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Shining Rock Classical Academy

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12
878th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,492 North Carolina Alternative Schools
Better than 41% of North Carolina alternative schools
Summary

Shining Rock Classical Academy is a K-12 school in the mountains of western North Carolina, serving 616 students in Waynesville with a student-to-teacher ratio near 13-to-1. Because the school operates as its own district — the Shining Rock Classical Academy district — no other schools fall within 20 miles for comparison, so the fairest benchmarks are statewide averages. The most recent graduation rate of 90 percent sits slightly above the state’s 88.8 percent, and the overall picture is one of strong attendance and literacy paired with inconsistent math performance.

Attendance is the school’s clearest strength: only 10.7 percent of students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, less than half the statewide rate of 24.2 percent, and that advantage has held for five consecutive years. Reading and English are the top academic subjects. English II proficiency has topped the state in every reported year — 66.7 percent versus 64.6 percent most recently — and reading scores overall outpace the school’s own math scores, an unusual pattern since North Carolina’s statewide tendency is the reverse. One cohort, now in sixth grade, has improved steadily every year; it reached 78.4 percent proficiency in math versus 59.2 percent statewide, with reading also above state averages. That trajectory offers evidence that the school’s classical curriculum can build real momentum over time.

Math is the biggest concern and the clearest academic weakness. Proficiency runs 15 to 25 points below the state in grades 3, 4, 7, and 8, and Math III EOC scores have fallen to 35 percent versus 66.4 percent statewide. Small grade-level cohorts make results volatile — Biology EOC jumped from 29.4 percent to 88.9 percent in a single year — and the current fourth grade is a red flag, with math and reading gaps that widened sharply to roughly 25 and 18 points below the state. That these struggles persist despite excellent attendance suggests math instruction and curriculum alignment deserve the closest attention. For a school that otherwise looks strong on student engagement and literacy, parents will want to ask how math support is being handled.

616
Students ?
13.0
Student/teacher ratio ?
22%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 2150 Russ Avenue
       Waynesville, NC  28786

(828) 476-5150

District: Shining Rock Classical Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:
84.9%
Hispanic:
4.7%
Two or more races:
3.6%
more
 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Shining Rock Classical Academy to nearby alternative schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Rebounding — 39th percentile in 2025 → 48th in 2026
Strengths
Ranking is rebounding — up to 48th (2026) from a 39th-percentile low (2025)
Worth a look
!Test scores below the North Carolina average (54% vs 60% meeting standards)
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
!Math III scores 21 pts below the North Carolina average
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school54%
North Carolina avg60%
Elementary school
878th of 1,492
North Carolina public elementary schools ?
Bottom 41%▼ down 16 pts since 2017
From top 42% (2017) to bottom 41% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
409th of 778
North Carolina public middle schools ?
Bottom 47%▼ down 31 pts since 2017
From top 22% (2017) to bottom 47% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
343rd of 662
North Carolina public high schools ?
Bottom 48%
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202642.0878 of 149241.2%★★☆☆☆
202550.9734 of 149050.7%★★★☆☆
202444.4849 of 150543.6%★★☆☆☆
202357.7626 of 150258.3%★★★☆☆
202257.4624 of 151458.8%★★★☆☆
202164.9483 of 148967.6%★★★☆☆
201944.3855 of 147342.0%★★☆☆☆
201839.1935 of 143434.8%★★☆☆☆
201758.1607 of 142957.5%★★★☆☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202240.7337 of 63446.8%★★☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202636.9952 of 144734.2%★★☆☆☆
202544.6824 of 145143.2%★★☆☆☆
202438.4940 of 145535.4%★★☆☆☆
202360.2558 of 145961.8%★★★☆☆
202270.7361 of 145875.2%★★★★☆
202171.0357 of 144075.2%★★★★☆
201939.3921 of 142435.3%★★☆☆☆
201848.8769 of 140545.3%★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202634.41034 of 143427.9%★☆☆☆☆
202540.1913 of 143736.5%★★☆☆☆
202440.2921 of 145036.5%★★☆☆☆
202353.5633 of 143755.9%★★★☆☆
202254.2579 of 136657.6%★★★☆☆
202162.3382 of 132971.3%★★★★☆
201930.91038 of 136123.7%★☆☆☆☆
201824.71106 of 133217.0%★☆☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202646.1784 of 145146.0%★★☆☆☆
202554.0647 of 145055.4%★★★☆☆
202450.3740 of 146449.5%★★☆☆☆
202350.8728 of 146150.2%★★★☆☆
202241.3873 of 146440.4%★★☆☆☆
202156.9595 of 144458.8%★★★☆☆
201949.3760 of 143046.9%★★☆☆☆
201834.41013 of 141328.3%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202635.5538 of 81534.0%★★☆☆☆
202522.9732 of 82110.8%★☆☆☆☆
202438.3475 of 80140.7%★★☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202624.5959 of 114616.3%★☆☆☆☆
202533.3854 of 117227.1%★☆☆☆☆
202421.8999 of 116614.3%★☆☆☆☆
202334.6846 of 118328.5%★☆☆☆☆
202238.4785 of 119434.3%★★☆☆☆
202148.3599 of 117248.9%★★☆☆☆
201921.21045 of 118311.7%★☆☆☆☆
201818.81075 of 11788.7%☆☆☆☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202648.5409 of 77847.4%★★☆☆☆
202539.8472 of 77338.9%★★☆☆☆
202457.4310 of 79360.9%★★★☆☆
202353.9348 of 78455.6%★★★☆☆
202265.3244 of 78669.0%★★★☆☆
202172.5186 of 74174.9%★★★★☆
201967.0232 of 73768.5%★★★☆☆
201867.3220 of 69168.2%★★★☆☆
201775.1150 of 69478.4%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202646.6404 of 73144.7%★★☆☆☆
202547.6382 of 73347.9%★★☆☆☆
202466.3219 of 73870.3%★★★★☆
202371.1180 of 73175.4%★★★★☆
202266.7217 of 73370.4%★★★★☆
202165.1219 of 70669.0%★★★☆☆
201969.2193 of 68471.8%★★★★☆
201864.1244 of 65662.8%★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202652.9287 of 46538.3%★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202641.0423 of 72541.7%★★☆☆☆
202535.0490 of 72932.8%★★☆☆☆
202459.1265 of 74364.3%★★★☆☆
202345.4379 of 73548.4%★★☆☆☆
202262.4196 of 68971.6%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202646.9400 of 73645.7%★★☆☆☆
202530.1522 of 73328.8%★☆☆☆☆
202445.6406 of 75145.9%★★☆☆☆
202336.3480 of 74735.7%★★☆☆☆
202262.9250 of 74866.6%★★★☆☆
202175.4155 of 71178.2%★★★★☆
201959.6274 of 69760.7%★★★☆☆
201866.1222 of 66566.6%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202623.9447 of 50010.6%★☆☆☆☆
202516.1473 of 4781.0%☆☆☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202629.5484 of 64424.8%★☆☆☆☆
202521.7545 of 64916.0%★☆☆☆☆
202434.2453 of 65230.5%★★☆☆☆
202332.0472 of 65628.0%★☆☆☆☆
202250.9314 of 65852.3%★★★☆☆
202152.8278 of 63256.0%★★★☆☆
201951.8296 of 62452.6%★★★☆☆
201840.5388 of 59634.9%★★☆☆☆
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)
Elementary school
Disabled (2022)47th percentile-12 vs school
Male (2026)46th percentile+5 vs school
Female (2026)34th percentile-7 vs school
Special Education (2026)34th percentile-7 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)28th percentile-13 vs school
White (2026)16th percentile-25 vs school
Middle school
Male (2026)46th percentile~ school
Female (2026)45th percentile-3 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)42nd percentile-6 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2026)38th percentile-9 vs school
White (2026)25th percentile-23 vs school
Special Education (2026)11th percentile-37 vs school
High school
Male (2026)59th percentile+10 vs school
White (2026)34th percentile-15 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?
Biology89%+30 vs state
English II67%~ state avg
Science57%-11 vs state
Reading55%~ state avg
Mathematics50%-10 vs state
Math III48%-21 vs state

3.3
3 ratings · 3 written reviews
51
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11
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What people are saying
by a parent
Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Open Quote Our son goes here. We like it and have no complaints. Looking forward to the new building. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, August 3, 2020

Open Quote My daughter has attended this school since kindergarten and has had a wonderful experience since the first day that she started. The teachers she has had, have incorporated unique and terrific lessons including field trips that public schools are not able to provide since their classroom sizes are much larger. Each grade only has 12 to 25 students are each student is shown the care and attention they need. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, March 11, 2019

Open Quote We were here for about a month to each there own this school was not for us. For me, as a parent, these were the cons and pros of this school. I am writing this review for my community who I know was curious about this school and what it had to offer this school was not for us but that does not mean it is not for you I say to each there own you never know your experience me be different than our Pros:Nice and clean school environment,Uniforms no worrying about what other kids were wearing, You pay 35$ online for school supplies and the school does the shopping, Lunches paid for online, Very easy to unenroll your child or children Cons: The setup and functionality of the school could have been better thought out the car line, schools main parking lot, and children’s play/social area are too intermingled. For example, if you show up at the school during lunch time you have to drive thru the school’s car line to access schools main parking lot and there are kids everywhere your other option is to park at the church next door and walk through the big grassy field where the kids play and threw the car line. So, my personal opinion is the set up is not very user-friendly, There “Catered school lunches” are not kid approved or at least not by my kiddos the only day the kids liked were pizza Fridays and the pizza came from Angelo’s. The lunches are 3.50 for a regular size lunch and 4.50 for a large. And the lunches do not come with anything to drink so you have to send your kid to school with water or the have access to the water fountain. You have to order lunches by Fridays at a certain time or you won't get anything and you are responsible for packing their lunch for that week, I noticed that the turn over rate for staff at this school is that you would see at a fast food place or a nursing home for example just in the month my 4th grader was there his teacher was fired and he got a new one which is concerning as a parent because stability is important part of children’s life, What they build you up to believe and get excited about with this school is not so great the routine at this school is very bland honestly, I feel that the education and experience you get in our public-school system is more then what is offered here. The best I can say is it just falls flat, Just my personal experience but if your child has behavioral issues they are not equipped to handle them. I feel like our local schools have greater resources to handle these kinds of issues and more, The sports they offer are a joke my 8th grader joined cross country and the coach taught them by showing them YouTube videos she had never been a coach or participated in cross country my son had, and she was asking for his help no big deal but it was not advanced enough for him personally ,The school counselor if your child wants to speak to them they do not have the access just to walk to there office like in public school there is a box at the end of the hall and your child has to write a note and drop it in my son did, I personally called and asked for her to talk to him anything I was told would happen regarding the counselor never did in a month my son was never addressed by her as I was told would be, The school has a clique and either you fit into this clique or you do not but for me life is hard enough to worry about whether me or my children are going to fit into your clique or as they word it “there Community” if your child does not fit into there clique you are made to feel unwelcome. They say your welcome but their actions and words prove otherwise, The school constantly Talks about their core values especially if your child gets into trouble “it’s your child is not following our core values” (which are Integrity, respect, compassion, responsibility, wisdom, and leadership) But I Found that these core values were not being followed by the staff themselves. The administration at this school was so unprofessional at times when handling situations and made some unnecessary comments to my children while they were there. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Shining Rock Classical Academy

Shining Rock Classical Academy ranks 878th of 1492 North Carolina alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Shining Rock Classical Academy are 85% White, 5% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% American Indian, 2% Asian, 2% African American.

In the 2024-25 school year, 616 students attended Shining Rock Classical Academy.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »
2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesNewSep 2, 2026
2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresNewSep 2, 2026
2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025
2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025


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.

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