serving 750 students in grades 9-12 in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, which is part of the Rutherford County Schools district.

Over the past decade, R-S Central High School's statewide ranking has fluctuated between 217 and 429 out of North Carolina high schools, with a rating of 1 to 3 stars out of 5 from SchoolDigger. The school's performance varies across different student subgroups, with its African American, Hispanic, and White students ranking in the bottom half of the state, while its Special Education and Multi-racial students have performed better. R-S Central High School's four-year graduation rates have been generally on par with or slightly below the state and district averages. The school has performed well in Math III, but struggled in Biology and Math I, with proficiency rates significantly below the state and district levels.

Nearby high schools in the Rutherford County Schools district, such as Chase High School and East Rutherford High School, have generally performed better than R-S Central High School on key metrics. However, these schools also serve student populations with high levels of economic disadvantage, as evidenced by their free and reduced lunch rates. In contrast, the Rutherford Early College High School and nearby early college high schools have demonstrated exceptional performance, ranking among the top high schools in the state.

763

Students ?

21.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,966

Per pupil spending ?

98.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

641 Hwy 221 North
Rutherfordton, NC 28139

(828) 287-3304

District: Rutherford County Schools

Feeder schools for R-S Central High School:

Elementary:	Mt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary School
	Pinnacle Elementary School
	Rutherfordton Elementary School
	Spindale Elementary School
Middle:	R-S Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.6%

African American:

13.0%

Two or more races:

8.1%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare R-S Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 37th percentile in 2015 → 39th in 2025

Strengths

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (87%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (48% vs 53% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Math I scores 14 pts below the North Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school48%

District avg53%

North Carolina avg53%

391^st of 641

North Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 4High Schools in the Rutherford County Schools

73^rd of 242Rutherford 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	38.1	391 of 641	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.9	359 of 640	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.3	287 of 626	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.3	349 of 621	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.5	429 of 594	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.4	251 of 514	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.6	217 of 469	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	37.3	265 of 476	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	29.0	318 of 507	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	30.4	335 of 531	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	27.4	295 of 451	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	36.1	267 of 505	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	38.7	320 of 502	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.3	358 of 506	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	37.1	371 of 499	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	34.4	372 of 490	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	35.6	351 of 477	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	44.7	277 of 453	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	45.3	271 of 431	37.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	26.7	335 of 440	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.7	377 of 437	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	44.0	201 of 434	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	29.2	302 of 430	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.1	321 of 364	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.2	186 of 369	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	24.9	283 of 359	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	29.6	225 of 330	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.8	159 of 334	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	31.2	258 of 364	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.9	201 of 349	42.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	39.4	373 of 610	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.7	391 of 602	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.2	265 of 588	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.6	378 of 594	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.5	331 of 475	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.2	252 of 475	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.2	259 of 449	42.3%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	22.4	360 of 412	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.1	351 of 403	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	48.0	264 of 403	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.5	318 of 398	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.6	291 of 337	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.9	286 of 325	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	64.0	30 of 100	70.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	22.2	390 of 462	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.6	270 of 454	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.4	170 of 449	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.1	252 of 436	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.7	169 of 370	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.7	109 of 354	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.5	127 of 340	62.6%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	97.4	1 of 47	97.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	30.6	434 of 606	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.1	306 of 613	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.9	210 of 597	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.3	225 of 544	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	28.2	285 of 432	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.9	247 of 446	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.7	171 of 424	59.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	35.2	385 of 601	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.4	317 of 607	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.3	296 of 602	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.8	306 of 585	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.8	336 of 481	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.5	248 of 488	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.4	190 of 463	59.0%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	37.7	169 of 253	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.2	178 of 261	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.9	85 of 249	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.2	90 of 226	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	10.9	188 of 199	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	36.6	129 of 195	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	12.7	170 of 185	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	44.9	163 of 352	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.6	104 of 349	70.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	30.7	398 of 542	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.7	379 of 553	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.9	330 of 537	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.4	368 of 534	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	17.6	377 of 439	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.5	293 of 444	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.1	237 of 427	44.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Homeless (2024)98th percentile+54 vs school

Special Education (2025)54th percentile+15 vs school

Female (2025)39th percentile~ school

Male (2025)36th percentile-3 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)33rd percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2022)32nd percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)28th percentile-11 vs school

White (2025)27th percentile-12 vs school

African American (2025)24th percentile-15 vs school

Hispanic (2025)16th percentile-23 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)13th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Math III68%~ state avg

English II56%-3 vs state

Biology38%-10 vs state

Math I20%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near R-S Central High School

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 6th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
R-S Central High School	Public	9-12	641 Hwy 221 North	Rutherfordton	28139	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 287-3304	763	36	21.2	98.2%	539 (70.6%)	99 (13.0%)	60 (7.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	62 (8.1%)	38.1	391^st of 641 public high schools	39.0%		41.9	359^th of 640 public high schools	43.9%	32	37.9	56.5	20.1	68.1					$10,966	$1,171	$9,795
Rutherford Early College High School	Public	9-12	286 ICC Loop Road	Spindale	28160	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 288-2202	208	4	55.0	98.6%	149 (71.6%)	8 (3.8%)	29 (13.9%)	9 (4.3%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.8%)	85.9	104^th of 641 public high schools	83.8%		91.2	65^th of 640 public high schools	89.8%	39	68.8	88.2	58.8	96.3					$6,973	$327	$6,646
Rutherford Opportunity Center	Public	6-12	140 Old Caroleen Road	Forest City	28043	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 248-5294	82	10	8.2	96.3%	58 (70.7%)	12 (14.6%)	5 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (8.5%)								(n/a)		8.0			14.3	14.3	13.6	18.2	$26,764	$1,648	$25,116
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
Chase High School	Public	9-12	1603 Chase High Rd	Forest City	28043	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 245-5883	596	29	20.7	98.7%	431 (72.3%)	37 (6.2%)	88 (14.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (6.4%)	62	220^th of 641 public high schools	65.7%		49.1	304^th of 640 public high schools	52.5%	84	34.6	67.4	57.1	85.9					$10,771	$989	$9,782
Polk County Early College	Public	9-12	1545 East NC 108 Hwy	Columbus	28722	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 894-2698	52	3	18.9	94.2%	46 (88.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	90.8	70^th of 641 public high schools	89.1%		94.8	29^th of 640 public high schools	95.5%	41		100.0		91.7					$9,557	$127	$9,430
Polk County High School	Public	9-12	1681 East NC 108 Hwy	Columbus	28722	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 894-2525	596	32	18.5	99.5%	433 (72.7%)	42 (7.0%)	93 (15.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.5%)	52	280^th of 641 public high schools	56.3%		50.8	292^nd of 640 public high schools	54.4%	12	48.2	66.9	34.2	70.7					$12,130	$897	$11,232
McDowell Early College	Public	9-12	54 College Drive	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 659-0411	241	12	19.7	98.8%	184 (76.3%)	5 (2.1%)	40 (16.6%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.3%)	93.2	48^th of 641 public high schools	92.5%		93.3	48^th of 640 public high schools	92.5%		77.8	95.2	83.8	100.0					$7,400	$232	$7,168
McDowell Academy for Innovation	Public	9-12	54 College Drive	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 659-0411	158	7	22.5	98.1%	108 (68.4%)	5 (3.2%)	38 (24.1%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.8%)	92.8	53^rd of 641 public high schools	91.7%		96.4	7^th of 640 public high schools	98.9%	46	76.5	95.1	86.8	97.6					$24,717	$228	$24,489
The Summit Academy	Public	6-12	75 Crawford St	Marion	28752	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(828) 652-1266	23	4	5.7	87.0%	20 (87.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.3%)								(n/a)		12.5		6.7

Frequently Asked Questions about R-S Central High School

How many students attend R-S Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 763 students attended R-S Central High School.

What district is R-S Central High School in?

Rutherford County Schools

What is the racial makeup of R-S Central High School?

Students at R-S Central High School are 71% White, 13% African American, 8% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic.

Is R-S Central High School a good school?

R-S Central High School ranks 391^st of 641 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into R-S Central High School?

R-S Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Mt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary School
Elementary : Pinnacle Elementary School
Elementary : Rutherfordton Elementary School
Elementary : Spindale Elementary School
Middle : R-S Middle School

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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.