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Crest High

Q: Is Crest High a good school?

Crest High ranks 226 th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

226^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 66% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Crest High is a comprehensive public high school in Shelby, NC, serving 1,098 students in grades 9–12 through Cleveland County Schools. It holds a 3-star SchoolDigger rating, ranking 226th out of 662 North Carolina high schools — placing it in the 66th percentile statewide and making it the highest-ranked traditional high school in the immediate Shelby area. The school’s 91.3% graduation rate is well above both the district (85.5%) and state (88.8%), and chronic absenteeism has dropped from 35.0% in 2021–2022 to 20.8%, below district and state averages.

Academically, Crest outpaces state averages in most End-of-Course subjects, with 70.9% proficiency in Biology, 64.5% in Math I, and 80.5% in Math III — roughly 22 points ahead of the state in Math I and 11 points ahead in Math III. The school also rebounded impressively after a difficult 2024–2025 year, climbing from a statewide rank of 361st back to 226th. Crest far exceeds nearby Shelby High — located only four miles away — in every subject, including 64.5% vs. 31.0% in Math I, and in graduation rate (91.3% vs. 87.4%). All other nearby traditional high schools, including Burns High, CHASE High School, Kings Mountain High, and Cherryville High, rank below Crest; only early-college programs such as Cleveland ECHS and Rutherford Early College High School rank higher.

Crest serves a student population with high economic need — around 99.7% free/reduced lunch eligibility — making its results especially notable. The school earns strong subgroup ratings, including 4-star marks for Gifted and Talented (73rd percentile), African American (73rd percentile), and Multi-racial (70th percentile) students, while low-income, Hispanic, and female students all score in the 66th–68th percentiles. English Language Learners earned a 5-star rating in 2023–2024. At 18.8 students per teacher, Crest runs efficiently while spending below many comparable schools. English II (62.3% vs. 64.6% statewide) and special education outcomes remain areas to watch, but overall Crest is a solid neighborhood school that produces results well above its regional peers.

1,098

Students ?

18.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,650

Per pupil spending ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

800 Old Boiling Springs Road
Shelby, NC 28152-0519

(704) 476-8331

District: Cleveland County Schools

Feeder schools for Crest High:

Elementary:	Boiling Springs Elementary
	Springmore Elementary
	Township Three Elementary
Middle:	Crest Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.1%

African American:

23.1%

Hispanic:

8.3%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Crest High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 52nd percentile in 2016 → 66th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (70% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2016

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Cleveland County Schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school70%

District avg65%

North Carolina avg60%

226^th of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 34%▲ up 14 pts since 2016

From top 48% (2016) to top 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 5High Schools in the Cleveland County Schools

82^nd of 246Cleveland 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
2026	64.2	226 of 662	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.2	361 of 641	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	66.2	199 of 640	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.6	222 of 626	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.3	188 of 621	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.8	231 of 594	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.9	270 of 514	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.4	250 of 469	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	29.5	313 of 476	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	38.2	244 of 507	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	44.3	228 of 531	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	47.7	171 of 451	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	42.9	209 of 505	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	46.7	261 of 502	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	50.0	287 of 506	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	50.3	277 of 499	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	52.6	235 of 490	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	50.5	242 of 477	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	59.9	141 of 453	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	58.0	163 of 431	62.2%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	63.6	122 of 450	72.9%	★★★★☆
2025	42.7	226 of 440	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	66.7	100 of 437	77.1%	★★★★☆
2023	66.3	101 of 434	76.7%	★★★★☆
2022	67.7	95 of 430	77.9%	★★★★☆
2021	64.8	58 of 364	84.1%	★★★★☆
2019	35.6	210 of 369	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.9	187 of 359	47.9%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	44.7	143 of 330	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.8	288 of 334	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	88.1	12 of 262	95.4%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.8	203 of 629	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	40.4	366 of 610	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	68.3	182 of 602	69.8%	★★★★☆
2023	64.8	198 of 588	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.5	203 of 594	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.1	145 of 475	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.0	278 of 475	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.3	246 of 449	45.2%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	73.1	109 of 407	73.2%	★★★★☆
2025	38.5	309 of 412	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	61.7	181 of 403	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.1	157 of 403	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	78.5	49 of 398	87.7%	★★★★☆
2021	76.5	35 of 337	89.6%	★★★★☆
2019	54.7	160 of 325	50.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	57.4	163 of 474	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.8	240 of 462	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.7	148 of 454	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.8	133 of 449	70.4%	★★★★☆
2022	76.0	87 of 436	80.0%	★★★★☆
2021	49.7	111 of 370	70.0%	★★★★☆
2019	50.3	117 of 354	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.7	138 of 340	59.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.2	197 of 620	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	38.4	343 of 606	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.2	177 of 613	71.1%	★★★★☆
2023	55.3	213 of 597	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.8	143 of 544	73.7%	★★★★☆
2021	52.9	101 of 432	76.6%	★★★★☆
2019	35.1	254 of 446	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.6	178 of 424	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.2	226 of 624	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.3	327 of 601	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.7	200 of 607	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.1	250 of 602	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.5	162 of 585	72.3%	★★★★☆
2021	51.7	171 of 481	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.0	261 of 488	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.0	289 of 463	37.6%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.9	80 of 265	69.8%	★★★★☆
2025	40.0	165 of 253	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	82.1	32 of 261	87.7%	★★★★☆
2023	70.1	58 of 249	76.7%	★★★★☆
2022	68.5	51 of 226	77.4%	★★★★☆
2021	54.9	81 of 199	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	30.4	149 of 195	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.5	141 of 185	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.6	211 of 372	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	20.9	313 of 352	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.3	160 of 349	54.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.4	225 of 551	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	35.6	374 of 542	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	64.2	205 of 553	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.8	235 of 537	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.6	196 of 534	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.3	180 of 439	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.4	286 of 444	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.5	312 of 427	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)95th percentile+27 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)73rd percentile+7 vs school

African American (2026)73rd percentile+7 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)70th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)68th percentile~ school

Female (2026)68th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)66th percentile~ school

Male (2026)64th percentile~ school

White (2026)59th percentile-7 vs school

Disabled (2022)57th percentile-13 vs school

Special Education (2026)43rd percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Math III80%+12 vs state

Biology71%+12 vs state

Math I64%+22 vs state

English II62%~ state avg

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Schools Near Crest High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (2026)	EOG Mathematics (2026)		EOG Reading (2026)		EOG Science (2026)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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	—	671 (61.1%)	254 (23.1%)	91 (8.3%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	76 (6.9%)	64.2	226^th of 662 public high schools	65.9%		42.2	361^st of 641 public high schools	43.7%	135	70.9	62.3	64.5	80.5						$8,650	$808	$7,842
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%)	0.4	662^nd of 662 public high schools	0.0%					(n/a)	339.0	10.3	537.0	5.4	10.0	7.7	20.0	15.4	15.4	$21,288	$1,682	$19,606
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	—	231 (29.2%)	417 (52.7%)	79 (10.0%)	10 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	54 (6.8%)	31.7	467^th of 662 public high schools	29.5%		15.5	557^th of 641 public high schools	13.1%	90	52.4	54.0	31.0	57.9						$9,492	$690	$8,802
Cleveland ECHS	Public	9-12	1800 E Marion St	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8232	225	11	20.2	—	128 (56.9%)	35 (15.6%)	45 (20.0%)	5 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.3%)	91.9	55^th of 662 public high schools	91.7%		90.8	69^th of 641 public high schools	89.2%	14	94.3	96.2	91.4	94.9						$7,781	$522	$7,258
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	—	626 (67.5%)	156 (16.8%)	95 (10.2%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (5.0%)	62.3	239^th of 662 public high schools	63.9%		38.3	390^th of 641 public high schools	39.2%	151	91.1	64.1	58.3	75.7						$9,886	$976	$8,911
East Rutherford High School	Public	9-12	331 East High Rd	Bostic	28043	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 245-6424	623	33	18.9	—	411 (66.0%)	89 (14.3%)	74 (11.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (7.4%)	28.3	490^th of 662 public high schools	26.0%		44.8	341^st of 641 public high schools	46.8%	149	42.4	52.0	21.3	65.7						$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	—	431 (72.3%)	37 (6.2%)	88 (14.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (6.4%)	61.8	243^rd of 662 public high schools	63.3%		62	220^th of 641 public high schools	65.7%	23	60.3	65.1	62.7	83.9						$10,771	$989	$9,782
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	—	771 (59.1%)	297 (22.8%)	119 (9.1%)	17 (1.3%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	98 (7.5%)	60.4	251^st of 662 public high schools	62.1%		52.3	278^th of 641 public high schools	56.6%	27	60.5	61.3	63.8	82.3						$9,036	$654	$8,382
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	—	349 (72.1%)	56 (11.6%)	60 (12.4%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.1%)	52.2	318^th of 662 public high schools	52.0%		46	330^th of 641 public high schools	48.5%	12	56.2	59.3	65.7	67.3						$10,928	$967	$9,961
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	—	149 (71.6%)	8 (3.8%)	29 (13.9%)	9 (4.3%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.8%)	84.6	108^th of 662 public high schools	83.7%		85.9	104^th of 641 public high schools	83.8%	4	80.4	96.3	46.7	95.7						$6,973	$327	$6,646

Frequently Asked Questions about Crest High

How many students attend Crest High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,098 students attended Crest High.

What is the racial makeup of Crest High?

Students at Crest High are 61% White, 23% African American, 8% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

Is Crest High a good school?

Crest High ranks 226^th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Crest High in?

Cleveland County Schools

What schools feed into Crest High?

Crest High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Boiling Springs Elementary
Elementary : Springmore Elementary
Elementary : Township Three Elementary
Middle : Crest Middle

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

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.